Seasonal Variation in Chemical Composition, Ruminal Fermentation, and Biological Characteristics of Paulownia shan tong: In Vitro Potential Use by Sheep and Goats

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the seasonal variation (two seasonal harvests during winter and spring) in some chemical and biochemical characteristics of Paulownia shan tong leaves. To achieve this, we analyzed the chemical composition in terms of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), cell-wall content (neutral detergent fiber (NDF)), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), and lipids. The phenolic compounds (PC) and antioxidant activity (AA) of the leaves were also determined. In vitro gas production (GP) and nutrient degradability were evaluated using two ruminal-content donors (sheep and goats). Higher (p < 0.05) antioxidant activities were observed in the winter harvest of P. shan tong, while higher concentrations of OM (90.5%), lipids (3.02%), NDF (69.7%), ADF (54.8%), ADL (35.4%), total flavonoids (0.45 mg catechin equivalents/mg DM), and total phenolics (2.52 mg gallic acid equivalents/mg DM) were observed in the spring harvest. Higher asymptotic GP and rate of GP (p < 0.05) were observed when the leaves were incubated with rumen liquor of goats compared to sheep; however, higher (p < 0.05) lag time of GP and half-time of GP were observed with rumen liquor from sheep. Moreover, higher asymptotic GP, rate of GP, and half-time of GP were observed with the winter harvest of P. shan tong. Higher (p < 0.001) metabolizable energy, OM degradability, and microbial protein supplies were obtained when the leaves were incubated with rumen fluids from goats and from the winter harvest of P. shan tong compared to the spring harvest. In conclusion, based on the chemical composition and the kinetics of in vitro gas production, P. shan tong leaves seem to be characterized by a good nutritive value and could be considered as an alternative feed resource for ruminants.