Ly et al., 2001. Livest. Res. Rural Dev., 13 (2): 1-9

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the nutritive value of Cambodian rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) seed meal either in vivo with young Mong Cai pigs or in vitro by the pepsin/pancreatin incubation procedure. The average weight of the seed was 3.29 ± 0.78 g and the proportion kernel/husk was 1.17 ± 0.40 g. The average composition of rubber seed meal was ash 3.10, NDF 53.8, crude fat 28.4 and N 2.39% in dry basis. The cyanide content of the seeds decreased from 82.5 to 29.3 mg/kg DM in approximately 45 days of storage. In vivo digestibility of nutrients of the feed (sugar palm syrup and dried fish) was not impaired by the introduction of either 17.8 or 40.5% of rubber seed meal in the diet. The balance of N was significantly better with 40.5% of the seeds in the diet than in rations with no rubber seed meal. Digestibility indices of rubber seed meal as estimated by difference were DM 79.4, NDF 75.0, N 83.6 and organic matter 85.5 %. In vitro digestibility studies indicated significantly (P<0.001) higher values for N utilization in the rubber seed kernel (89.7%) than in fish meal or dried fish (81.3 and 77.2%, respectively). In vitro DM and organic matter digestibility coefficients in the husk were comparatively low, probably due to the fibrous nature of this material.