Animal performance mainly depends on the quantity and quality of forage available as feed and animal feed represents one of the major cost in animal production. Consequently, a research was conducted to investigate the effect of seasonal changes on nutrients composition, and in vitro gas assessment of Cajanus cajan as a fodder crop. Cajanus cajan foliage was harvested from the pasture unit of the University farm after cut back was done and samples were collected every 28 days of every month (from July to March of the following year) and each month serve as a treatment and T1 (July…March) T9. The samples were oven dried to determine chemical composition, minerals, secondary metabolites and in vitro gas evaluation using standard techniques. The results of chemical composition showed that crude protein (CP) and crude fibre varied from 17.12 to 19.44% and 21.57 to 24.83% respectfully. Similarly, all the minerals composition (calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), sodium (Na), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu) zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) and secondary metabolites (phenols, phytates, oxalates, alkaloids, tannins, saponins and lectins) were significantly (P<0.05) different across the treatments. All other parameters such as dry matter (DM), ash, ether extract (EE), nitrogen free extract (NFE), non-fibre carbohydrates (NFC) and carbohydrates (CHO) were varied significantly (P<0.05) except the organic matter (OM) that was similar across the treatments. Fibre fractions (Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF), Acid Detergent Fibre (ADF), Acid Detergent Lignin (ADL), Hemicellulose and Cellulose) showed significant (P<0.05) differences except ADL that was similar throughout the season. In vitro fermentation study revealed that methane (CH4), total gas volume (TGV), dry matter degradability (DMD), organic matter digestibility (OMD), metabolisable energy (ME), short chain fatty acids (SCFA), and fermentation efficiency (FE) ranged between 3.00 and 7.50ml, 7.00 and 14.00ml, 44.37 and 56.79%, 37.56 and 43.48%, 4.25 and 5.12MJ/KgDM, 0.11 and 0.28µmol, 4.00 and 6.78 respectively. Significant differences ((P<0.05) occurred among the months regarding the in vitro gas parameters. evaluated. The CP levels, CF and ADF indicated that Cajanus cajan would be digestible. In vitro fermentation results showed that CH4 ranged value was very low, an indication of low loss of energy feed if fed to ruminants. Dry matter degradability (DMD) and organic matter digestibility (OMD) of Cajanus cajan as affected by season change were relative low owing to relative high level of ADF, NDF and some secondary metabolites. However seasonal variation had significant (P<0.05) effects on the chemical composition except for Ash, OM and ADL composition that were similar across the seasons. Similarly, the results of in vitro gas assessment showed that seasonal change had significant influence on the parameters measured.
Cajanus cajan, metabolisable energy, in vitro, chemical composition
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