Evaluation of the nutritive value of the browse species Gliricidia sepium (Jacq). Walp, Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit. and Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp from Nigeria

Abstract

The nutritive value of the leaves of three leguminous browse species (Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocephala and Cajanus cajan) harvested from Nigeria was determined. In vitro gas production from incubation with rumen fluid, including the effect of polyethylene glycol (PEG) on gas production was used. Species had a significant effect on in vitro gas production with G. sepium producing the highest volume of gas. The addition of PEG caused a significant increase in the volume of gas produced by all three browse species (P<0.01), indicating that they all contain phenolic compounds which could have anti-nutritive properties. Measurements of in sacco DM degradability showed that 24 h rumen DM degradability for G. sepium, L. leucocephala and C. cajan is 62.86, 55.25 and 55.63%, respectively. G. sepium had statistically higher DM degradability (P<0.01). The results suggest that, among the compared species, G. sepium has the highest nutritive value and that L. leucocephala and C. cajan are of similar value.