Experiments were conducted at theLivestock Research Centre
Vientiane Lao PDR to study cassava hay production and effect on
supplementation of cassava hay and coconut oil on rumen ecology,
digestibility and feed intake in swamp buffalo
Experiment I was arranged in a Randomized complete block design
(RCBD) with 6 replications of 2 treatments: IC2: initial
harvesting of cassava foliage at 2 months with subsequent
harvesting at every 2 months until the age of 8 months.
IC4: initial harvesting of cassava foliage at 4 months
with subsequent harvesting at every 2 months until the age of 8
months. The objective of this study is to compare the effect of
these two treatments, on cassava hay yield and chemical composition
under the rain-fed conditions of Lao PDR. It is concluded that
different initial ages of harvesting of cassava foliage had no
major effect on cassava foliage quantity (7.1 vs 6.5 tonnes/ha for
IC2 and IC4, respectively), but affected the
chemical composition of cassava foliage, especially crude protein
21.5% vs 20.5%, respectively, and neutral-detergent fiber 48.1% vs
52.4%, respectively. Cultivating cassava foliage for cassava hay
making, as a protein source for swamp buffaloes could be beneficial
for small-holder farmers.
Experiment II was carried out to investigate the effect of
coconut oil and cassava hay supplementation on feed intake,
digestibility and rumen ecology in swamp buffaloes. Four male swamp
buffaloes were assigned in a 4*4 Latin square design which
consisted of 4 replications and 4 treatments. The treatments were:
C: control, fed rice straw ad libitum (no supplementation).
CH: fed rice straw ad libitum plus cassava hay
supplementation at 1 kg/hd/d. CO: fed rice straw ad libitum
plus coconut oil supplementation at 2 ml/kg of BW. CH+CO: fed rice
straw ad libitum plus cassava hay at 1 kg/hd/d plus
coconut oil at 2 ml/kg of BW. It was found that supplementation of
cassava hay resulted in significantly improved feed intake and
digestibility in swamp buffaloes. Supplementation of coconut oil
improved rumen fermentation in terms of fermentation end-products,
and significantly reduced the protozoa population in the rumen. In
contrast with the reduction of protozoa, the numbers of bacteria
increased. Therefore, supplementing cassava hay in combination with
coconut oil can improve rumen ecology of swamp
buffalo.