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

- 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.