In vitro Evaluation of Alfalfa Substitution with Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graegum) Hay in a High Concentrate Ration

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural Science and Natural Resources, University of Gonbad Kavoos, Gonbad Kavoos, Iran

2 Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Animal Science, Gorgan University of Agricultural Science and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

3 Agriculture Jihad Organization of Gorgan, Gorgan, Iran

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the possibility of alfalfa replacement with fenugreek hay for ruminants, using in vitro gas production parameters and some of rumen fermentation characteristics. For this propose, five different total mixed rations were formulated to meet nutrient requirements of 35 kg growing lambs with gradually replacement of alfalfa in control diet (T1) with different levels of fenugreek hay (25, 50, 75 and 100%, respectively T 2, T3, T4 and T5). In vitro gas production (mL/200 mg DM) was determined at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours of incubation. Ammonia-N concentration (mg/dL) and pH of rumen liquor was determined immediately after removal. Gas production was increased with increasing levels of fenugreek (P<0.05). Significant increases of gas production from insoluble fraction (b) were observed with increasing levels of fenugreek hay (P<0.05). A same trend was observed for potential gas production (a+b, P<0.05). Also, the constant rate of gas production (c) of T2, T3 and T4 were significantly higher than control, but the differences between T3, T4 and T5 were not significant. Replacement of fenugreek at 25 and 75 percent significantly increased final pH compared to control (100% alfalfa) (P<0.05), but the differences between T3, T5 and control and between T3, T4 and T5 were not significant. Short chain fatty acids production (mmol/200 mg DM) was significantly greater in treatments with 50% or more fenugreek substitution (P<0.05). Organic matter digestibility of treatments containing 50% or more fenugreek hay (T3, T4 and T5) were significantly higher than control (P<0.05). Similarly, estimated metabolisable energy content of these treatments were higher than control (P<0.05). According to these results, it can be concluded that fenugreek can provide highly valuable forage for ruminants with comparable feeding values with alfalfa, and alfalfa can be replaced completely in ration with fenugreek hay without any problem.

Keywords

References

Abdouli H., Hadj-Ayed M., Elham M., Nabila B. and Remedios Alvir Morencos M. (2012). Proximate composition and total phenols, tannins, flavonoids and saponins and in vitro ruminal fermentation activity of fenugreek cut at three maturity stages, Aavailable at: http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd24/1/abdo24013.htm.
Acharya S.N., Thomas J.E. and Basu S.K. (2008). Fenugreek, an alternative crop for semiarid regions of North America. Crop. Sci. 48, 841-853.
Basu S.K., Acharya S.N. and Thomas J.E. (2008). Genetic improvement of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) through EMS induced mutation breeding for higher seed yield under western Canada prairie conditions. Euphytica. 160(2), 249-258.
Getachew G., Makkar H.P.S. and Becker K. (2000). Stoichiometric relationship between short chain fatty acid and in vitro gas production in presence and absence of polyethylene glycol for tannin containing browses. EAAP Satellite Symp. Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Hess H.D., Kreuzer M., Daiz T.E., Lascano C.E., Carulla J.E., Soliva C.R. and Machmuller A. (2003). Saponin rich tropical fruits affect fermentation and methanogenesis in funated and defunated rumen fluid. J. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 109, 79-94.
Hussain I. and Cheek P.R. (1995). Effect of dietary Yucca schidigera extract on rumen and blood profiles of steers fed concentrate- or roughage-based diets. J. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 51, 231-242.
McCormick K., Norton R. and Eagles H.A. (2006). Fenugreek has a role in south-eastern Australian farming systems. Pp. 23-33 in Proc. 13th Ann. Agr. Conf., ‘Ground breaking stuff’, Perth, Western Australia.
Makkar H.P.S. (2004). Recent advances in the in vitro gas method for evaluation of nutritional quality of feed resources. Pp. 55-88 in FAO Animal Production and Health Series 160. FAO, Rome.
Menke K.H. and Steingass H. (1988). Estimation of the energetic feed value obtained from chemical analysis and in vitro gas production using rumen fluid. Anim. Res. Dev. 28, 7-55.
Mir P.S., Mir Z. and Townly-Smith L. (1993). Comparison of the nutritive content and in situ degradability of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graegum) and alfalfa hay. Canadian J. Anim. Sci. 73, 993-996.
Mir Z., Acharya S.N., Mir P.S., Taylor W.G., Zaman M.S., Mears G.J. and Goonewardene L.A. (1997). Nutritive composition, in vitro gas production and digestibility of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) and alfalfa forages. Canadian J. Anim. Sci. 77, 119-124.
Mir Z., Mir P.S., Acharya S.N., Zaman M.S., Taylor W.G., Mears, G.J., McAllister T.A. and Goonewardene L.A. (1998). Comparison of alfalfa and fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) silages supplemented with barley grain on performance of growing steers. Canadian J. Anim. Sci. 78, 343-349.
Montgomery J. (2009). The potential of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) as a fprage for dairy herds in central Alberta. MS Thesis. Alberta Univ., Canada.
Mustafa A.F., Christensen D.A. and McKinnon J.J. (1996). In vitro and in situ evaluation of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) hay and straw. Canadian J. Anim. Sci. 76, 625-628.
NRC. (1985). Nutrient Requirements of Sheep 6th Ed. National Academy Press, Washington, DC,USA.
Prasad R. (2011). Identification of high seed yielding and stable fenugreek mutants. MS Thesis. Lethbridg Univ., Alberta, Cananda.
SAS Institute. (2002). SAS®/STAT Software, Release 9. SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC.
Wang Y., McAllister T.A, Yanke L.J., Xu Z., Cheek P.R. and Cheng K.J. (2000). In vitro effects of steroidal saponins from Yucca schidigera extract on rumen microbial protein synthesis and ruminal fermentation. J. Sci. Food Agric. 80, 2114-2122.

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 25 December 2012
  • Revise Date: 28 February 2013
  • Accept Date: 01 March 2013

Share

How to cite

Statistics