The objectives of the current study were, firstly to determine the molecular weight of
condensed tannins (CTs) of 62-2-8 Leucaena-hybrid Bahru (LLB) and relating it to its protein
binding ability, using the local Leucaena leucocephala (LLL) as control and; secondly
to evaluate the effect of different levels of CTs of the hybrid LLB on rumen fermentation
parameters, including dry matter and nitrogen digestibility and methane gas production.
The weight-average molecular weights (Mw) of purified CTs extracted from hybrid LLB and
local LLL, determined using gel permeation chromatography were near similar, being 2737
and 2872 Da, respectively. However, the CTs of the hybrid LLB exhibited stronger protein
binding ability than the local LLL (0.305 and 0.420 mg, respectively, for LLB and LLL to bind
half maximum bovine serum albumin). The above results seems to suggest that molecular
mass of CTs, at least for Leucaena forages, is not the sole factor in determining their
capability to bind protein. Inclusion of about 20–40mg of CT/g DM of the CTs from hybrid
LLB effectively decreased (P<0.05) methane production and in vitro nitrogen digestibility.
The above results suggested a potential of using CTs from the hybrid LLB to protect dietary
protein from rumen degradation for better utilization in the small intestine of ruminant
animals, and in addition to mitigate their enteric methane emission, often implicated as a
source of greenhouse gases.
การแปล กรุณารอสักครู่..
