Page 114 - Agroforestry system - book inner (final corrected) - 9.-3-21_Neat

National level e-symposium on “Agroforestry system for augmenting livestock
productivity and empowering resource poor rural farmers”

S3-1

Preservation of tree leaves as fodder block for feeding ruminants

R. Murugeswari
Institute of Animal Nutrition, Kattupakkam – 603 203
Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University
murugeswari.r@tanuvas.ac.in

Introduction
Green fodder plays a major role for feeding ruminants and is a very good source of energy and vitamins.
The availability of green fodder is limited during summer and the green fodder feeding is highly essential to
supply animal with vitamin A. Hence, a minimum of five kg green fodder every day needs to be fed to dairy
cattle and one kg needs to be fed to sheep and goat. Tree leaves are a good source of green fodder. In Tamil
Nadu, Gliricidia is a fast growing tree and can be easily propagated. Gliricidia is rich in protein (23% CP) and
calcium (1.2%) and high has fibre content (45% NDF) which makes it a good roughage source for ruminants.
Shortage of green fodder has been considered as the major constraint in ruminant feeding. The fodder
block making technology is one of the preservation techniques of the tree leaves. Hence, the preservation of
Gliricidia leaves as fodder block was undertaken and its nutritive value for ruminants was studied.
Materials and Methods

The fodder block prepared had the following composition

Ingredients (%)
Gliricidia sepium 93

Binding material (maida) 4
Mineral Mixture 2

Salt 1
Total 100

The Gliricidia leaves was mixed with binding material maida along with mineral mixture and salt. The
mixture was pressed in the hydraulic press for 2000 psi for 15-20 minutes in the weight of one kg block
(Murugeswari et al., 2013). Then it was removed from the machine and dried for 4-5 days for complete drying
under the sun. The blocks were tested for its physical characteristics (Singh and Chahal, 1993). Sample from
the block was analysed for its physical and chemical quality (AOAC, 2012) for every month till six months
for the assessment of shelf life during storage. A palatability trial in adult cows was also conducted.

Institute of Animal Nutrition, Centre for Animal Production Studies, TANUVAS
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development 95