In Vitro Digestibility, Volatile Fatty Acids, Rumen Microbial Population and Identification of West African Dwarf does Fed Concentrate Diets Containing Graded Levels of Cassava Leaf Meal

Abstract

This study evaluated the in vitro digestibility, volatile fatty acids (VFAs), and rumen microbial population of West African Dwarf (WAD) does fed concentrate diets containing varying levels of cassava leaf (CL) meal. Fresh TME 419 cassava leaves were sun-dried, milled, and incorporated into the diets at 0, 10, 20, and 30% inclusion levels. Key parameters measured included in vitro gas production, total VFAs, pH, temperature, in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), short chain fatty acids (SCFA), carbon dioxide, and methane. Results indicated that total VFA was significantly (P<0.05) influenced by CL inclusion, peaking at 79.30 mM/100ml with 30% CL and lowest (73.60 mM/100ml) at 20% CL. At 0-hour post-feeding, fungi population varied significantly, with the highest count (1.47 x 10° cfu/ml) at 30% CL and the lowest (1.10 x 10° cfu/ml) at 10% CL. At 6-hour post-feeding, the highest fungi count (1.85 x 10° cfu/ml) occurred at 10% CL. Additionally, total VFA was highest (200 mM/100ml) at 20% CL inclusion at 6-hour post-feeding. Ammonia nitrogen levels were significantly affected at 0- hour post-feeding, with the highest value (47.63 mg/100ml) observed at 0% CL inclusion. The study concluded that incorporating up to 30% CL in concentrate diets enhances in vitro VFA production and total protozoa counts of WAD does.