Nutrient utilization and blood profile in goats fed Flacourtia indica Leaves Majumdar A.B.*, Mishra A.K.1, Das M.M., Bhadoria B.K. Plant Animal Relationship Division, Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi - 284 003, India *Reprint request: Dr. A.B. Majumdar, Fax: +91-517-440833; E-mail: mmdas@igfri.up.nic.in
1Present address: Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad-500 059, India Abstract Fresh Flacourtia indica leaves (T1) as well as 48h wilted (T2) were fed as sole feed to eight Barbari goats randomly distributed into equal groups of 4 each. The leaves contained (on DM basis) crude protein 15, NDF 51.92, ADF 50.62, cell content 48.08, lignin 10.14, cellulose 40.23, silica 0.25, ether extract 2.05, total ash 7.21, calcium 1.34 and phosphorus 0.28 per cent. The leaves were low in anti-nutritional factors as exhibited by 24.2 mg/g catechin equivalent of tannin, 28.5 mg/g catechin equivalent of total phenols and 30.2 mg/g tannin equivalent of total phenol tannic acid. DM intake and digestibility coefficients of nutrients viz. DM, CP, NDF, ADF, CF, OM, NFE and EE were similar in both the groups. Though TDN intake (g/d) was significantly higher (P<0.05) in T2 (232.13±5.12) than T1 (202.44±11.21), no significant difference was evident in per cent TDN intake/kg BW. DCP intake was similar in both the groups. Serum protein, albumin, globulin, glucose, urea levels and creatine kinase activity were within the normal physiological range. Fresh or wilted F. indica leaves were found to be equally palatable and nutritious to goats without any apparent deleterious effect on the general health. Top Key words Flacourtia indica leaves, Goat, Wilting, Digestibility. Top |