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MEKARN Regional Conference 2007: Matching Livestock Systems with Available Resources |
Fresh cassava root, molasses and rice bran were used as additives for making mulberry leaf silage. The additives were added to wilted mulberry leaves at levels of 20, 5 and 5 % (fresh basis), for fresh cassava root (CR20), molasses (M5) and rice bran (RB5), respectively. The storage times were 0, 7,14 and 21 days, and the silage characteristics were measured at each time. Forty eight laboratory silos were used in a 4*4 factorial arrangement with the three 3 additives and also mulberry leaves alone (ML), and with 3 replicates per treatment.
Dry matter content of all treatments decreased by between 60 and 160 g/kg after 21 days of ensiling (594, 592, 616 and 585 g/kg (P=0.192), at 0 day of ensiling, and 494, 549, 581 and 549 g/kg (P=0.007) at 21 days of ensiling for CR20, M5, RB5 and ML, respectively). The crude protein (CP) content increased, and was 106, 117, 109 and 115 g/kg (P=0.008) at day 0 and 117, 135, 115 and 120 g/kg (P=0.000) at 21 days of ensiling for CR20, M5, RB5 and ML, respectively. Color of silages was changed to yellow-brown after 7 days of ensiling for all treatments and each had a good smell. The color did not change further. pH values fell to about 5 in the first 7 days of ensiling on all treatments (P=0.032) and were further reduced until 21 days of ensiling, and then remained constant for all treatments.
Six castrated crossbred pigs (Large White x Mong Cai) with average body weight of 20 kg were used to study the total tract digestibility of a basal diet of broken rice (restricted to 2 kg/100 kg live weight) supplemented with either ensiled (E) or fresh (F) mulberry leaves. The design was a single changeover arrangement. Mulberry leaves were made into silage, using cassava root as an additive (20%, fresh basis). The ensiling period was 21 days in sealed containers. Fresh mulberry leaves were chopped into small pieces (2-3 cm length) and offered in fresh form. The fresh and ensiled leaves were fed ad libitum.
Intake of both fresh and ensiled Mulberry leaves was similar (P=0.087) (243 and 214g/kg). However, the total daily dry matter feed intake was different between fresh and ensiled mulberry leaves (P= 0.020) (888 and 850 g/kg, respectively). Total daily CP intake was 89 g/kg for F and 88 g/kg for E (P=0.773). Digestibility in young fattening pigs fed E (952 g/kg) and F (920 g/kg) was not different (P=0.046). However, CP digestibility in E (895 g/kg) was higher than in F (822 g/kg) (P=0.033).
It was concluded that the quality of ensiled mulberry leaves can be improved by adding fresh cassava root, molasses and rice bran as silage additives. Feeding ensiled mulberry leaves as supplement to a basal diet (consisting of broken rice) supported higher digestibility in growing pigs than fresh mulberry leaves.
Village pig and poultry production is usually referred to
as the traditional, backyard or smallholder system. Sources of feed are mainly
crop by-products, such as rice bran, broken rice or banana stem. Monogastric
animals serve as family savings for short-term needs, such as school fees, books
or clothing for children. Animal products provide part of the dietary protein
for the rural families (Chanthalakhana et al. 2002).
In Laos, the majority of pig producers are smallholders, most of whom are located in the rural areas. Depending on the area and scale of production, pigs are important to them as a major source of family income, as a sideline for raising funds for particular purposes, as a savings bank, as a source of protein for the family, and for cultural reasons.
(http://www.aciar.gov.au/web.nsp/doc/aciar.5 ND732)
Mulberry is the traditional forage that Lao people use for feeding silk worms (Tingzing et al., 1988). Very little is known about its nutritive value for non-ruminant animals (Benavides 1999; Sánchez 1999). Some studies have reported on mulberry trees leaves for ruminants, such as goats (Nguyen Xuan Ba et al., 2005) and sheep (Liu et al 2000), and Ly et al (2001) found that mulberry leaves had potential as an alternative protein source for pigs.
The dry matter content of mulberry leave ranges from 24 to 33 %, depending on the season, crude protein content from 18.9 to 22.3 % in DM and NDF content from 34 to 43 % in DM (Liu et al (2000). In the study of Nguyen Xuan Ba et al (2005), the biomass yield was from 16 to 18 tonnes DM/ha/year, with a crude protein content of 18 to 25%.
