Nutrient content and in vitro dry matter digestibility of gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp. And leucaena leucocephala (Lam. De Wit.)

Abstract

The quality of cattle feed supplements may be enhanced by the addition of certain vegetable components which improve its nutritional value. However, these structural components may vary according to the climate conditions prevalent during the seasonal changes in temperate or subtropical areas. Leaves and pods of Gliricidia sepium and Leucaenas leucocephala are integrated with food and pasture crops and considered important forage complements into ruminant feeding. In order to determine the effectiveness of the use of G. sepium and L. Leucocephala as fodder, samples of leaves were collected for estimation of some of their chemical characteristics, cell wall components and mineral composition. The highest value of crude protein (24.6%) and lowest gross energy (4.095 Meal kg" 1) were exhibited by L. leucocephala while the highest NDF (45.8%), ADF (24.5%), cellulose (14.6%) and cellular content were observed in G. sepium. Results from the proximate analysis revealed significant (p<0.05) differences in Crude Protein (CP), P, Mg, Fe, Na, Gross Energy (GE), ash, Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF), Acid-Detergent Lignm (ADL), cellulose, hemicellulose contents and IVDMD among the species. © 2012 Medwell Journals.