Effect of replacing wheat bran with different levels of dried Sesbania sesban leaf meal on nutrient digestibility and rumen fermentation characteristics in Awassi lambs

• Hayder Mohammed Ali Salih1 and Anmar A.M. Al-Wazeer2*

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A digestibility trial was conducted on a private sheep farm in Al-Musayyib District, Babylon Province, Iraq, to evaluate the effects of replacing wheat bran with dried Sesbania sesban leaf meal (SES) on nutrient digestibility and rumen fermentation characteristics in Awassi lambs. Twenty Awassi male lambs (4–5 months old) with an initial body weight of 21.72 ± 0.54 kg were randomly allocated to four dietary treatments: SES0 (control), SES10, SES20, and SES30, in which dried Sesbania sesban leaf meal replaced wheat bran at 0, 10, 20, and 30%, respectively. Lambs were offered the concentrate mixture at 2.5% of live body weight, while wheat straw was provided ad libitum. No significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed in the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, or nitrogen-free extract among the dietary treatments. However, the digestibility coefficients of crude protein, crude fiber, and ether extract were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in lambs fed the SES20 diet than in the other treatment groups. Dietary treatments had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on ruminal pH or ammonia nitrogen concentration. In contrast, total volatile fatty acid concentration and total bacterial count increased significantly (P < 0.05), with the highest values recorded in the SES20 group. These findings indicate that replacing wheat bran with 20% dried Sesbania sesban leaf meal enhances nutrient digestibility and rumen fermentation without adversely affecting ruminal pH or ammonia nitrogen concentration. Therefore, dried Sesbania sesban leaf meal can be considered a promising alternative feed ingredient for Awassi lambs.

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