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Potential of Tunisian carob pulp as feed for ruminants: chemical composition and in vitro assessment

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Abstract

The nutritive value of the carob fruits harvested from ten different geographic regions of the North and the Center of Tunisia was assessed on the basis of chemical composition and in vitro rumen fermentation kinetic. Results showed that the chemical composition (ash, crude protein, fat, and sugar) of carob pods was highly influenced by geographic origin. Neutral detergent fiber varied from 24.37 to 35.58 g/100 g DM, acid detergent fiber from 13.24 to 25.15 g/100 g DM, and acid detergent lignin from 4.72 to 11.09 g/100 g DM. Total phenol, flavonoids, and condensed tannin contents varied from 2.55 to 6.84 g gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 g DM, from 74.89 to 276.51, and from 0.23 to 1.63 mg catechin equivalents (CE)/100 g DM, respectively. The samples varied widely in asymptotic gas production (66.6–86.34 ml/300 mg DM). The calculated metabolizable energy and digestible organic matter contents of carob pods ranged from 65.09 to 84.65% and 9.84 to 12.82 MJ/kg DM, respectively.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

This work was supported financially by Ecosystems and Aquatic Resource Unit (INAT) assigned by the Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ecosystems and Aquatic Resource Unit, National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia (INAT), University of Carthage, UR03AGRO1, 1082, Tunis, Tunisia

    Amira Richane, C. Darej, K. Attia & N. Moujahed

  2. Department of Agri-Food Industries, National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia (INAT), University of Carthage, 1082, Tunis, Tunisia

    Amira Richane & H. Ben Ismail

  3. Biodiversity, Biotechnology and Climate Change Laboratory, University of Tunis El Manar, LR11ES09, 2092, Tunis, Tunisia

    H. Ben Ismail

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  1. Amira Richane
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  2. H. Ben Ismail
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  5. N. Moujahed
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Contributions

RA designed the research, conducted the experiment and all analyses, analyzed data, and wrote the manuscript. NM and HB, the doctoral student’s tutors, checked the manuscript and made the corrections. CD, KA, and RA made statistical analyses. All the authors have read and approved the final paper.

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Correspondence to Amira Richane.

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Richane, A., Ismail, H.B., Darej, C. et al. Potential of Tunisian carob pulp as feed for ruminants: chemical composition and in vitro assessment. Trop Anim Health Prod 54, 58 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-022-03071-4

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