Short CommunicationNatural gastro properties of Ficus natalensis, Rhuss natalensis and Harrisonia abyssinica in native East African goats

- The natural gastro properties of native browse species was determined.
- This was done by determining their rumen degradation properties.
- Rhuss natalensis was of an inferior degradability.

The natural gastro properties of Ficus natalensis, Rhuss natalensis and Harrisonia abyssinica was evaluated with the objectives of determining the rumen degradation properties. Results showed that H. abyssinica presented the highest DM disappearance from the nylon bags throughout the different incubation times followed by F. natalensis and R. natalensis showed the lowest. The DM readily available soluble fraction (a), insoluble but degradable fraction (b), degradation rate (c), potential degradability (PD) and effective degradability (ED) differed significantly (P<0.05) across the three browse species. The CP a, b, PD and ED fractions differed significantly (P<0.05) across the three browse species. The CP c fraction was similar across the browse species. The NDF a, b, PD, and ED fractions differed significantly (P<0.05) across the browse species. The NDF c fraction was not different across the browse species. In conclusion, Rhuss natalensis subsp. romantica has inferior rumen degradability properties, an indication of low nutritive value for goats compared to Harrisonia abyssinica subsp. abyssinica and Ficus natalensis subsp. Natalensis.