Ramie and Kenaf as feed crops

Transcription

1 NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION (N.AG.RE.F.) FIBRA Summer School, Lisbon 25-30/7/2014 Ramie and Kenaf as feed crops Evripidis Kipriotis NAGREF, Greece Theodoros Vafeiadakis Ministry of Rural Development and Food, Greece

2 FIBRA Summer School, Lisbon 25-30/7/2014 Crops investigated in FIBRA project As it is described in fibres can be classified, according to the part of the plant from which they are obtained, forming the groups below: Bast fibres (flax, hemp, kenaf, jute, nettle, and ramie), Leaf fibres (sisal, abaca, banana, and henequen), Grass fibres (miscanthus, bamboo, and reed), Seed hairs (cotton, kapok, milk weed), Palm fibres (coconut husk coir) and Woody fibres

3 FIBRA Summer School, Lisbon 25-30/7/2014 In animal feeding can be used most of the crops included in the groups of: Bast fiber crops, such as kenaf, flax, hemp and ramie Grass fibre crops, such as Harding grass, cardoon, giant reed, switchgrass, miscanthus, napier grass, bamboo By means though of use extend, adaptability to various environments, palatability and nutritive value, the most interesting among them appear to be kenaf and ramie.

4 The main factors which characterize a crop as suitable for animal feeding are: Palatability, Nutrient content and Digestibility of the different plant parts and nutrients Metabolisability of the different plant nutrients Existence of toxic substances in the plant parts Agronomic factors concerning cultivation and harvesting problems and costs

5 The main nutrients in animal feeding stuffs are: Proteinic nitrogenous compounds, with special reference to their essential amino acid content Non proteinic nitrogenous compounds Carbohydrates, mainly starches, fats as oils, and cellulosic compounds as fibers Vitamins and minerals

6 The main protein fodders worldwide are soya bean meal and alfalfa hay (Medicago sativa), obtaining the following nutritive characteristics: Nutritive characteristics Soya bean meal Alfalfa hay Crude protein Up to 52% on D.M Up 18.3% on D.M. Crude fiber Gross energy Around 6.7% on D.M. Around 19.7 MJ/kg on D.M Up to 28.6% on D.M. Around18 MJ/kg on D.M. Nitrogen digestibility (ruminants) Up to 92% Up to 70.2% Source: FAO Feed resources information

7 Having in mind the previous table, seems to be a good guide to proceed to any evaluation of these fiber crops, in respect to their suitability as animal feed, in consideration to soya and alfalfa.

8 Kenaf in livestock feeding

9 Kenaf in livestock feeding FIBRA Summer School, Ca Although kenaf is usually considered Lisbon 25-30/7/14 as a fiber crop, the entire kenaf young plant, stalk (core and bark), and leaves can be used as a livestock feed due to their high nutrient contents.

10 Considering the nutritive value of kenaf, as a forage crop, it has been proved that its different parts show different nutritive parameters. Unit Dry leaves Fresh leaves Seeds Fresh stems Tops stems Dry matter % as fed , Crude protein % DM Crude fiber % DM Ether extract % DM Ash % DM Gross energy MJ/kg DM Calcium gr/kg DM Phosphorus gr/kg DM Source: Nehring et al., 1943, Patel, 1966, Groenewald et al., 1967 INFIC, 1978

11 In combination to the previous table, it has to be taken in consideration that Kenaf s yield characteristics are highly affected by its age and maturity at harvest Yield parameter Kenaf age intervals (weeks) Fresh yield (t/ha) DM Yield (t/ha) Leaf DM yield (t/ha) Stem DM yield (t/ha) Protein DM yield (t/ha) Source: Chantiratikul, et al., at 2009

12 Whole plant Nutrient contents of different kenaf plant parts are also affected by different age intervals Kenaf plant parts Kenaf age intervals (weeks) Dry matter % Crude protein % Ash % NDF % ADF % Leaf Crude protein % Ash % NDF % ADF % Stem Crude protein % Ash % NDF % ADF % Source: Chantiratikul, et al., at 2009

13 Kenaf can be effectively ensiled, and its silage provides a high percentage of protein, characterized by satisfactory digestibility. The addition of dried sugar beet pulp in the kenaf silages improves characteristically their nutritive value. Chemical composition of fresh and ensiled kenaf and sugar beet pulp forages Component Kenaf Fresh forage Dried beet pulp Kenaf silage Alone Kenaf silage (10% dried beet pulp) Dry matter g/kg Crude protein g/kg DM Ether extract g/kg DM Crude fiber g/kg DM Ash g/kg DM NDF g/kg DM Source: Xiccato et al. Animal Feed Science and Technology 71 (1998)

14 In vivo digestibility of kenaf silages (alone and with the addition of dried sugar beet pulp Silages Digestibility Coefficients Kenaf alone Kenaf plus 5% Dried sugar beet pulp Kenaf plus 10% Dried sugar beet pulp Dry matter Organic matter Crude protein NDF Source: Xiccato et al. Animal Feed Science and Technology 71 (1998)

