Effect of replacing Melia azedarach with Mimosa pigra foliage on intake, digestibility and N retention of growing goats

Bui Phan Thu Hang^1,2, Nguyen Huu Hoa³, Ho Xuan Nghiep^1,2 and Vo Lam^1,2

¹ Department of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, An Giang University
bpthang.agu@gmail.com
² Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
³ Tinh Bien Veterinary Station, An Giang Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sub-Department

Abstract

Four male weaned crossbred goats (Bachthao x local female) with an initial weight of 14.5 ± 0.1 kg from 4 to 5 months of age were used in a 4 x 4 Latin Square design to evaluate the intake, digestibility and N retention when fed a basal diet of Melia azedarach supplemented with Mimosa pigra at four levels 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 (as DM % of LW).

Increasing the rate of replacement of Melia azedarach by Mimosa pigra led to linear reduces in apparent digestibility of crude protein. The increase in excretion of nitrogen in feces as the proportion of Mimosa pigra was increased. There was a 38% increase in N retention when Melia azedarach was the main foliage. In short, Mimosa pigra is not recommended as a supplement for goats. Melia azedarach foliages were greater relevance for goat production with high nutrient digestibility and N retention for growing crossbred goats.

Key words: crossbred goat, foliage, Melia azedarach, Mimosa pigra

Introduction

Mimosa pigra is an invasive weed in many tropical countries (Tran Triet et al 2007). Mimosa pigra is a feed source with high crude protein content which demonstrated positive responses in goat (Natewichai et al 2011; Kaewwongsa, 2014).

Melia azedarach foliages are fed goat production at most households in An Giang province. The previously researches are reported that weight gain is about 70 g/day for combinations of Melia azedarach and ensiled water hyacinth (Bui Phan Thu Hang et al 2012a). Replacing Melia azedarach with Mimosa pigra foliage in diets of goats increase growth rates of goats (80 to 90 g/day) and at the 22% level of substitution in diets of goats reduced about 43% enteric methane emissions (Bui Phan Thu Hang et al 2012b)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the intake, digestibility and N retention when fed a basal diet of Melia azedarach supplemented with Mimosa pigra.

Materials and Methods

Location

The study was conducted on in a private farm in Tinh Bien district, Long Xuyen city, Angiang province, that had collaborated in the conduct of the previous experiment with Melia azedarach (Bui Phan Thu Hang et al 2012a, 2012b).

Experimental design

Weaned Bach Thao goats were fed a basal diet of Melia azedarach as the sole feed or supplemented with 0.5, 1.0 or 1.5% of LW (DM basis) of fresh foliage of Mimosa pigra. The allocation to treatments was according to a 4 x 4 Latin Square design.

Feeds, animals and management

Melia azedarach and Mimosa pigra foliages were hung in bunches above the feed trough with 50% of the daily supply offered at 08.00h and the remainder at 14.00h. Amounts offered were based on live weight at the start of each period. Fresh water and mineral licks were supplied ad libitum.

The four weaned Bach Thao crossbred goats were bought from smallholder goat keepers in An Giang province and housed in individual cages. The initial weights were 14.5 (±0.1) kg with an age range of 4 to 5 months. They were de-wormed with Ivermectin, vaccinated against foot-and-mouth disease and gradually introduced to the experimental feeds during a 15 days adaptation. The study lasted 93 days with 4 periods consisting of 14 days of adaptation and 7 days of collection of faeces and urine, and 3 days for letting the animals move freely between periods.

Photo 1. Melia azedarach foliages	Photo 2. Melia azedarach tree and the housing the goats

Chemical analysis

Samples of feeds offered and refused were analysed for DM, CP and ash according to AOAC (1990).

Statistical analysis

The data from the experiment were subjected to analysis of variance using the General Linear Model (GLM) procedure of Minitab Software Release version 17 (2013). Sources of variation were treatments and error.

Results and discussion

Foliage composition

Melia azedarach was slightly higher crude protein content than in Mimosa pigra; However, the DM, NDF and ADF in Mimosa pigra was richer than in Melia azedarach (Table 1).

Feed intake, apparent digestibility and N retention

DM intake was not affected by replacement with Mimosa pigra (Table 2).

Apparent DM digestibility was slightly higher for sole diet based on Melia azedarach than on Mimosa pigra replacement. Increasing the rate of replacement of Melia azedarach by Mimosa pigra led to linear reduces in apparent digestibility of crude protein (p=0.02). Higher intakes of NDF were associated with lower digestibility values for crude protein and increased fecal N output in goats given Mimosa pigra diets compared to the control animals. Tannins may have increased the residue determined as fiber and will depress digestibility (Bengaly et al 2007). Mimosa pigra replaced goats excreted more N (p=0.03) via feces than the control goats but urinary N excretion did not differ (p=0.28) between dietary treatments. These results accord with several research on the influence of tannin on nutrient utilization by ruminants. Nunez-Hernandez et al (1989), Kaitho et al (1998), Dawson et al (1999), Komolong et al (2001) all pointed out that condensed tannins from foliage or of exogenous origin undoubtedly reduced apparent N digestibility, increased fecal N and reduced urinary N excretion. There was a 38% increase in N retention when Melia azedarach was the main foliage (p<0.01) (Table 3). These benefit in favor of Melia azedarach foliage over Mimosa pigra replacement was reflected in the value for N retention as percent of N intake (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Relationship between mimosa pigra intake (% of total DM intake) and N retention (g/day)

Conclusions

• Increasing the rate of replacement of Melia azedarach by Mimosa pigra led to linear reduces in apparent digestibility of crude protein.
  
  
• The increase in excretion of nitrogen in feces as the proportion of Mimosa pigra was increased. Therefore, it is not recommended as a supplement for goats.
  
  
• There was a 38% increase in N retention when Melia azedarach was the main foliage.

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful for the financial for this research from An Giang University, Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh. The authors would also like to thank the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources of An Giang University for infrastructure support.

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