Evaluation of water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) as forage substitution on in vitro gas production, digestibility, and kinetic fermentation

Abstract

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate water spinach as forage substitution on in vitro gas production, digestibility and kinetics fermentation. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with four treatments and five replications. The Treatments were: T1 = control of Pennisetum purpureum cv Mott grass + 0% of water spinach, T2 = + 20% of water spinach, T3: 40% of water spinach and T4: 60% of water spinach. Results showed that substitution of 20% Water Spinach as forage increased gas production after 48 h of incubation. There is no difference in the potential fraction degraded by the addition of a water spinach at the level of 20% compared to the control, although there is a decrease in the addition of 40 and 60% of the water spinach. Substitution of water spinach was not significant on kinetics fermentation of readily soluble fraction (a) and rate constant per hour of gas production (c). The substitution of 20% water spinach increased dry matter digestibility reaching 10% compared to control. The water spinach substitution increased organic matter digestibility (P<0.05). It is concluded that 20% of water spinach had the highest gas production and nutrient digestibility and thus, it can be used as forage alternative for ruminant.