Department of Animal Nutrition, Rajiv Gandhi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Kurumbapet, Pondicherry, 605009, India
A metabolism trial was conducted in adult male goats to find out the, nutrient utilization and nutritive value of hand-plucked fresh cashew (Anacardium occidentale) tree leaves. Cashew leaves contained DM 38.12, OM 94.33, CP 9.50, EE 1.81, CF 24.81, NDF 47.60, ADF 37.77, ADL 31.37, Ca 0.64 and P 0.50%. Dry matter intake was 1.44 kg % of body weight or 27.82g per kg metabolic body weight. Higher level of lignin possibly reflected in the reduced DM intake and digestibility of nutrients. Digestibility of DM, OM, CP, EE, NDF and ADF, was 37.41, 41.99, 44.10, 61.09, 30.70 and 35.15% respectively. The nutritive value of fresh leaves was 4.19% DCP and 40.99% TDN. Nutrients retention per day for nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus was 0.88, 0.42 and 0.26g/d respectively. Values of retention, in terms of per cent of absorption were 64.7 for nitrogen, 81.6 for calcium and 99.6 for phosphorus. The results revealed that fresh cashew leaves when used as a sole feed, did not provide sufficient nutrients for maintenance of adult goats.
Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) leaves, Goats, Digestibility of nutrients, Nutritive value
