Nutritional evaluation of macrophytes of dal lake with potential as animal fodder

Proximate composition, fibre fraction, predictable feeding value and in-vitro digestibility of fourteen species of aquatic plants collected from Dal lake of Kashmir were evaluated and compared with the oats as standard maintenance fodder. The dry matter content of the major aquatic weeds was in a range of 8.53% to 10.74%, comparable with green oats fodders. Except Nymphaea tetragona and Trapa natans, the crude protein and ash content of all these aquatic weeds was significantly (P<0.05) higher than Oats fodder. Whereas ether extract was found similar to oats fodder except Trapa natans, Nelumbo nucifera, Cladophora glomerata and Lemna minor. All these aquatic weeds have crude fibre (CF) percentage significantly (P<0.05) lower than Oats fodder except Typha angustata, Nymphaea tetragona and Nymphoides peltata. Significantly (P<0.05) lower percent NDF, ADF and Cellulose was reported with hemicellulose percentage significantly higher in Nymphaea tetragona and Ceratophyllum demersum than Oats fodder. All aquatic plants were having lignin ranging between 3.50% to 24.74%. The percent total carbohydrates (TC) of these aquatic plants were found significantly (P<0.05) lower with higher non fibrous carbohydrates (NFC). These aquatic plants have significantly (P<0.05) higher DCP, TDN and ME percent than oats fodder. The significantly (P<0.05) higher percent dry matter intake (% DMI), percent digestible dry matter (%DDM) and relative feed value (RFV) with better invitro digestibility was found in these aquatic weeds than oats as standard maintenance fodder.