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Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) forage and fruit

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This datasheet is pending revision and updating; its contents are currently derived from FAO's Animal Feed Resources Information System (1991-2002) and from Bo Göhl's Tropical Feeds (1976-1982).

Datasheet

Description
Click on the "Nutritional aspects" tab for recommendations for ruminants, pigs, poultry, rabbits, horses, fish and crustaceans
Common names 
Watermelon, melon d'eau, cocorico, fodder melon, preserving melon, citron melon, stock melon, coloquinte, pastèque fourragère, melon fourrager.
Species 

Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsun & Nakai [Cucurbitaceae]

Synonyms 
Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai subsp. lanatus var. citroides (L.H. Bailey) Mansf., Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai var. citroides (L.H. Bailey) Mansf., Citrullus vulgaris Schrad. var. citroides L.H. Bailey
Feed categories 
Related feed(s) 
Description 
Creeping annual withdeeply incised leaves andlarge round fleshy fruits in which are embedded small flat seeds. Grows in sandy soils and persists long into the dry season. The fruits are used for their water content in dry areas. It is cultivated in equatorial Africa, where the seeds are used mainly for human consumption; but in some areas they are crushed for oil extraction.
Nutritional aspects
Nutritional attributes 
The fruit is very palatable to both cattle and pigs.
Nutritional tables
Tables of chemical composition and nutritional value 

Avg: average or predicted value; SD: standard deviation; Min: minimum value; Max: maximum value; Nb: number of values (samples) used

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This datasheet is pending revision and updating; its contents are currently derived from FAO's Animal Feed Resources Information System (1991-2002) and from Bo Göhl's Tropical Feeds (1976-1982).

Main analysis Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Crude protein % DM 20.0 1
Crude fibre % DM 17.1 1
Ether extract % DM 2.2 1
Ash % DM 18.4 1
Gross energy MJ/kg DM 16.5 *
 
Minerals Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Calcium g/kg DM 19.6 1
Phosphorus g/kg DM 4.6 1
Potassium g/kg DM 43.0 1
Sodium g/kg DM 0.2 1
Magnesium g/kg DM 6.9 1

The asterisk * indicates that the average value was obtained by an equation.

References

Bartha, 1970

Last updated on 24/10/2012 00:45:19

Main analysis Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Dry matter % as fed 7.9 7.3 8.4 2
Crude protein % DM 10.0 10.0 10.0 2
Crude fibre % DM 26.8 25.7 27.9 2
Ether extract % DM 8.9 8.9 8.9 2
Ash % DM 7.8 7.8 7.8 2
Gross energy MJ/kg DM 19.5 *
 
Minerals Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Calcium g/kg DM 3.6 3.4 3.8 2
Phosphorus g/kg DM 2.9 2.9 2.9 2
Potassium g/kg DM 34.2 1
Magnesium g/kg DM 3.1 1
 
Pig nutritive values Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Energy digestibility, growing pig % 48.1 *
DE growing pig MJ/kg DM 9.4 *

The asterisk * indicates that the average value was obtained by an equation.

References

CIRAD, 1991; INFIC, 1978

Last updated on 24/10/2012 00:45:19

References
References 
Bartha, R., 1970. Fodder plants in the Sahel zone of Africa. München, Weltforum Verlag
da Silva, R. L. N. V.; de Araújo, G. G. L.; do Socorro, E. P.; Oliveira, R. L.; Neto, A. F. G.; Bagaldo, A. R., 2009. Levels of forage watermelon meal in diets for sheep. Rev. Bras. Zootec., 38 (6): 1142-1148 web icon
Elezuo, K. O. ; Akalonu, M. N. ; Eboigbe, J. J., 2011. Evaluation of the nutrient composition of some unconventional feedstuffs. Contin. J. Fish. Aquat., Sci. 5 (2): 1-5 web icon
INFIC, 1978. Data from International Network of Feed Information Centres. Rome, FAO
4 references found
Datasheet citation 

DATASHEET UNDER CONSTRUCTION. DO NOT QUOTE. https://www.feedipedia.org/node/166 Last updated on March 16, 2010, 17:13

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