Cutting age and nutritional value of mulberry (Morus alba) foliage meal for pigs.

Abstract

Twelve plots of 15 m2 planted with an indeterminate variety of mulberry ( Morus alba ) with wide leaves underwent periodic cuts every 30, 60, 90 and 120 days to study, according to a random block design, the nutritional value of mulberry foliage meal by the technique of in vitro ileal (pepsin/pancreatin) and fecal digestibility. Cell wall content and N bound to that wall increased significantly (P = 0.004) with the cut age while the N content tended to decrease (P = 0.059). The ileal digestibility of organic matter and N decreased from 68.1 and 59.4 % to 44.2 and 30.0 % (P <0.05), respectively, in samples of 30 cutting days up to others of 120 days (P <0.01). Similarly, fecal digestibility of DM and organic matter went from 66.7 and 68.0 % to 45.3 and 51.0 % (P <0.01), respectively. Cutting age exerts a determining influence on the nutritional value of mulberry foliage meal provided to pigs, which worsens as cut frequency decreases. Keywords: tree forage, pigs, digestibility, yield, fiber