RT Journal T1 EFFECT OF LEUCAENA LEUCOCEPHALA PELLET (LLP) SUPPLEMENTATION ON RUMEN FERMENTATION EFFICIENCY AND DIGESTIBILITY OF NUTRIENTS IN SWAMP BUFFALO A1 Y. Khy A1 M. Wanapat A1 T. Haitook A1 A. Cherdthong JF Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences JO JAPS SN 1018-7081 VO 22 IS 3 SP 564 OP 569 YR 2012 FD 2012/06/01 DO DOI NA AB

Four swamp buffaloes (Bubalus Bubalis) with average body weight of 238±27 kg were randomly assigned to receive four dietary treatments according to a 4 x 4 Latin square design. The treatments were supplemented with Leucaena leucocephala leaves (LLP) and were as follows: Treatment (T1) = LLP supplementation at 0 g/h/d (control); T2 = LLP supplementation at 150 g/ h/d; T3= LLP supplementation at 300 g/ h/d; T4= LLP supplementation at 450 g/ h /d. All animals were fed with concentrate (14.2 % CP, 76 % TDN) at 0.5% BW and offered with rice straw ad libitum. It was found that dry matter intake and ruminal NH3-N (16.2 mg/dl) were increased at highest LLP supplementation, but no effect on rumen pH. Apparent digestibilities of DM, OM, CP, NDF and ADF were significantly increased (P<0.05) when increasing LLP supplementation and was highest at 450 g/h/d. Ruminal NH3-N concentration was significantly different among treatments (P<0.05), and was highest when buffaloes were fed at 450 g/ h /d (16.2 mg/dl). Blood urea-nitrogen (BUN) concentrations were not significantly different (P>0.05) among treatments but tended to be increased with enhancing levels of LLP supplementation (9.0-11.6 mg/dl), respectively. Total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) and proportion of propionic acid (C3) were differed among treatments and ranged from 88.6 to 100.8 mmol/l and 23.4 to 27.7 mmol/l, respectively. The concentrations of acetic acid (C2) and butyric acid (C4) were found decreased when increasing level of LLP from 300 to 450 g/ h /d while the ratio of acetic acid to propionic acid were decreased when supplementation of LLP from 300- 450 kg/ h /d. Based on this study, it could be concluded that supplementation of LLP at 450 g/ h /d with rice straw can improve voluntary intake, digestibility and rumen fermentation parameters in swamp buffaloes.

K1 Leucaena leucocephala pellet; supplementation; rumen fermentation; digestibility; swamp buffaloes; rice straw PB Pakistan Agricultural Scientists Forum LK https://thejaps.org.pk/AbstractView.aspx?mid=2012-JAPS-306