International Journal of Farm Sciences

Leucaena leucocephala (Leguminosae) is valued as an excellent protein source for cattle fodder, consumed browsed or harvested mature or immature, green or dry. The present studies were carried out to evaluate monthly variations in nutritional and anti-nutrititional factors present in the leaves ofL leucocephala. The composite samples of its leaves were collected at monthly intervals from the month of August 2015 to January 2016. The findings revealed that the nutritional attributes of leaves varied markedly among different months of leaf collection. The dry matter (33.20 to 36.01%), crude fibre (14.11 to 18.44%), ether extract (3.40 to 6.04%), neutral detergent fibre (34.52 to 39.37%), acid detergent fibre (18.31 to 23.11%), total ash (6.68 to 8.23%), acid insoluble ash (0.81 to 1.42%) and calcium (0.82 to 1.18%) increased significantly with the maturity of leaves from August to January while crude protein (23.22 to 17.85%), nitrogen-free extract (52.59 to 49.45%), phosphorus (0.30 to 0.23%), tannin content (2.77 to 0.94%) and mimosine content (3.80 to 2.74%) decreased significantly with the maturity of leaves. There was significant monthly variations in the nutritive value of L leucocephala leaves with the maturity from August to January.