Determination of chemical composition and nutritive value of radish leaf in ruminant feeding in vitro

This experiment was conducted to determine chemical composition and nutritive value of radish leaf (RL) in vitro. In the first stage, chemical composition of radish leaves were determined, then its fermentation parameters and nutrients disappearance was investigated using in vitro gas production (GP) and two-stage nutrient digestion methods compared to wheat straw (WS) and alfalfa. In the second stage, RL was included in the diet at the levels of 0, 50, 100, 150 or 200 g/kg dry matter (DM) and incubated in vitro. Results showed that DM, organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), lignin, Ca and P content of RL were 135, 752, 178, 385, 281, 52, 17.5 and 2.85 g/kg DM, respectively. Total volume of gas production and nutrient disappearance were significantly higher in RL compared to WS (p < 0.05), and most of these parameters were comparable with alfalfa. Including different levels of RL in the diet increased DM and OM disappearance (p < 0.05). Highest and lowest short chain fatty acids, and two-stage DM and NDF disappearance were observed by incubation of diet containing 200 g RL and control diet, respectively (p < 0.05). Overall, results of the present study showed that radish leaf has better nutritive value than that of WS, and it is comparable with alfalfa in term of rumen digestion of fermentation. Inclusion of this by-product in the diet up to 200 g/kg DM is recommended.