Nutritive Evaluation of some Fodder Tree Leaves for Ruminants in Tarai Region of Uttaranchal

Leaves of 15 fodder tree species (Emblica officinalis, Grewia optiva, Melia azedarach, Toona ciliata, Morusalba, Browssonitia paprifera, Bauhinia variegata, Dalbergia sisso, Leucaena leucocephala, Albizia lebbeck, Grevillea robusta, Tyrsostachys oliveri, Bambusa nana, Bambusa vulgaris and Banbusa nutans) at 3 different stages (at emergence, one month after emergence and 2 month after emergence) were evaluated for their chemical composition, tannins and nylon bag digestibility of DM, OM, CP, NDF, ADF, cellulose and lignin with major objective to determine the extent of variability in nutritive value of tree leaves. The DM degradation at 0, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72 hour was also studied. The average DM, OM, CP, ADF, NDF, Hemicellulose, cellulose lignin, ash, calcium, phosphorus and tannin content in different species of tree leaves ranged from 22.13 to 52.43, 79.40 to 94.47, 8.07 to 27.41, 27.40 to 55.23, 18.87 to 46.30, 4.33 to 19.70, 4.48 to 13.40, 9.30 to 31.57, 5.03 to 20.60, 1.10 to 3.15, 0.087 to 0.355 and 0.2 to 6.7 percent respectively. According to stage of maturity the DM, NDF, ADF, hemicellulose, lignin, ash, calcium and phosphorus content in leaves of different fodder tree species increased with increased in stage of maturity. However OM, CP, cellulose and tannin content decreased with increase in stage of maturity. The DM time decreased with increase in stage of maturity. On the basis of over all nutritive analysis and score, it is concluded that the leaves of Grewia optiva, Emblica officinalis, Leucaena leucocephala, Albizia lebbeck ami Browssonitia paprifera were of high nutritive value as compared to other species under investigation.