Nutritional evaluation of some tree forages of Kathua district

Nine top foliages such as Lavandule stoechas (Darin), Debregeasia hypoleuca (Sharu), Salix alba (Bedoh), Pyrus pashia (Kainth), Hypanthodium species (Figwasp), Morus alba (Toot), Rhus cotrius (Resh), Indigofera pulchella (Kathu) and Quercus incana (Banj) collected from Kathua district of J&K State were analysed for their nutritional potential by in vitro gas production technique and in-vitro true dry matter digestibility (IVTDMD). The in-vitro gas production technique has been widely used for evaluation of nutritive value of feeds. More recently, the upsurge of interest in the efficient utilisation of roughage diets has led to an increase in the use of this technique due to the advantage in studying fermentation kinetics. At 72 h of incubation the volume of gas produced was minimum in Q. incana (16.50 ml) and maximum in II. species (51.67 ml). Low volume of gas was produced by Q. incana and I. pulchella indicating the presence of incriminating factors in these forages. The total potential gas production (b) varied from 12.45 ml in Q. incana to 55.89 ml in R. cotrius with the rate of fermentation (h⁻¹) ranging from 0.0308 in I. pulchella to 0.0784 in M. alba as calculated by modified Orskov & McDonald model The IVTDMD varied from 36.8 per cent in Q. incana to 84.1 per cent in M. alba indicating potential nutritional worth of M. olba. The DOM %, based on gas data, varied from 31.31 in Q. incana to 74.42 in M. alba. The DOM %, when calculated from NDF ranged from 55.81 in Q. incana to 84.99 in L. stoechas and ADF, ranged from 44.46 in Q. incana to 84.29 in R. cotrius. DOM was highest when calculated from NDF content of feedstuff. The intake potential (g/KgW^0.75) as estimated from gas data was lowest for I. pulchella (47.73) and highest for M. alba (85.70). On the basis of the present study L. stoechas, D. hypoleuca, P. pashia and M. alba seem to have good nutritional potential for ruminants.