Nutritional evaluation of some promising top foliages

Ten tree leafsamples viz. Acacia catechu (Khair), Albizia lebbeck (Sirin), Bauhinia variegata (Kachnar), Ficus religiosa (peepul), Grewia optiva (Dhaman), Leucaena leucocephala (Subabul), Melia azedarach (Drank), Morus alba (Mulberry), Salix alba (Bedoh) and Zizyphus nummularia (Ber) were analyzedfor chemical composition, tanninfractionation and in vitro dry matter digestibility. The organic matter rangedfrom 84.78% in Ficus religiosa to 93.62% in Salix alba. The crude protein content was highest in Albizia lebbeck (2 7.42%) and was lowest in Salix alba (12.55%), whereas the ether extract was maximum in Leucaena leucocephala (8.32%) and minimum in Zizyphus nummularia (2.19%). The crude fiber rangedfrom 8.64% in Morus alba to 23.18% in Ficus religiosa. Total ash content was highest in Ficus religiosa (15.22%) and lowest in Salix alba (6.38%). Calcium content was maximum in Ficus religiosa (3.65%) and minimum in Melia azedarach (1.32%) whereas Morus alba contained the maximum (0.30%) and Leucaena leucocephala contained the minimum (0.20%) phosphorus content. The NDF content rangedfrom 24.26% in Melia azedarach to 46.49% in Salix alba whereas the ADF content ranged from 17.32% in Leucaena leucocephala to 33. 73% in Ficus religiosa. The hemicellulose content was highest in Acacia catechu (17.17%) and lowest in Melia azedarach (5.98%). The total phenolics content ranged from 0.69% in Ficus religiosa to 7.64% in Zizyphus nummularia whereas condensed tannins ranged from 0.08% in Morus alba to 4.59% in Bauhinia variegata. The in vitro dry matter digestibility was highest in Melia azedarach (78.96%) and lowest in Ficus religiosa (53.26%). From this study, it is concluded that Leucaena leucocephala, Melia azedarach and Morus alba have high nutritional potential for ruminant feeding and others can be used as a maintenance type of fodders in ruminant.