APPARENT DIGESTIBILITY OF RHODE ISLAND RED HENS' DIETS CONTAINING LEUCAENA LEUCOCEPHALA AND MORINGA OLEIFERA LEAF MEALS

摘要

This study consisted of two experiments aimed to evaluate the dietary digestibility by Rhode Island Red (RIR) hens fed different levels of Leucaena leucocephala (LLM) or Moringa oleifera (MOLM). In each experiment, four groups each of nine birds were assigned to four dietary treatments containing 0, 5, 10 and 15 % of LLM (Exp 1) or MOLM (Exp 2). All groups received smashed diets, containing similar metabolizable energy and crude protein for six weeks and during the last four days, feed intake was recorded daily and excreta was totally collected twice a day and weighed individually. The dietary treatments had no significant effects on the intake of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), gross energy (GE), crude protein (CP) or neutral detergent fiber (NDF) in both experiments, while the acid detergent fiber (ADF) intake increased linearly with the increase of LLM and MOLM levels. The apparent digestibility of DM, CP, ADF, and OM decreased linearly with the increase of LLM and MOLM levels. The apparent digestibility of gross energy decreased linearly in LLM experiment, while it was not affected in MOLM experiment. LLM and MOLM could be recommended for RIR hens between 5 and 10% of the diet.