Assessment of fodder quality of leaves of multipurpose trees in subtropical humid climate of India

Abstract

The leaves of 12 species (Acacia auriculiformis, Albizzia procera, Dalbergia sissoo, Gliricidia maculata, Leucaena leucocephala, Samanea saman, Azadirachta indica, Eucalyptus hybrida, Gmelina arborea, Michelia champaca, Morus alba, and Tectona grandis) of Multipurpose trees and shrubs (MPTs) grown in the agroforestry arboretum were evaluated for their nutritional characteristics in terms of proximate composition, cell wall constituents, total tannins, major (Ca and P) and trace minerals (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn and Co), in vitro dry matter and organic matter digestibility (IVDMD and IVOMD) and metabolisable energy (ME) values. There were significant (P<0.01) variations among MPTs for all parameters studied. The average values of (92.02±0.30)%, (16.00±0.74)%, (3.05±0.13)%, (18.97±1.07)%, (54.00±1.12)% and (7.98 ± 0.30)% (DM basis) were observed for OM (organic matter), CP (crude protein), EE (ether extract), CF (crude fibre), NFE (nitrogen-free extract) and total ash, respectively. Leguminous trees had high CP compared to non-leguminous ones (18.30% vs 13.70%). The mean values for cell wall constituents viz., NDF (neutral detergent fibre), ADF (acid detergent fibre), hemi cellulose, cellulose and ADL (acid detergent lignin) were found to be (52.48±1.05)%, (31.72±0.97)%, (20.76±0.88)%, (16.97±0.70)% and (9.57±0.62)%, respectively. The total tannin contents averaged (4.22±0.32)%. The ratio of Ca to P was quite wider. The levels of Fe and Mn were adequate to rich in all the MPTs while many of the tree species possessed P, Cu, Zn and Co level below the critical limits for the animals. The average IVDMD and IVOMD values were found to be (48.96±1.30)% and (50.69±1.36)%, respectively. The ME value averaged (6.95±0.11) MJ·kg−1 DM. The CP content had significant positive correlation with IVDMD, IVOMD and ME values while NDF, ADF, ADL and total tannins showed negative correlations with these three parameters. Based on the results, Leucaena Leucocephala could be considered as good quality fodder as it had the highest level of IVDMD/IVOMD (65.20%/67.66%) and ME (7.95 MJ·kg−1 DM) while G. maculata, M. alba, A. indica, D. sissoo and S. saman were of medium type and rest of poor quality.