Effects of Seasonal Changes on Nutrients Composition and in Vitro Gas Assessment of Pigeon Pea Cajanus Cajan Foliage as a Fodder Crop

Animal performance mainly depends on the quantity and quality of forage available as feed and animal feed represents one of the major cost in animal production. Consequently, a research was conducted to investigate the effect of seasonal changes on nutrients composition, and in vitro gas assessment of Cajanus cajan as a fodder crop. Cajanus cajan foliage was harvested from the pasture unit of the University farm after cut back was done and samples were collected every 28 days of every month from July to March of the following year and each month serve as a treatment and T1 July…March T9. The samples were oven dried to determine chemical composition, minerals, secondary metabolites and in vitro gas evaluation using standard techniques. The results of chemical composition showed that crude protein CP and crude fibre varied from 17.12 to 19.44 and 21.57 to 24.83 respectfully. Similarly, all the minerals composition calcium Ca , phosphorus P , magnesium Mg , potassium K , sodium Na , manganese Mn , copper Cu zinc Zn , iron Fe and secondary metabolites phenols, phytates, oxalates, alkaloids, tannins, saponins and lectins were significantly P 0.05 different across the treatments. All other parameters such as dry matter DM , ash, ether extract EE , nitrogen free extract NFE , non fibre carbohydrates NFC and carbohydrates CHO were varied significantly P 0.05 except the organic matter OM that was similar across the treatments. Fibre fractions Neutral Detergent Fibre NDF , Acid Detergent Fibre ADF , Acid Detergent Lignin ADL , Hemicellulose and Cellulose showed significant P 0.05 differences except ADL that was similar throughout the season. In vitro fermentation study revealed that methane CH4 , total gas volume TGV , dry matter degradability DMD , organic matter digestibility OMD , metabolisable energy ME , short chain fatty acids SCFA , and fermentation efficiency FE ranged between 3.00 and 7.50ml, 7.00 and 14.00ml, 44.37 and 56.79 , 37.56 and 43.48 , 4.25 and 5.12MJ KgDM, 0.11 and 0.28µmol, 4.00 and 6.78 respectively. Significant differences P 0.05 occurred among the months regarding the in vitro gas parameters. evaluated. The CP levels, CF and ADF indicated that Cajanus cajan would be digestible. In vitro fermentation results showed that CH4 ranged value was very low, an indication of low loss of energy feed if fed to ruminants. Dry matter degradability DMD and organic matter digestibility OMD of Cajanus cajan as affected by season change were relative low owing to relative high level of ADF, NDF and some secondary metabolites. However seasonal variation had significant P 0.05 effects on the chemical composition except for Ash, OM and ADL composition that were similar across the seasons. Similarly, the results of in vitro gas assessment showed that seasonal change had significant influence on the parameters measured. Amuda, A. J. | Okunlola, D. O "Effects of Seasonal Changes on Nutrients Composition and in Vitro Gas Assessment of Pigeon Pea (Cajanus Cajan) Foliage as a Fodder Crop" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-7 | Issue-5 , October 2023, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd59969.pdf Paper Url: https://www.ijtsrd.com/other-scientific-research-area/other/59969/effects-of-seasonal-changes-on-nutrients-composition-and-in-vitro-gas-assessment-of-pigeon-pea-cajanus-cajan-foliage-as-a-fodder-crop/amuda-a-j