Tannin Anthelmintic Doses, Metabolizable Energy and Undegraded Protein Contents of Rubber Leaves (Hevea brasiliensis) as Herbal Nutrition for Goats

Abstract

Analysis of feed chemical composition, total tannins and condensed tannin contents of rubber leaves carried out in previous research showed that rubber leaves have a potency as herbal nutrition for goats. In this current research, rubber leaves were analyzed further to determine the metabolizable energy (ME) and undegraded protein (UDP) contents, and also to determine the tannin anthelmintic doses of rubber leaves. The materials used were fresh and 1d-withered rubber leaves and branches (edible portion) taken from 4 types of rubber tree clones. The contents of ME and UDP were in sacco analysed according to Ørskov and Mc. Donald (1979). The determination of tannin anthelmintic doses was carried out by analysing the effects of tannins extract against Hemonchus contortus nematodes in vitro. The results showed that the average values of UDP and ME contents in fresh rubber leaves and branches were 40.88% and 8.07 MJ ME/Kg DM, and in 1d-withered form were 37.15% and 8.09 MJ ME/Kg DM. The use of tannin doses in vitro which was equivalent to 2 g (contained in ± 213.6 g fresh rubber leaves), 4 g, 6 g and 8 g tannins doses in vivo, showed that 100 % worms in all doses tested were dead after 4 hours immersing in tannin extracts, and the worms death were preceded by paralysis process. The Speed of the worm paralysis and death increased with the increasing doses tested. It can be concluded that rubber leaves have a low content of ME but a high content of UDP, and hence, it can be used primarily as a high UDP forage source for ruminants, and the tannins compound contained in the rubber leaves with the dose of ≥ 2 g tannins per a head of goat has a strong anthelmintic effect against adult female Haemonchus contortus worms.