Degradability of the dry matter and crude protein of fruits of Chloroleucon mangense and Acacia cochliacantha in sheep

Abstract The objective of this work was to determine the nutritional content and the degradability of the dry matter and protein of fruits of Chloroleucon mangense and Acacia cochliacantha and of a 1:1 mixture of both, offered as supplements to Rambouillet sheep. In situ ruminal degradation was evaluated in three adult rams, fitted with a rumen cannula, with different incubation times of 0, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours. Protein intestinal degradability was quantified with a three-step procedure: in situ ruminal incubation, in vitro enzymatic digestion, and abomasal-intestinal digestion. The fruits of C. mangense and A. cochliacantha contain 21 and 12% crude protein, 47 and 56% neutral detergent fiber, 31 and 43% acid detergent fiber, and 0.9 and 6.0% condensed tannins, respectively. The fruits of C. mangense showed a higher nutritional value and a higher dry matter and crude protein degradability (p<0.05) than those of A. cochliacantha and the 1:1 mixture. The amount of protein that reaches the small intestine is higher for the 1:1, which is an indicative that its tannin concentration is enough to increase the bypass protein that can be absorbed in the small intestine.