Department of Livestock Production and Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar (Uttaranchal) India.
*E-mail: drhimanshu_pandey@yahoo.com
Tree foliage/leaves can be good fodder sources for feeding ruminant animals in the Terai and the foothill zones of the Central Himalayas. Tree leaves can play an important role in mitigating the shortage of protein in the diet of ruminant animals. Many tree leaves like Bhimal (Grewia optiva) Kharik (Celtis australis) Timla (Ficus glomerata), Kachnar (Bauhinia spp.), etc. are extensively used in the feeding of ruminant animals in the Hills. The data on the nutritive value and digestibility of nutrients presented here gives a broad idea of the nutrient supplies being met to dairy animals in the study areas.
Central Himalayas, Grewia optiva, Celtis australis, Ficus, Bauhinia, Nutrient digestibility
