Page 55 - 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”

Value of some Shrubs and Tree Fodders

Generally the Dry matter content of Tree leaves vary between20 and 40%. with 10-15% Crude Protein
on Dry matter Basis. Higher values between 20 and 23% have been recorded for Subabul. The Ether extract
fraction is also fairly high compared to cultivated grasses. The Crude Fibre content is very low and it is
complex and lignified at maturity. The Calcium is 2-3 times more than cultivated grasses. The phosphorus
is in general low with very wide Ca : P ratio. The Tannin level is variable in tree fodder which is a limiting
factor in the feeding some tree leaves.

On an average digestibility coefficients of shrubs and Tree fodders in ruminants are 66% for Dry matter,
35% for Ether extract, 81% for Crude protein, 32% for Crude fibre and 78% for Nitrogen free extract. In
almost all the feeding trials conducted in India, Goats used green leaves most efficiently followed by sheep,
Camel and Cattle. The tree leaves either green or dried when fed along with concentrates become valuable
feed resource for Small ruminants(Raghavan,1990).
Value of less explored few Tree fodder in feeding Livestock

Glyricidia sepium
Glyricidia is used as protein supplement to low quality forages .It contains both fermentable and
Non-degradable protein (70%). The supplement level vary from 20-40%. Chadokar and Kantharaju (1980)
reported that Glyricidia supplementation up to 80% increased survival and growth of Bannur Ewe and Lambs.
Van Eyes et al ( 1986 ) demonstrated an increase in Live weight gain for Goats when Napier grass was
supplemented with Glyricidia. Chandokar and Lecamvasam (1982 ) reported increase in live weight gain
for milking cows and Buffaloes respectively on low protein diets supplemented with Glyricidia. How ever
supplementation over 50% level caused tainting of Milk. Liyanage and Wijiaratne ( 1987 ) recorded greater
live weight gain when Bracharia milliformis and Glyricidia were fed to heifers at 1:1 ratio than feeding of
Glyricidia alone. Kabaija and Smith (1989) observed that G.sepium could provide the mineral requirement of
Livestock except calcium and Phosphorus .Glyricidia sepium is reported to be a highly suitable supplement
for urea treated straw diets fed to milking Buffaloes at the rate of 1.4 kg fresh fodder per 100 kg body weight

Sesbania Sp.
Data from Perennial Sesbania sp. are limited even though perennial Sesbania species have higher invitro
digestibilities and apparent nutrient status than many other browse trees. The live weight gains achieved in
feeding trials with Sesbania were no better than for other forages (Gutteeridge, 1994 ).

Albizia lebbeck
The leaves are remarkably free of toxins and tannins and low in soluble phenolic compounds. The leaves
are high in digestibility early in the season or in the regrowth after cutting, but of only moderate digestibility
when matured. (Lowry,et al,.1994 )

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