What question did this study set out to answer?

The study aims to evaluate the digestibility and methane production of specific encroacher bush species across different seasons.

June 3, 2026Tropical Animal Health and Production0 citationsOpen Access

In vitro digestibility and ruminal methane production of the predominant Namibian rangeland encroacher bush species collected in two different seasons

SLShiningavamwe Katrina Lugambo MJMupangwa JohnfisherUniversity of Namibia LELutaaya EmmanuelUniversity of Namibia

Key Points

The study aims to evaluate the digestibility and methane production of specific encroacher bush species across different seasons.
Leaves and twigs were harvested during late dry and early rainy seasons.
Digestibility was measured using the in sacco nylon bag technique and the two-stage pepsin + cellulase solubility technique.
Methane gas production was determined using an in vitro method.
Indigestible neutral detergent fibre (iNDF) for D. cinerea and S. mellifera decreased by 4% from late dry to early rainy season (P < 0.0001).
Digestible NDF decreased by 7% - 29% across species from late dry to early rainy season (P < 0.001), except for S. mellifera.
In vitro methane gas production was 18% - 58% higher during the late dry season compared to the early rainy season (147.6 versus 92.0 mL/g DM, P = 0.0004).

Abstract

This study evaluated the in situ neutral detergent fibre (NDF) digestibility, in vitro organic matter digestibility (OMD) and methane production of the encroacher species Senegalia mellifera, Dichrostachys cinerea, Terminalia sericea and Rhigozum trichotomum. Leaves and twigs (≤ 20 mm) were harvested during late dry and early rainy seasons. The indigestible neutral detergent fibre (iNDF) and digestible neutral detergent fibre (dNDF) were determined by the in sacco nylon bag technique. The in vitro organic matter digestibility (OMD) of bush samples were based on the two-stage pepsin + cellulase solubility technique. Methane gas production was determined by in vitro method. The iNDF for D. cinerea and S. mellifera decreased (P < 0.0001) by 4% from late dry to early rainy season, while that of R. trichotomum increased by 13% and T. sericea increased by 3%. Digestible NDF decreased (P < 0.001) by 7% - 29% from late dry to early rainy season for all species, except S. mellifera. Species and species x season interaction affected (P < 0.0001) OMD. Except for S. mellifera, the in vitro OMD decreased (P < 0.001) from late dry to early rainy season. In vitro methane gas production of all species was higher (P = 0.0004) by 18% - 58% during the late dry season compared to the early rainy season (147.6 versus 92.0 mL/g DM). In conclusion, based on the low OMD and high iNDF, the studied species may require further intervention to improve their digestibility and feeding value.

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