Bhn. Phuc et al., Effect of replacing soybean protein with cassava leaf protein in cassava root meal based diets for growing pigs on digestibility and N retention, ANIM FEED S, 83(3-4), 2000, pp. 223-235
The nutrient and HCN contents of cassava leaves from six varieties of cassa
va growing in south Viet Nam were analysed and three balance experiments we
re performed with growing pigs to evaluate the digestibility and nitrogen u
tilisation of cassava root meal based diets with increasing levels of repla
cement of the protein from soybean meal (SBM) by the protein of cassava lea
ves. In Experiment 1 cassava leaf meal (CLM) replaced SBM in the proportion
s 0, 0.35, 0.70 and 1.00 of the crude protein (CP); in Experiment 2 ensiled
cassava leaves (ECL) replaced SBM in the proportions 0, 0.15, 0.30 and 0.4
5 of CP and in Experiment 3 CLM replaced SBM in the proportions 0, 0.15, 0.
30 and 0.45 of the CP.
The CP contents of the cassava leaves ranged from 240 to 350 g/kg, and the
crude fibre (CF) contents from 100 to 150 g/kg on a dry matter (DM) basis.
The HCN content was markedly reduced by both sun-drying and ensiling, with
the reduction being higher after sun-drying.
The apparent digestibilities of organic matter (OM), CP, ether extract and
CF decreased linearly (P<0.001) with increasing levels of inclusion of cass
ava leaves in the diet. The amount (g/day) of total nitrogen retained and t
he proportion of nitrogen utilised. (proportion of N digested) decreased (P
<0.001) with increasing levels of inclusion of cassava leaves in the diet.
The digestibility coefficients of OM, CP and CF were calculated to be 0.49,
0.51 and 0.44 and 0.52, 0.51 and 0.59 in CLM and ECL, respectively. (C) 20
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