Nutritive Evaluation of Sesbania grandiflora, Melia dubia and Dillenia pentagyna Tree Leaves by In vitro, In situ and In vivo Methods in Growing Lambs

The objectives of the study were to assess the nutritive value of three selected tree leaves viz. Sesbania grandiflora, Melia dubia and Dillenia pentagyna for growing lambs. The evaluation was on the basis of in vitro, in situ and in vivo methods and their comparison. ME (MJ/kg) and CP (%) content of Sesbania grandiflora, Melia dubia and Dillenia pentagyna were 8.48, 17.90; 9.60, 15.67 and 4.90, 7.89 respectively. Correspondingly, the in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) (%) was highest in Melia dubia (60.17), followed by 55.32 in Sesbania grandiflora and 41.0 in Dillenia pentagyna. The Calcium content was more than 1.73% in these tree leaves. The Potential cumulative gas production (D) and in situ degradation were lower in Dillenia pentagyna than Sesbania grandiflora and Melia dubia. In an in vivo feeding trial of 5 months duration in growing lambs, control group (T1) fed diet comprising maize hay as basal roughage was compared with experimental groups replacing 25 per cent of maize hay with Sesbania grandiflora (T2) or Melia dubia (T3) or Dillenia pentagyna (T4). The digestibility of DM and ADG (g) in T4 group was significantly lower (P<0.5) compared to T2 or T3, but non significant with T1. The lowered body weight gain associated with lowered digestibilities and lowered nitrogen retention in T4 group of lambs fed diet containing Dillenia pentagyna was attributed to the higher tannin (total, hydrolysable and condensed) content. A positive correlation existed between nutritive evaluation under in vitro, in situ and in vivo methods. Based on in vitro, in situ and in vivo methods of feed evaluation, it was concluded that Sesbania grandiflora and Melia dubia could form a potential source of roughage to replace 25 per cent of maize hay in the diet of growing lambs.