Vegetable wastes-a potential source of nutrients for ruminants

Vegetable wastes (7) viz. sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) leaves (SBL), cauliflower (Brassica oleracea Botrytis) leaves (CauL), gram (Cicer arietinum) plant with empty pods (GPEP), cabbage (Brassica oleracea Capitata) leaves (CaL), pea (Pisum sativum vararvense) vines (PV), radish (Raphanus sativus L.) leaves (RL) and chapan kadu (Citrullus vulgaris) vines (CKV) were analyzed for their chemical composition, mineral content, in-sacco degradability and ME to assess their nutritional worth. The CP content varied (P<0.05) from 11.8% (PV) to 21.9% (SBL), while in CaL, RL and CauL varied between 17 to 19.9%. The NDF and ADF contents were low (P<0.05) in CauL (27.5 and 19.4%) followed by that in RL (28.0 and 27.0%) and CaL (33.7 and 27.6%), while were highest in PV (60.0 and 51.0%). However, the lignin content was lowest (P<0.05) in RL (1.4%) followed by that in CauL (2.4%) and CaL (3.8%), while being highest in GPEP (10.6%). The SBL had the highest (P<0.05) concentration of total sugars (24.9%) followed by that in CaL (20.6%) and CauL (18.6%). The fractionation of proteins in these wastes revealed that albumin constituted the major proportion (58%) followed by glutelins (16.6%), globulins (13.7%) and prolamins (11.3%), Most of the vegetable wastes were rich source of Ca, P, Na, K, S, Zn, Mn, Mo and Co. However, Mg in all the tested vegetable wastes, Na in SBL, S in CauL, CaL and RL, Fe in PV was higher and the concentration of heavy metals like Ni, Pb and Cd was much below the maximum tolerance levels for ruminants. The in-sacco DM degradability revealed that the insoluble but potentially degradable fraction was highest (P<0.05) in RL (73.7%) followed by Cal (70.4%) and lowest in PV. The high (P<0.05) degradation rate of this fraction resulted in high (P<0.05) ED in CauL followed by that in RL CaL and SBL. The low rumen fill values in RL CauL and CaL indicated that they have higher DMI potential. The in-vitro gas productton ssudies revealed that CaL had the highest (P<0.05) and PV the lowest net gas production NDF and true OM digestibilities. It was concluded that cauliflower cabbage radish and sugar beet leaves could be used as complete feed for ruminants and vegetable wastes tested can serve as an excellent source of organic minerals.