Iranian Veterinary Journal

Iranian Veterinary Journal

Investigating the nutritional value of the red Alternanthera sessilis plant for ruminants

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Zahra Ghashang Mirzavand 1
Morteza Chaji 2
1 Msc Graduated, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Technology, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Khuzestan, Mollasani, Iran
2 Professor, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Technology, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Mollasani, Iran
10.22055/ivj.2023.406104.2595
Abstract
    The present experiment was conducted to determine the chemical composition, digestibility and fermentation of red Alternanthera sessilis and compare its nutritional value with alfalfa either individually or in the form of rations of fattened lamb diets. Four experimental treatments included 1: control (without Alternanthera sessilis), 2: ration containing 3% (20% alfalfa substitution), 3: 6% (40% alfalfa substitution) and 4: 9% (60% alfalfa substitution) Alternanthera sessilis. Digestibility and fermentation of experimental samples were measured by gas production and two-step digestion test. In terms of chemical composition, there was a great relationship between Alternanthera sessilis and alfalfa hay. Adding Alternanthera sessilis to feed of lambs significantly increased the amount of truly degraded organic matter, metabolizable energy, and apparent digestibility of organic matter, so that these parameters were highest in treatment containing 9% of Alternanthera sessilis plant. On the other hand, by using Alternanthera sessilis plant, dry matter digestibility tended to increased. The amount of microbial biomass production and microbial biomass production efficiency were not affected by experimental diets. Rations containing Alternanthera sessilis were cheaper than control diets. Therefore, it can be stated that the nutritional value of Alternanthera sessilis is comparable to alfalfa hay and can be replaced by alfalfa by up to 60% in the ration of fattening lambs. In vivo experiments are also suggested.
Keywords
Alternanthera sessilis
Alfalfa hay
Digestibility
Ruminants

