Chemical composition and nutritional evaluation of Elm (Ulmus wallichiana) as browse for Bakerwal goats (Capra hircus)

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate chemical composition, nutritive value and nutrient utilization of Himalayan Elm (Ulmus wallichiana) in goats. The leaves contained (in g/kg dry matter) 185.94 crude protein, 19.30 calcium, 2.84 phosphorus, 2.87 condensed tannin, 155.67 starch and with 69.67, 75.67, 68.00 and 60.33% for in vitro digestibility values of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and neutral detergent fibre, respectively. The preliminary screening revealed that Ulmus leaves could serve as promising feedstuff for small ruminants. Therefore, in vivo evaluation of Ulmus leaves was assessed. Fresh Ulmus foliage was offered ad libitum as sole diet individually to six male Bakerwal goats (20.73 ± 0.81 kg body weight) for 30 days followed by 6 days metabolism trial. Haemato-biochemical analysis was carried at the start (0 day) and subsequently at fortnight intervals (15 days and 30 days). Rumen liquor samples were collected at 0 h before and after the feeding trial. Ulmus foliage was well relished by the goats with high dry matter intake (1068.82 g/days) and nutrients digestibility which supported weight gain of 74.44 g/days. All the animals were in positive nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus balances. Haemato-biochemical constituents at all periods were within the normal ranges with significantly improved levels for serum urea nitrogen and alanine aminotransferase (P < 0.01), serum creatinine, alkaline phosphatase and calcium (P < 0.05) at 30 days. Rumen fermentation metabolites were in normal range with improved (P < 0.05) total volatile fatty acids, total nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen and tricarboxylic acid-precipitable nitrogen at 30 days. It is concluded that green Ulmus leaves can serve as excellent sole feed for small ruminants without any adverse effect on health and rumen fermentation.