JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND PRACTICE
Integrity Research Journals
ISSN: 2536-7072
Model: Open Access/Peer Reviewed
DOI: 10.31248/JASP
Start Year: 2016
Email: jasp@integrityresjournals.org
Chemical composition and in vitro degradation of some selected plants consumed by small ruminants
https://doi.org/10.31248/JASP2026.574 | Article Number: 56C435795 | Vol.11 (1) - April 2026
Received Date: 16 March 2026 | Accepted Date: 14 April 2026 | Published Date: 30 April 2026
Authors: Adebayo, B. J.* , Adefisayo, S. E. and Akinfemi, A.
Keywords: ruminants, plants, chemical composition, In vitro gas, metabolizable energy
The nutritive qualities of five selected forages, Mangifera indica, Anacardium occidental, Gmelina aborea, Gliricidia sepium and Panicum maximum were investigated. Chemical composition of the forages was determined, and the in vitro digestibility study was carried out for 24 hours. Results obtained from chemical composition showed that Mangifera indica had the highest (p<0.05) dry matter (DM) value of 93.40%, while the least DM content of 85.00% was obtained in Panicum maximum. Crude protein (CP) content ranged from 8.13% in Panicum maximum to 20.29% in Gmelina aborea. Anacardium occidentale recorded the highest significant (p<0.05) ether extract content of 17.23%, while the least value (9.34%) was obtained in Gliricidia sepium. Results of the in vitro study revealed that gas production of Mangifera indica was consistently high (p<0.05) throughout the incubation period from 3 to 24 hours. Panicum maximum had the least gas production volume throughout the period of incubation. The study concluded that the selected plants had high crude protein and dry matter contents, which would make them good protein supplements to poor-quality feeds for ruminant animals.
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