Subjects

AOAC. (2012). Official methods of analysis of Association of Official Analytical Chemists, 19th ed. Gaithersburg.
Bakhshizadeh, S., Taghizadeh, A., Janmohammadi, H., & Alijani, S. (2014). Chemical composition and the nutritive value of pistachio epicarp (in situ degradation and in vitro gas production techniques). Veterinary Research Forum, 5(1), 43-47.
Blümmel, M., & Bullerdieck, P. (1997). The need to complement in vitro gas production measurements with residue determinations from in sacco degradabilities to improve the prediction of voluntary intake of hays. Animal Science, 64(1), 71-75.
Souhil, B., Samir, B., Lyas, B., Amal, H., Ibtissem, B., Nour-Elhouda, A. & Secundino., L. (2022). In vitro gas production and fermentation parameters of some plants species collected from algerian arid rangelands. Journal of Rangeland Science, 12 (1), 77-86.
Coblentz, W. K., Nellis, S. E., Hoffman, P. C., Hall, M. B., Weimer, P. J., Esser, N. M., & Bertram, M. G. (2013). Unique interrelationships between fiber composition, water-soluble carbohydrates, and in vitro gas production for fall-grown oat forages. Journal of dairy science, 96(11), 7195-7209.
Cushnie, T. T., & Lamb, A. J. (2011). Recent advances in understanding the antibacterial properties of flavonoids. International journal of antimicrobial agents, 38(2), 99-107.
García-González, R., López, S., Fernández, M., & González, J. S. (2006). Effects of the addition of some medicinal plants on methane production in a rumen simulating fermenter (RUSITEC). International Congress Series, 1293, 172-175. Elsevier.
He, Y., Cone, J. W., Hendriks, W. H., & Dijkstra, J. (2020). Relationships between chemical composition and in vitro gas production parameters of maize leaves and stems. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 104(1), 12-21.
Hyde, M., Wursten, B., Ballings, P., & Palgrave Coates, M. (2021). Flora of Zimbabwe: Species Information: Pinus patula. Flora of Zimbabwe. https://www. zimbabweflora. co. zw/speciesdata/species. php.
Jiménez-Peralta, F. S., Salem, A. Z. M., Mejia-Hernández, P., González-Ronquillo, M., Albarrán-Portillo, B., Rojo-Rubio, R., & Tinoco-Jaramillo, J. L. (2011). Influence of individual and mixed extracts of two tree species on in vitro gas production kinetics of a high concentrate diet fed to growing lambs. Livestock Science, 136(2-3), 192-200.
Kumari, E. V., & Krishnan, V. (2016). Qualitative and quantitative estimation of phytochemicals of Alternanthera sessilis (l) r. Br. Ex. Dc and Alternanthera Philoxeroides (mart). Griseb. International Journal of Botany and Research, 6(4), 29-34.
Menke, K.H., Raab, L., Salewski, A., Steingass, H., Fritz, D. & Schneider, W. (1979). The estimation of the digestibility and metabolizable energy content of ruminant feedingstuffs from the gas production when they m incubated with rumen liquor in vitro. J. Agric. Sci., 93: 217-222.
Mondal, H., Saha, S., Awang, K., Hossain, H., Ablat, A., Islam, M. K., ... & Uddin, S. J. (2014). Central-stimulating and analgesic activity of the ethanolic extract of Alternanthera sessilis in mice. BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 14(1), 1-9.
NRC, National Research Council (US). Committee on Nutrient Requirements of Small Ruminants. (2007). Nutrient requirements of small ruminants: sheep, goats, cervids, and new world camelids.
Newbold, C. J., De La Fuente, G., Belanche, A., Ramos-Morales, E., & McEwan, N. R. (2015). The role of ciliate protozoa in the rumen. Frontiers in microbiology, 6, 1313.
Nooriyan Soroor, E., & Rouzbehan, Y. (2013). The influence of golpar (Heracleum persicum) on in vitro rumen fermentation parameter, sand on methane production. Iranian Journal of animal Science, 44(4), 385-395. doi: 10.22059/ijas.2013.50382.
Nooriyan Soroor, E., & Rouzbehan, Y. (2014). Effect of Echium amoenum extract on plasma metabolites and methane estimate mehraban male lambs. Iranian Journal of animal Science, 44(3), 273-282. doi: 10.22059/ijas.2013.36155.
Noviandi, C. T., Kustaantinah, K., Irawan, A., Widyobroto, B. P., & Astuti, A. (2021). Determination of in vitro gas production kinetics by adding Leucaena leucecophala and corn oil to the ration in different ratios. Iranian Journal of Applied Animal Science, 11(1), 23-31.
Ørskov, E. R., & McDonald, I. (1979). The estimation of protein degradability in the rumen from incubation measurements weighted according to rate of passage. The Journal of Agricultural Science, 92(2), 499-503.
Othman, A., Ismail, A., Hassan, F.A., Yusof, B.N.M., & Khatib, A., (2016). Comparative evaluation of nutritional compositions, antioxidant capacities, and phenolic compounds of red and green sessile Joyweed (Alternanthera sessilis). J. Funct.Foods 21, 263–271.
Patra, A. K., & Saxena, J. (2010). A new perspective on the use of plant secondary metabolites to inhibit methanogenesis in the rumen. Phytochemistry, 71(11-12), 1198-1222.
Sallam, S. M. A., Bueno, I. C. S., Brigide, P., Godoy, P. B., Vitti, D. M. S. S., & Abdalla, A. L. (2009). Efficacy of eucalyptus oil on in vitro ruminal fermentation and methane production. Options Mediterraneennes, 85(85), 267.
Sirohi, S. K., Pandey, N., Goel, N., Singh, B., Mohini, M., Pandey, P., & Chaudhry, P. P. (2009). Microbial activity and ruminal methanogenesis as affected by plant secondary metabolites in different plant extracts. International Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering, 1(1), 52-58.
Snelling, T. J., Auffret, M. D., Duthie, C. A., Stewart, R. D., Watson, M., Dewhurst, R. J., ... & Walker, A. W. (2019). Temporal stability of the rumen microbiota in beef cattle, and response to diet and supplements. Animal Microbiome, 1, 1-14.
Sommai, S., Cherdthong, A., Suntara, C., So, S., Wanapat, M., & Polyorach, S. (2021). In vitro fermentation characteristics and methane mitigation responded to flavonoid extract levels from Alternanthera sissoo and dietary ratios. Fermentation, 7(3), 109.
Tilley, J. M. A., & Terry, D. R. (1963). A two‐stage technique for the in vitro digestion of forage crops. Grass and forage science, 18(2), 104-111.
Van Soest, P.J., Rabertson, J.b., & Lewis, B.A. (1991). Methods for dietary fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and nonstarch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition. nutritional ecology of the ruminant. Journal of Dairy Science, 74(10): 3583-3597.
Zhu, Z., Difford, G. F., Noel, S. J., Lassen, J., Løvendahl, P., & Højberg, O. (2021). Stability assessment of the rumen bacterial and archaeal communities in dairy cows within a single lactation and its association with host phenotype. Frontiers in Microbiology, 12, 636223.