Rumen degradability of dry matter and crude protein in tree leaves and crop residues of humid Nigeria

crop residues were evaluated in this study using the nylon bag technique with three cannulated rams. The results revealed significant variations between the leaves and residues in terms of DM and CP degradability characteristics. The potential degradability of DM ranged from 65.94 to 96.69 % in the leaves and 51.28 to 73.77 % in the residues whereas DM disappearance after 48 hrs of incubation was from 43.27 to 73.50 % and 34.03 to 54.27 % respectively. Effective degradability (ED) of DM decreased with increase in outflow rates ranging from a low of 35.88 % (k=0.05) to 72.67 % (k=0.02) in the leaves and 26.59 % (k=0.05) to 54.60% (k=0.02) in the residues. Potentially the degradability of CP in the leaves was between 22.41 and 57.38 % and 22.87 and 57.19 % in the residues. The least ED (k=0.05) of CP was 14.11 % while the highest was 48.01% (k=0.02) in the leaves whereas the residues had a range between 13.20 % (k=0.05) and 46.70 % (k=0.02). Crude protein disappearance post-incubation for 48 hrs ranged between 17.63 and 53.81 % and 14.34 and 53.07 % in the leaves and residues respectively. The findings of this study showed that the DM compared with CP in the leaves and residues was more degradable in the rumen with the leaves better in this same regard. The information thus provided by this study could be useful in the planning of ruminant diets particularly in the dry season of the tropics