This research aims to test three different additives (molasses, fresh cassava root and rice bran) for the ensiling of mulberry leaves, and to determine the nutritive value in terms of digestibility and nitrogen retention in growing pigs.
Experiment 1 was carried out at the laboratory of the Faculty of Agriculture, National University of Laos, from September, 2005 to January, 2006. Mean temperature during the experimental period was 27o C.
The mulberry leaves were harvested, then chopped into small pieces (2 to 3 cm length) and wilted under sunlight for 2-3 hours to reduce the moisture content. Three additives were prepared for making the silage. Fresh cassava root was peeled and then chopped into small pieces (1 cm length). Molasses was purchased from a sugar factory near the Faculty of Agriculture, and rice bran was bought from a local market. All additives were weighed before being added to wilted mulberry leaves.
Three additives (molasses, fresh cassava root and rice bran) were added to wilted mulberry leaves, and the fourth treatment was wilted mulberry leaves alone (for the silage treatments leaves with intact petioles were used). The levels of additives were 5, 20 and 5 % (fresh basis), for molasses (M), fresh cassavas root (CR) and rice bran (RB), respectively. The storage times were 0, 7, 14 and 21 days, and at each time the silage characteristics were measured. Forty eight laboratory silos were used according to a 4*4 factorial arrangement with three additives (M, CR and RB) and four ensiling periods, and a control (ML) was of mulberry leaves alone. There were three replicates per treatment. The content of each silo was 1000 g, and the silos were kept at ambient temperature.
Samples of fresh and wilted mulberry leaves were analysed for DM and N (AOAC, 1990). Samples of silage in every period were analyzed for pH, DM (Undersander et al. 1993), N (AOAC, 1990) and NH3.
The data were analyzed using the general linear model option of Minitab (version 13.31) ANOVA software (2000). Sources of variation were: additives, ensiling period, interaction between additives*ensiling period, and error.
Results in Table 1 show that the dry matter content at day 0 was not different among treatments and varied from 585 g/kg to 616 g/kg. However, dry mater content in all treatments declined by 6 to 16 percent at 21 days after ensiling. The dry matter content of CR 20% decreased from 594 g/kg to 495 g/kg.
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Table 1: Effect of ensiling time and different additives (molasses, fresh cassava root and rice bran) on the dry matter content (DM). |
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Parameter |
Treatment |
Time of ensiling (days) |
SE |
P |
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|
0 |
7 |
14 |
21 |
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|
DM |
CR20 |
59.4 a |
b52.0 b |
b50.3 b |
B49.5 b |
1.199 |
0.001 |
|
|
M5 |
59.2 |
ab55.5 |
ab56.0 |
ab54.9 |
1.398 |
0.219 |
|
|
ML |
58.5 |
ab55.0 |
ab55.3 |
ab54.9 |
0.825 |
0.041 |
|
|
RB5 |
61.6 |
a57.9 |
a61.6 |
a58.1 |
1.663 |
0.278 |
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|
SE |
0.954 |
0.797 |
1.937 |
1.241 |
|
|
|
|
P |
0.192 |
0.006 |
0.023 |
0.007 |
|
|
.