15 Estimated nutritive value of kenaf silages (alone and with the addition of dried sugar beet pulp) Silages Nutritive value MJ/kg DM Kenaf alone Kenaf plus 5% Dried sugar beet pulp Kenaf plus 10% Dried sugar beet pulp Gross Energy Digestible energy Metabolizable energy Source: Xiccato et al. Animal Feed Science and Technology 71 (1998)

16 25-30/7/2014 Kenaf as livestock feed Digestibility of dry matter and crude protein in kenaf forages ranges around 53% to 58% and 59% to 71%, respectively. Kenaf seed meal, used as a supplement in sheep rations, compared favorably alfalfa meal. It has also been determined that chopped kenaf (29% dry matter, 15.5% crude protein, and 25% acid detergent fiber) represented a suitable feed source for Spanish (meat-type) goats. The stem is largely cellulose which can be digested by ruminants and contains relatively large amounts of ether extract which can serve as a source of energy. The leafy parts of some new varieties often contain as much as 30% protein.

17 FIBRA Summer School, Lisbon 25-30/7/2014 Ramie (Boehmeria nivea) Ramie has been grown traditionally as a fibre crop, but it also represents a source of nutritious green feed, palatable to all classes of domestic livestock. The leaves and tops, unlike the stems, have a low fibre content and are rich in protein, minerals, lysine and carotene. The nutritive value of ramie has been described as similar to that of Lucerne, which it can, in many cases, outyield. When ramie is grown for fodder, up to fourteen cuttings a year can be taken from established crops in tropic areas, yielding as much as 300 tons of fresh material (42 tons dry matter) per hectare per year. The foliage is palatable and has proved to be of value not only to stock but also to pigs and poultry.

18 Yield ( tonnes/ha) of fresh weight (FW), dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) and crude protein (CP) of ramie fresh foliage CUTS 1 st cut 2 nd cut 3rf cut 4 th cut 5 th cut 6 th cut 7 th cut Total Whole plants F.W D.M O.M C.P Leaves F.W D.M O.M C.P Source:Dinh Van Tuyen et al., In MEKARN Regional Conference, 2007

19 Yield ( tonnes/ha) of fresh weight (FW), dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) and crude protein (CP) of ramie fresh foliage tons/ha FW tons/ha DM tons/ha OM tons/ha CP tons/ha 5 0 1st cut 2nd cut 3rd cut 4th cut 5th cut 6th cut 7th cut

20 Ramie (Boehmeria nivea) Nutrient contents of different ramie plant parts Unit Aerial part (dried) Aerial part (fresh) Leaves & tops dried Leaves dried Dry matter % as fed Crude protein % DM Crude fiber % DM Ether extract % DM Ash % DM Gross energy MJ/kg DM Calcium gr/kg DM Phosphorus gr/kg DM Potassium gr/kg DM Sodium gr/kg DM

21 Coefficients of in vivo apparent digestibility (%) of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), organic mater (OM), crude fiber (CF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) in fresh whole plants (F-WP), fresh leaves (F-L) and dried leaves (D-L) of ramie. Plant part DM CP OM CF NDF ADF F-WP F-L D-L Source:Dinh Van Tuyen et al., In MEKARN Regional Conference, 2007

22 The only problem associated with feeding ramie is its high mineral uptake, especially molybdenum on soils rich in this element. The situation can be corrected by adding appropriate levels of copper sulphate to the diet. Ramie is an excellent feed for ruminants As long as satisfactory ad lib mineral levels are achieved, ramie can be fed ad lib also to pigs of all ages and an acceptable production can be obtained. Ramie (Boehmeria nivea)

23 FIBRA Summer School, Lisbon 25-30/7/2014 Comparison in terms of Grude protein (% DM) among several fibre crops Bast fibre crops Grass fibre crops

24 FIBRA Summer School, Lisbon 25-30/7/2014 Comparison in terms of Grude fibre (% DM) among several fibre crops Bast fibre crops Grass fibre crops

25 FIBRA Summer School, Lisbon25-30/7/2014 Comparison in terms of Gross Energy (MJ/kg DM) among several fibre crops Bast fibre crops Grass fibre crops

26 FIBRA Summer School, Lisbon 25-30/7/2014 Comparison in terms of nitrogen digestibility in ruminants (%) among several fibre crops Bast fibre crops Grass fibre crops

27 FIBRA Summer School, Lisbon25-30/7/2014 Conclusions Most of the fibre crops can be used for food, feed, fiber and fuel (food supplements, animal feeding, paper pulp, textiles, biopolymers, energy, etc.) In these are included some of the bast fibre crops, kenaf, ramie, flax and hemp, two of them, kenaf and ramie, characterized by high protein and energy contents, high nutrient digestibility and quite reasonable palatability. These facts combined to the adaptability of these crops to a wide range of environments, characterize them as very important and promissing.

28 FIBRA Summer School, Lisbon 25-30/7/2014 Thank you very much for your attention