Comparative Evaluation of the Nutritive Value of Terminalia catappa Fruit, Husk and Kernel as Feed Supplement for Ruminants in Nigeria

Abstract

Nutrient and anti-nutrient content, mineral composition and coefficient of preference of fruit, husk and kernel of Terminalia catappa by West African Dwarf Sheep were determined in Ijebu-Ode, South West of Nigeria. In vitro gas production of fruit, husk and kernel were carried out for a period of 24 hr incubation to predict metabolizable energy, organic matter digestibility and short chain fatty acids. Methane was measured by introducing 10 M NaOH into the inoculums after incubation. The soluble degradable fraction (a), insoluble degradable fraction (b), potential degradability (a+b) and rate of degradation (c), were also estimated. Results revealed significant (p<0.05) differences for nutrient content among the parts. The dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fibre ranged from 87.23-94.19 and 26.21-46.90 % in the kernel and husk, respectively. The crude protein ranged from 4.33-14.83 % in the husk and kernel, respectively. The micro-minerals differed significantly (p<0.05) among the different parts, while the macro-minerals showed no significant (p>0.05) variation. It was observed that the husk and kernel have the lowest and highest concentration of micro-minerals, respectively. The values are: Fe (192.5 and 208.4 mg.kg-1), Cu (3.2 and. 5.1 mg.kg-1) and Mn (28.6 and 46.6 mg.kg-1) respectively. The parts were implicated for anti-nutritients, though not significant. The in-vitro gas production, metabolizable energy, organic matter digestibility, short chain fatty acid and methane production varied significantly (p<0.05) with the kernel recording the highest value, while the lowest values were recorded for the husk. They ranged from 5.50-7.75 ml/200mg DM; 3.37-5.05 MJ/Kg DM; 26.72-40.24%; 0.14-0.25 μmol; 2-6 ml/200mg DM in the husk and kernel respectively. Same trend was observed for a, b, a+b and c ranging from 3.00- 3.50ml/200mg DM; 5.25- 9.29ml/200mg DM; 8.25-12.79ml/200mg DM and 0.16-0.25ml/h in husk and kernel respectively. The coefficient of preference revealed that kernel and fruit were acceptable to the animals, while the husk was rejected, ranging between 0.82 and 1.01 in the husk and kernel respectively. The kernel was mostly preferred, it can be concluded that the fruit can be sourced for possible feed supplement for ruminants.