Fenugreek Seed (<i>Trigonella foenum-graecum</i>) and Asparagus Root (<i>Asparagus officinalis</i>) Effects on Digestion and Kinetics of Gas Production of Alfalfa Hay Using <i>in vitro</i> Technique

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to study of the effect of fenugreek seed (<em>Trigonella foenum-graecum</em>) and asparagus root (<em>Asparagus officinalis</em>) on <em>in vitro</em> digestibility and kinetics of gas production of alfalfa hay. Fenugreek seed (FS) and asparagus root (AR) were added at different levels (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% of DM). Total phenolic components of alfalfa hay (AH), fenugreek seed (FS) and asparagus root (AR) were 5.9, 10 and 8.3 g/kg DM, total tannins 0.4, 3.8 and 1.5 g/kg DM and saponin 10.4, 27.3 and 40.3 g/kg DM, respectively. <em>In vitro</em> dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility of alfalfa decreased (P<0.05) by addition of different levels of FS, but were not affected by adding AR. Addition of FS did not affect alfalfa crude protein (CP) digestibility, but AR at levels of 5 and 20% DM decreased (P<0.05) it. Metabolizable energy (ME) increased (P<0.05) due to addition of FS, but it decreased (P<0.05) by incorporation of AR. Addition of FS (at 10% DM level) and AR (at 5% DM level) decreased (P<0.05) potential gas production. The rate constants (<em>c</em> and <em>d</em>) were not affected by addition of FS and AR. FS and AR at level of 5% DM decreased (P<0.05) lag time (<em>l</em>). FS did not affect fermentation rate (h^-1), but AR at level of 10% DM increased (P<0.05) it. Results suggest that fenugreek seed and asparagus root due to secondary metabolites content's may have potential to improve the nutritive value of alfalfa hay