Nutritive Value and Fermentation Characteristics of Tithonia diversifolia and Moringa oleifera Evaluated by Gas Production Technique in vitro

Abstract

Paitan ( Tithonia diversifolia ) and kelor ( Moringa oleifera ) leaves contain high crude protein, which can increase the protein content of the feed. This study aims to determine the role of pain leaf ( Tithonia diversifolia ) and kelor ( Moringa oleifera ) as a concentrate in vitro. Another feed ingredient used is rice bran. A completely randomized design with five treatments and five replications was applied in this study. The treatments were A ( Tithonia diversifolia leaves without rice bran), B ( Tithonia diversifolia leaves 75% + rice bran 25%), C ( Tithonia diversifolia leaves 37.5% + Moringa oleifera leaves 37.5% + 25% rice bran), D ( Moringa oleifera leaves 75% + rice bran 25%) and E ( Moringa oleifera leaves without rice bran). Parameters observed were nutrient content, in vitro gas production and rumen fermentation products. The results showed that the crude protein content of treatments B, C and D was lower than A and E due to the use of rice bran which had a low crude protein content, but the addition of rice bran in the feed resulted in higher gas production (P<0.05). The combination of the use of rice bran and Moringa oleifera leaves (treatment D), resulted in the highest gas production up to 48 hours of incubation (P<0.05). The highest gas production from the fermentation of soluble (GPSF) and insoluble (GPNSF) fractions resulting from treatment D were 11.01 ml and 137.48 ml respectively. Anti-nutrients found in Tithonia diversifolia leaves make gas production lower than anti-nutrients found in Moringa oleifera leaves. 25% rice bran on feed could increase metabolizable energy (ME), organic matter digestibility (OMD), microbial protein (MP) and single-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production. It can be concluded that the use of 25% rice bran in feed containing Tithonia diversifolia and Moringa oleifera can reduce the anti-nutritional effect.