Rumen degradability and kinetic properties of some feedstuff utilised by camels in a semi arid environment of Nigeria

D. J.U. Kalla, G. A. Alhadrami, M. Abubakar, M. M. Gure, M. B. Ngele, N. Voncir

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The knowledge of the nutritive value of camel feedstuffs is important to the understanding of camel-forage relationship and development of sound husbandry decision. This study evaluated the rumen degradability and kinetics of some feedstuffs relish by camels. The crude protein (CP) of the feedstuffs ranged from 4.29% for Cuirea senegalensis and Diospyros mespilifbrmis to 11.65% for Centaurea perrpttetii. However, crude fibre (CF) content followed the reverse order. The solubility (a), the amount degraded with time (b) and the degradation rate (c) of the various feedstuffs were significantly (P<0.001) different. The feedstuffs differed significantly (P<0.001) in potential degradability (a + b) of the dry matter in the following order: Leptadenia pyrotechnica (leaves)>Centaurea perrottetii, Anogeissus leiocarpus> Acacia steberiana, Annona senegalensis>Ziziphus mauritiana>Acacia albida, Diospyros mespilijbrmis>Guirea senegalensis and Acacia nilotica>Leptadenia pyrotechnica (iwig)>Balanites aegyptica, respectively. Correlation between proximate composition (CP and CF) and the rumen degradability rate constant (c) of the feedstuffs was significantly (P<0.05) negatively related (r = -0.696) between CF and CP. In conclusion, the result indicates an inverse relationship between CP and CF, and the dependence of effective degradability (P) on outflow rate (k).

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)229-234
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Camel Practice and Research
Volume20
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2013

Keywords

  • Camel
  • Feedstuff
  • Kinetics
  • Outflow rate
  • Rumen degradability

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Animal Science and Zoology

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