Dairy Cattle Nutation Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal-132001, India
Online published on 20 January, 2012.
Chemical composition and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of Pongamia glabra, Ficus religiosa, Ficus bengalensis, Eugenia jambolana, Molus indica, Ficus glomerata, Zizyplms nummularia, Prasopis cineraria and Gymnosporia spinosa leaves were determined and compared with green oats (Avena sativa) fodder. CF content in tree leaves was lower and NFE higher than in oats. Tree leaves were richer in Ca and comparable in P with oats. CP content ranged from 8.9 per cent in G. spinosa to 19.6 per cent in M. indica. Of the total CP, 54.2, 47.9, 36.2 and 35.6 per cent was bound with lignin in G. spinosa, green P. glabra, Z. nummularia and dry P. glabra leaves respectively, against only 11.4 per cent in oats. NDF, cellulose and hemicellulose contents were significantly (P < 0.01) lower than in oats, except for hemicellulose content in P. glabra (green) leaves. Lignin content of tree leaves was high (P < 0.01), M. indica being the only exception. Cell wall components, lignin, ADF, NDF and cellulose contents showed significant negative correlations with IVDMD in tree leaves. The data indicated that leaves of M, indica contained better nutritive characteristics than those present even in green oats fodder.
