Rumen degradation and in vivo digestibility of dried Calliandra calothyrsus leaves

Leaves and young shoots of Calliandra calothyrsus were harvested in Kisii (Kenya) at 12, 24 and 48 weeks regrowth after the first cutting. The material was sun dried, ground, put in nylon bags and incubated in the rumen of three cannulated lactating Friesian cows fed pre-wilted English rye grass silage ad libitum and supplemented with 2 kg concentrate per day. The bags were removed at 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 336 h after the start of incubation. The different parameters characterising the extent and rate of ruminal degradation of dry matter and nitrogen were calculated. In sacco residue of dry matter and nitrogen increased, while rumen degradable protein and intestinal digestible protein decreased with plant maturity. In vivo digestibility studies were done with one mature (2 years old) and two young wethers (8 months old), Swifter cross-bred sheep. Dry matter digestibility of 41.6% was found in 24-week-old dried Calliandra leaves.