Chemical composition, in vitro digestibility and gas production characteristics of six ficus species based diets with Panicum maximum in the dry season

Abstract

The nutritive value of Ficus exasperata, F. polita, f. vogelli, F. ahutilifolia, F. thonningii, und F. mucoso in mixtures with 30% Punicum maximum were investigated in terms of their chemical composition, saponins, phenols, in vitro gus production (IVGP), metabolizuble energy (ME), organic matter digestibility (OMD%) and short chain fatty acids (SCFA). Neutral detergent fibre (NDF) was significantly (P<0.05) lowest in E thoningii. Saponin was detected in F politu, while Phenol was detected in all Ficus species except F. poliiu und F. thonningii. WVGP, ME, OMD and SCFA obtained for all Ficus species were significantly (P<0.05) higher than values obtained for F. mucoso. Least value for soluble 'a' fraction of the samples was recorded for A mucoso (5.76), similar to values obtained for E thonningii (7.17), F. abutilifoliu (7.92) and F exasperula (7.92). Potential gas production 'b'values differed significantly (p<0.05) among E exasperata (50.50), I vogelli (43.92) and f mucoso (37.25), but was similar among E polita (46.17), E. thonningii (44.83) and F. abutilifolia (44.50). Potentially degradable a+b' fructions for all ficus species except F. mucuso were similar und significantly (P<0.05) higher than F mucoso. Rate of fermentation 'c' differed significantly (P<0.05) henveen F exasperata (0.06) and E mucoso (0.04). Data from this study showed that ull Ficus species except Ficus mucoso had potential to be used as forage supplements in the dry season.