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Articles

Vol. 8 No. 1 (2014): AJABS Volume 8, Issue 1, 2014

In Vitro Fermentation Ttechnique To Evaluate Feeds Of Goats.

  • K.O. Lapenga
Submitted
9 July 2021
Published
11-09-2021

Abstract

A study was done to evaluate banana peels, maize bran, cotton seed cake, Leucaena leaves and elephant grass for energy as feeds for goats, using in-vitro fermentation technique. The in-vitro media solution was prepared and fermentation bottles were prepared using 12 culture screw bottles, with a valve and connected to a teflon tube to allow fermentation of gas within the bottle to flow out and be measured. Rumen fluid (10ml) was used to inoculate substrate in all fermentation bottles, each containing 0.5 g of each sample including the blank under a continuous carbon dioxide flux. The bottles were incubated in the water bath at a temperature of 380C for 168 hours. The gas volumes were measured by displacement of water in a 100 ml measuring cylinder suspended in a water trough. The cumulative gas production was determined by subtracting gas from the blank and the results plotted against time of incubation. The cumulative gas volume was associated with increase in bacterial activities in the rumen indicating the rate of degradation of the feeds. The result showed that maize bran, banana peels and elephant grass were primarily energy feeds in respect order of importance, while cotton seed cake and Leucaena leaves had the lowest levels and rate of gas production.