Search Results (2)

Supplementing tropical grasses with leguminous forages is known to improve the nutritive value of forage-based diets. However, it is not clear how basal grass forages supplemented with Kudzu (Pueraria phaseoloides) affect the nitrogen (N) and crude protein (CP) fractions of grass/legume forages. The aim of this study was to determine the N and CP fractions and in vitro ruminal CP degradability of Brachiaria hybrid (B. ruziziensis × B. decumbens × B. brizantha) and elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) supplemented with Kudzu at a target CP content of 133 ± 0.6 g/kg of dry matter (DM). The grass/legume forages were evaluated for total N, buffer-soluble N (BSN), buffer-insoluble N (BISN), non-protein nitrogen (NPN), neutral detergent-insoluble N (NDIN), acid detergent-insoluble N (ADIN), CP fractions A, B₁, B₂, B₃, C, rumen-degradable protein (RDP), rumen-undegraded protein (RUP), and in vitro ruminal CP degradability. The CP concentration of Kudzu was 217 g/kg DM, while grass forages ranged between 79.9 and 112 g/kg DM. The BISN, CP degradability parameters b, and potential degradability were approximately 56, 41, and 74%, respectively, higher in grass forages supplemented with Kudzu. The concentrations of RUP in the grass forages (23.9–32.5 g/kg DM) were significantly improved when they were supplemented with Kudzu (72.0–79.9 g/kg DM). Therefore, we concluded that basal grass forages supplemented with Kudzu to a target CP content can improve the amount of RUP supplied by the forage portion of the diet. This can have a positive effect on forage utilization and animal performance while reducing the cost to feed for ruminants. Full article

This research study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary supplementation of kudzu leaf meal (KLM) and alfalfa meal (AM) on broiler performance, carcass characteristics, and organ parameters. Kudzu leaf meal and AM were added at rates of 6% and 7.3%, respectively, to a complete broiler starter diet. Three treatments (control (complete broiler starter diet), KLM supplementation; and AM supplementation) with four replicates were fed to 217 male broilers over a 21 d battery cage grow out. Data were analyzed as a completely randomized design with battery cage representing the experimental unit. Birds on KLM and AM had a lower average body weight, lower cumulative feed consumption, and a higher adjusted feed conversion than control (p < 0.05). Additionally, there were observed treatment effects on whole breast weight (p = 0.0010), with control being higher than both treated diets. Minimal treatment effects were observed for organ parameters. Furthermore, there were no observed treatment differences for mortality (p > 0.05). Although broilers on KLM did not perform as well as those in the control group, these results are indicative that kudzu is safe to use in poultry production and has a high potential as a protein supplement in tropical regions with a low availability of commercial protein feedstuffs. Full article