In vitro fermentation of the rations containing Morinda citrifolia L. (Noni) using two types of inoculum

The effect of inclusion of Morinda citrifolia L. (Noni) in standardized diets of sheep on in vitro digestibility and parameters fermentation was examined using two different inoculums (ruminal liquid and sheep feces). To determine the nutrients’ in vitro digestibility coefficient (IVDC), two sheep were used as inoculum donors. The experimental design was factorial (4 × 2), with four diets containing different proportions of Noni and two types of inoculum. The different dietary proportions of Noni (0%, 8%, 16%, and 24%) did not affect the IVDC of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) and crude protein (CP) for both inoculums. The IVDC of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) differed significantly between the inoculums. After in vitro incubation for 24 h, the pH value of the fermented material differed between the different diets and between the inoculums. Moreover, the concentration of ammoniacal nitrogen was affected by the proportion of Noni and differed between the inoculums after incubation for 24 h. The inclusion of up to 24% of Noni in standardized rations for ruminants did not affect the IVDC of DM, OM, CP, and NDF. The use of feces as inoculum for in vitro fermentation produced lower IVDC values than those by ruminal liquid. The diet containing 8% of Noni and fermented with ruminal liquid produced higher pH values after 24 h of incubation. Taken together, the different dietary Noni proportions and the different inoculums can alter the concentration of ammoniacal nitrogen of sheep diets after 24 h in vitro fermentation; however, they seem not to affect the IVDC of the nutrients.