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Table 2: Effect of ensiling time and different additives (molasses, fresh cassava root and rice bran) on crude protein content, % of DM |
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Treatment |
Time of ensiling (days) |
SE |
P |
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|
0 |
7 |
14 |
21 |
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|
CR20 |
10.6 b |
11.3 ab |
11.8 a |
10.9 b |
0.151 |
0.003 |
|
M5 |
11.7 b |
10.5 bc |
9.9 c |
13.5 a |
0.324 |
0.000 |
|
ML |
11.5 a |
11.3 a |
12.1 b |
12.0 b |
0.044 |
0.000 |
|
RB5 |
10.9 ab |
11.5 a |
10.3 b |
11.5 a |
0.151 |
0.002 |
|
SE |
0.181 |
0.041 |
0.303 |
0.163 |
|
|
|
P |
0.008 |
0.000 |
0.003 |
0.000 |
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Table 3: Effect of ensiling time and different additives (molasses, fresh cassava root and rice bran) on the chemical composition of the mulberry leave silage (% DM). |
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Parameter |
Treatment |
Time of ensiling (days) |
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|
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|
0 |
7 |
14 |
21 |
SE |
P |
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|
NH3-N |
CR20 |
0.08 b |
0.09 a |
0.083 ab |
0.06 c |
0.001 |
0.000 |
|
|
M5 |
0.09 a |
0.08 ab |
0.093 a |
0.076 b |
0.002 |
0.003 |
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|
ML |
0.097 |
0.09 |
0.103 |
0.083 |
0.004 |
0.041 |
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|
RB5 |
0.097 |
a0.097 |
0.103 |
0.08 |
0.004 |
0.020 |
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|
SE |
0.003 |
0.001 |
0.003 |
0.003 |
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|
P |
0.04 |
0.001 |
0.008 |
0.009 |
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|
pH |
CR20 |
6.27 a |
5.78 b |
5.58 b |
5.17 c |
0.043 |
0.000 |
|
|
M5 |
6.39 a |
5.97 b |
6.17 ab |
5.52 c |
0.049 |
0.003 |
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|
ML |
6.31 a |
5.87 b |
6.25 a |
5.44 c |
0.057 |
0.000 |
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|
RB5 |
6.43 a |
5.99 a |
6.17 a |
5.76 b |
0.108 |
0.014 |
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|
SE |
0.017 |
0.032 |
0.061 |
0.114 |
|
|
|
|
P |
0.062 |
0.006 |
0.000 |
0.039 |
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Six castrated Large White x Mong Cai crossbred pigs with average body weight of 20 kg were used to study the total tract digestibility of a basal diet of broken rice supplemented with either ensiled (E) or fresh (F) mulberry leaves. The design was a single changeover arrangement (Table 4).
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Table 4: Experimental design |
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Period\Pig |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
|
1 |
E |
F |
E |
F |
E |
F |
|
2 |
F |
E |
F |
E |
F |
E |
The animals were housed in individual metabolism cages to allow separation of faeces and urine. The trial was divided into two periods of ten days, five days for adaptation and another five days for collection of faeces and urine. A solution of 10% of H2SO4 mixed with 90% of distilled water maintained the pH of urine below 4.
Mulberry leaves were made into silage, using cassava root as an additive (20%, fresh basis). The ensiling period was 21 days in sealed containers. Fresh mulberry leaves were chopped into small pieces (2-3 cm length) and offered in fresh form.
The basal diet was broken rice restricted to 2 kg/100 kg live weight. The fresh mulberry leaves and the ensiled leaves were fed ad libitum (20% above recorded intake). Water was supplied ad-libitum through nipple drinkers.
Feed offered and refused were collected and weighed and analyzed for DM (Undersander et al., 1993), N, CF and OM (AOAC, 1990). Faeces were collected and pooled samples analyzed for DM, N, OM and CF (AOAC, 1990).
The data were analyzed using the general linear model option of Minitab (version 13.31) ANOVA software (2000). Sources of variation were: pigs, periods, treatments and error.
Dry matter content of fresh mulberry leave was 30.9 %, which was lower than mulberry leaves ensiled with fresh cassava (41.6 %) (Table 5). Nutrient content was low in fresh mulberry. Crude fiber content was not different between fresh and mulberry leaf silage (12.4 and 13.0 % in fresh and ensiled mulberry leaves, respectively).
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Table 5: Chemical composition of mulberry leaves and feed ingredients, % in DM |
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Ingredients |
DM |
Dry matter, % |
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|
CP |
CF |
Ash |
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Broken rice |
92.8 |
7.5 |
|
0.44 |
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Fresh mulberry leaves |
30.9 |
15.7 |
12.4 |
11.1 |
|
Ensiled mulberry leaves |
41.6 |
19.2 |
13.0 |
10.4 |
Total DM feed intake of pigs fed FM (fresh mulberry leaves) and EM (ensiled mulberry leaves) was not different (P>0.05). Mulberry leaves intake in diet FM (243 g/day) was not different from EM (214 g/day) (P>0.05). Total daily CP intake of FM (89 g/day) was similar to EM (88 g/day) (P>0.05).Total crude fiber intake was 37 g DM/day in the FM diet and 33 g DM/day in the EM diet, which was not different (P>0.05), as shown in Table 6.
