Chemical composition of Mopane worm sampled at three sites in Botswana and subjected to different processing.

Effects of site and degutting on chemical composition of mopane worm were investigated. Samples were cooked for 30 min in either brine or in plain water. Samples from Moreomabele were high in acid detergent fibre (ADF) (P < 0.05) and acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIN) (P < 0.01) while samples from Sefophe had least ADF and ADIN concentrations. In vitro true dry matter digestibility (IVTDMD) tended (P = 0.06) to be high in samples from Maunatlala than those from Moreomabele and Sefophe. No site difference (P > 0.05) was observed on the rest of the variables. Degutted samples had high crude protein (CP), ADF and IVTDMD (P < 0.05) but lower (P < 0.001) concentrations of ash, acid detergent lignin (ADL) and condensed tannins. Acid detergent insoluble nitrogen was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in degutted than whole samples. Salting did not (P > 0.05) change concentrations of all but ADF which tended (P = 0.09) to be high in salted samples. Samples which were degutted and salted had higher (P < 0.01) ADF and ADIN than degutted and salted or those left whole and salted or left unsalted. Leaving samples as whole diluted the concentration of CP but increased the fibre components and condensed tannins content. However, mopane worm destined for livestock feeding may be left whole and salt added.

Dry matter and crude protein degradability of four parasitic plants (mistletoes) associated with browse trees in Botswana.

Four parasitic plants (Tapinanthus lugardii, Erianthenum ngamicum, Viscum rotundifolium and Viscum verrucosum) associated with browse trees in Botswana were evaluated for the degradability of their dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP). All these plants have high levels of crude protein, ranging from 144.5 to 163.4 g/kg DM, with a significant (p < 0.001) difference in crude protein content between the plants. The rate of degradation of DM was highest for V. rotundifolium (0.197 h(-1)) and lowest for E. ngamicum (0.031 h(-1)). The two Viscum species had the highest effective DM degradability at an outflow rate of 0.05%. The rate of degradation of crude protein was highest for V. rotundifolium (0.144 h(-1)) and lowest for T. lugardii (0.0346 h(-1)). The effective degradability (ED) of crude protein was highest for V. rotundifolium at 0.03 and 0.05 h(-1) outflow rates. T. lugardii and E. ngamicum had an apparently low effective degradability, but this may result from an association of their protein with tannins, which would be able to supply amino acids in the small intestine after dissociation due to the abomasal pH.