A note on ruminal in situ degradability and in vitro gas production of some West African grass species and multipurpose legume tree leaves

Samples of two grass species (Pennisetum purpureum, Trypsacum laxum) and four multipurpose tree leaves (Leucaena leucocephala, Calliandra calothyrsus, Sesbania sesban, Gliricidia sepium) from the Western Highland of Cameroon were tested using nylon bag and in vitro gas production techniques. The two gasses were of similar chemical composition and degradation characteristics. Leucaena leucocephala and Sesbania sesban had the highest potential in sacco degradability and Calliandra calothyrsus the lowest. Although the in vitro fermentation failed to rank the browse species in the same order, there was a high positive correlation (r(2) = 0.74) between the 48 h nylon bag degradation and the 48 h gas production. The in vitro degradation of Calliandra calothyrsus was unexpectedly low as compared to the in sacco potential degradability of the plant.