CHEMICAL COMPOSITION, IN VITRO TOTAL GAS AND METHANE PRODUCTION OF CONCENTRATE DIETS CONTAINING Gliricidia sepium

Abstract

The present study evaluated the in vitro gas production and post-incubation parameters of concentrate diets containing varying levels of Gliricidia sepium leaves (GS) (0%, 10%, 20% and 25%). Theexperiment was set up in a  completely randomized design. Gas production was measured at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 24 hours of incubation and the methane was estimated at the end of the 24th hour of incubation, volatile fatty acid profile was measured and post incubation calculations was carried out. Data obtained were analysed using one way analysis of variance. The result obtained showed that the crude protein content of diets increased as the inclusion of GS increased (P<0.05) from 0 to 25% (10.90% to 14.71%) while NDF values reduced (P<0.05) as the reduced as the inclusion increased (49.94% to 42.69%). Total gas and methane production at 24 hours were not affected (P>0.05) by inclusion of GS. Also, DMD and OMD values were not affected (P>0.05) by the inclusion of GS in the diets. This study concludes that when Gliricidia sepium is used at inclusion level of 10% or more, it has potential to modify the rumen thereby reducing gas production during fermentation resulting in higher post-ruminal nutrient utilization.