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Table 6: Daily dry matter and nutrient intake |
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|
Dietary intake * |
|
|
|
|
|
FM |
EM |
SE |
P |
|
Number of pigs |
3 |
3 |
|
|
|
Dry matter intake, g |
|
|
|
|
|
Broken rice |
645 |
636 |
6.203 |
0.280 |
|
Mulberry leaves |
243 |
214 |
11.46 |
0.087 |
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Total, g |
888 |
850 |
11.22 |
0.020 |
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Crude protein intake, g |
|
|
|
|
|
Broken rice |
48 |
47 |
0.48 |
0.283 |
|
Mulberry leaves |
41 |
41 |
2.23 |
0.950 |
|
Total, g |
89 |
88 |
2.11 |
0.773 |
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Crude fiber intake, g |
|
|
|
|
|
Broken rice |
6 |
6 |
0.07 |
0.117 |
|
Mulberry leaves |
31 |
27 |
1.54 |
0.097 |
|
Total, g |
37 |
33 |
1.54 |
0.094 |
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Table 7: Digestibility of diets with fresh and ensiled mulberry leaves in young fattening pigs |
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Digestibility, % |
Dietary treatment |
SE |
P |
|
|
FM |
EM |
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|
Dry matter |
92.0 |
95.2 |
1.095 |
0.046 |
|
Crude protein |
82.2 |
89.6 |
2.393 |
0.033 |
|
Crude fiber |
73.3 |
80.7 |
3.946 |
0.196 |
Dry matter and crude protein digestibility in the EM diet was higher than in the FM diet (P<0.05).
References
AOAC 1990: Official Methods of Analysis. Association of Official Analytical Chemists. 15th edition (K Helrick editor). Arlington pp 1230.
Benavides J E 1999: Utilización de la morera en sistemas de producción animal. In: Agroforestería para la Producción Animal en América Latina (M D Sánchez and M Rosales, editors). Estudios FAO de Producción y Sanidad Animal No143. Rome p 275-281.
Chanthalakhana C, Pakapun S 2002: Sustainable smallholder animal production systems in the tropics. Kasetsart University Press. Bangkok, Thailand. pp 72.
Ly J, Chhay Ty, Chiv Phiny and Preston T R 2001: Some aspects of the nutritive value of leaf meals of Trichanthera gigantea and Morus alba for Mong Cai pigs. Livestock Research for Rural Development 13(1): http://www.cipav.org.co/lrrd/lrrd13/1/ly131.htm
Liu J X, Jun Yao, Yan BI, Yu J Q, Shi Z Q and Wang X Q. 2000: The Nutritional Value of Mulberry Leaves and Their Use as Supplement to Growing Sheep Fed Ammoniated Rice Straw. College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University (Huajiachi Campus), Hangzhou, Animal Production and Health Station, Tongxiang, Zhejiang, China.
Minitab 2000. GLM. In Minitab reference manual Release 13.31 for windows. Minitab Inc., State College, USA, http://www.minitab.com
Nguyen Xuan Ba, Vu Duy Giang and Le Duc Ngoan 2005: Ensiling of mulberry foliage (Morus alba) and the nutritive value of mulberry foliage silage for goats in central Vietnam. Livestock Research for Rural Development. Vol. 17, Art. # 15. Retrieved , from http://www.cipav.org.co/lrrd/lrrd17/02/ba17015.htm
Sánchez M D 1999: Comentarios generales. In: Agroforestería para la Producción Animal en América Latina (M D Sánchez and M Rosales, editors). Estudios FAO de Producción y Sanidad Animal No 143, Rome p 363-365.
Tingzing Z, Yunfan T, Guangxien H, Huaizhong F and Ben M 1988: Mulberry cultivation. FAO Agricultural Series Bulletin 73/1. Rome pp 127.
Undersander D, Mertens, D R and Theix N 1993: Forage analysis procedures. National Forage Testing Association. Omaha pp 154.