Track 2-1-2: Forage Conservation, Value Addition and Balanced Nutrition

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Forage legumes have high potential degradability, indicating that they might need to stay in the rumen for a longer time (MolinaAlcaide et al., 1996) to increase microbial protein yield. Microbial protein contributes about two thirds of the amino acids absorbed by ruminants (Pathak 2008). Protein supplements which have proper levels of rumen undegradable protein provide growth limiting amino acids like lysine and methionine (Rezai et al., 2012). Nyambati et al. (2003) showed that milk production can be increased by supplementing with velvet bean, highlighting the importance of integrating legumes into the low-input, mixed cropping systems in the tropics. The current study was to determine total microbial protein yield from Vigna unguiculata (cowpea), Desmodium uncinatum (silverleaf desmodium) and Mucuna pruriens (velvet bean) legume forages in goats.

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Nitrogen Retention and Microbial Protein Yield of Desmodium uncunatum, Mucuna pruriens and Vigna unguiculata Forage Legumes in Goats

Forage legumes have high potential degradability, indicating that they might need to stay in the rumen for a longer time (MolinaAlcaide et al., 1996) to increase microbial protein yield. Microbial protein contributes about two thirds of the amino acids absorbed by ruminants (Pathak 2008). Protein supplements which have proper levels of rumen undegradable protein provide growth limiting amino acids like lysine and methionine (Rezai et al., 2012). Nyambati et al. (2003) showed that milk production can be increased by supplementing with velvet bean, highlighting the importance of integrating legumes into the low-input, mixed cropping systems in the tropics. The current study was to determine total microbial protein yield from Vigna unguiculata (cowpea), Desmodium uncinatum (silverleaf desmodium) and Mucuna pruriens (velvet bean) legume forages in goats.