The samples of commonly available herbs (Alternathera sessilis, Cocculus hirsutus, Desmodium difjUsum, Dolichous falcatus, Malachra capitata, Phaseo/us trilobus, Tephrosia purpurea, Teramus lahialis) were collected from different locations of Ourg and Rajnadgaon distticts of Cbhattisgarh plain during winter months and evaluated for nutritional characteristics in terms of proximate principles, fiber fractions. presence of natural toxicants and rumen in vitro digestibility. The mean values (range in parentheses) for OM, CP, EE, CF, NFE, TA, Ca, P and AlA in herbs leaves were 86.72± 2.17(77.0293.26),16.24±1.15(12.66–21.65),3.46±0.13(2.99–4.01),l0.1 O±O.54 (7.26–11.60), 57.1l±2.39 (46.1965.50), 13.26±2.17 (6.74–22.98), 2.67±0.37 (1.39–4.31), 0.27±O.08 (0.17–0.47) and 0.32±O.02 (0.210.41) % on DM basis, respectively. The CP content was highest in D. falcatus leaves with the lowest value for A. sessilis. The leaves of C. hirsutus contained highest percentage of fiber while it was lowest inD.falcuts. There was a large variation in ash content. The Ca content was highest in M capitata leaves where as lowest in the T. purpurea. The almost all herbs leaves studied were found to be rich in CP and Ca, while low in P. The mean values (range in parentheses) for cell contents, NDF, ADF, cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin were 45.7l±2.34 (39.47–55.63), 54.35 ±2.36 (44.37–60.53), 35.32 ±3.36 (21.2046.51),22.06 ±2.81 (14.18–32.64), 18.93± 2.32 (12.15–28.92) and 11.51 ±1.88 (5.95–20.40) % on DM basis, respectively. The cell content was highest in T. labialis and lowest in P. trilobus leaves.
The value of cellulose, hemi-cellulose and lignin were lowest in M capitata leaves. The leaves of D. diffusum contained the highest percentage of lignin. The mean values (range in parentheses) for oxalate, saponin and tannin contents were 1.33±O.19 (0.71–2.15), 2.66±0.36 (1.35–3.40) and 1.25± 0.02 (1.201.60) % on DM basis, respectively. The oxalate and tannin contents were highest in C. hirsutus, while saponin inA. sessilis leaves. The mean values (range in parentheses) of rumen in vitro digestibility for DM, OM, CP, NDF and ADF were 41.04:1:2.60 (33.17–47.90), 44.49±2.29 (38.09–52.82), 40.82±3.61 (26.99–49.55), 39.57±3.45 (27.23–52.28) and 44.30±3.28 (32.75–57.90) % on DM basis, respeetively. The highest values of in vitro digestibility of DM, CP and ADF were found in C .hirsutus leaves. The leaves of T. purparea and M capitata were highest in IVOMD and IVNDFD values, respectively. Results of the present study showed that majority of leaves were rich in CP and Ca as well as low in antinutritional factors screened and moderate in digestibility, therefore it is concluded that these leaves may be supplemented in the ration of nnninants without any ill effects during scarcity or in routine feeding.
