High levels of plant secondary metabolites, including tannins, are often considered important factors limiting the use of tropical trees and shrubs for small ruminants. Thus, an experiment was conducted to determine the effectively of potential methods of ameliorating high-tannin forage (Gliricidia sepium Jacq. Steud.) by sun-drying and calcium hydroxide treatment on the intake and digestibility of dry matter (DM) and crude protein in native goats. An in-vivo digestibility trial for twenty-two (22) days was conducted. Twelve (12) Philippine native goats were randomly distributed to the three treatment diets laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with an age-sex combination as the basis for blocking. Block 1 consisted of young male goats, block 2 young, female goats, block 3, older male goats, and block 4, older female goats. The dietary treatments were: T0 (fresh form), T1 (sun-dried), and T2 (calcium hydroxide-treated) Gliricidia sepium forage. Sun-drying (T1) significantly increased dry matter intake and digestibility and crude protein intake and digestibility of the forage. Calcium-hydroxide treatment (T2) did not have any significant effects in improving the nutrients intake and digestibility of the fresh form of the forage. Sun-drying inactivates the detrimental effects of tannin making the protein available for animal use and thereby improving the nutritive value of the feeds.
