Chemical Composition, Degrabability and Nutritive Value of Babul Pods (Acacia arabica)

The CP, EE, CF, NFE, TA, AIA, Ca and P contents (% DM basis) in babul pods (Acacia arabica) was 13.16, 5.31, 20.65, 50.48, 6.06, 2.98, 1.37 and 0.2% respectively. Babul pods contained 9.15% tannins. The effective in situ dry matter and protein degradabilities of babul pods were 66.9 and 75.1%, respectively. Four Nellore brown rams (21.9±0.5 kgb.wt) were fed on a ration containing groundnut haulms and babul pods in 60:40 ratio. Digestibility coefficients of babul pods estimated by difference method were 47.77, 39.31, 60.94, 73.29 and 71.79 for DM, CP, CF, and NFE, respectively. The DCP and TDN value of babul pods was S.14 and 60.69%, respectively. A positive balance for N (1.27±0.39) and negative balances for Ca (−l.5±0.23) and P (−0.43±0.14) were observed in rams fed babul pods.