Nutritive Value Assessment of Ficus polita and Panicum maximum at Varying Proportions Using an in vitro Gas Production Method in the Dry and Wet Seasons

Abstract

In vitro fermentation technique was used to evaluate the replacement effects of Panicum maximum (PM) with Ficus polita (FP) and Cassava Peels (CPL) at four levels {Treatments 1 (T1), 2 (T2), 3 (T3) and 4 (T4)} in dry and wet seasons. (T1) 0% FP+ 90% PM + 10% CPL; (T2) 30% FP+60% PM + 10% CPL; (T3) 60% FP+30% PM + 10% CPL and (T4) 90% FP+0% PM + 10% CPL. Chemical composition and qualitative analysis of saponin and tannins were determined. In vitro Gas Production (IVGP) of diets were carried out over 24 h. Metabolizable Energy (ME), Organic Matter Digestibility (OMD) and Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFA) were predicted. Methane (CH₄) production was also measured. Results indicated that FP contained high levels of protein in the dry (15.7 g/100 g DM) and wet (19.9 g/100 g DM) seasons. Crude Fibre (CF), Ether Extract (EE), ash and Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF) values in the dry and wet seasons were 22.0 and 19.0 g/100 g DM, 20.5 and 17.8 g/100 g DM, 7.8 and 10.0 g/100 g DM, 67.0 and 88.0 g/100 g DM, respectively. Qualitative analysis of secondary metabolites in FP indicated the presence of saponin in the dry season while tannin was absent in both seasons. IVGP, ME, OMD, SCFA and methanogenesis were not significantly (p<0.05) affected by levels of inclusion of FP. Results revealed that based on the availability of FP, it can be fed to goats at any level of inclusion up to 60% with PM without any detrimental effects.