S. A. MOMIN AND S. C. RAY 187
any kind of forage. The tree leaves are, however,
conspicuous for their high lime content. The
average values are comparable with those in
leguminous fodders. Some of the maximum
values, particularly that of pipal, shisham, neem,
beri and aam are almost two to three times the
average lime content of a common leguminous
fodder like berseem. The high value for lime is,
however, not shared by phosphate. This consti-
tuent in leaves is relatively low, as a result of
which the ratio of lime to phosphate in tree leaves
is unusually high.
The palatability of tree leaves
During the course of the experiment, the palata-
bility of the leaves collected at different intervals
was tested by showing a small quantity of each
kind of leaf to the same four animals. The result
of the test shows that the tree leaves could be
listed in the following order of palatability:—
(1) beri, (2) bans, (3) pipal,
(4) paker,
(5) shisham, (6) neem and (7) jaman, imli, aam.
It has further been observed that while the
leaves of beri and pipal are relished throughout
the year, other leaves are eaten in quantity only
at their more succulent stage.
Composition of leaves received from outside
In the course of advisory work, we had the
opportunity of analyzing a number of edible tree
leaves not included in the present investigation.
The results of the analysis are shown in Table IV.
The data again point out the comparative nutrient
richness of tree leaves.
TABLE IV
Tree leaves
1. Haldu . . . . .
(Adina cordifolia)
2. Kachnar . . . . .
(Bauhinia varigata)
3. Mulberry
.
.
.
.
(Morus alba)
4. Gular . . . . .
(Ficus species)
5. Pasta Wunah (Immature) . .
(Grewia Oppositifloia)
6. Pasta Wunah (Mature) . .
Crude
protein
15.26
13.15
13.99
12.36
16.37
10.12
Ether
extract
3.93
2.12
6.80
2.75
8.38
6.82
Crude
fibre
12.69
29.37
15.71
13.03
16.58
14.09
N-free
extract
60.19
46.82
49.70
58.88
43.77
54.81
Total
carbo-
hydrates
72.88
76.19
65.41
71.91
60.35
68.90
Total
ash
7.93
8.54
13.80
12.98
14.90
14.16
Lime
2.41
3.40
2.74
3.06
5.00
5.85
Phosphate
0.26
0.42
0.45
0.49
0.58
0.57
Remarks
The leaves are much
valued as fodder for
cattle in N. W. F. P.
The leaves are not
relished till they are
fully matured.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
The seasonal variation in the composition of
nine different kinds of edible tree leaves indicate
that the important constituents, such as crude
protein, total carbohydrates, lime and phosphate
show well-marked variations in their quantity at
different periods of the year.
Tree leaves are generally richer in nutrients
than grasses and other non-leguminous forages.
Their high crude protein and lime contents place
them in the same category as leguminous fodders.
The leaves of trees other than beri and pipal are
relished only when they are very green and succu-
lent, and consequently, the data of chemical
analysis do not give a proper indication of their
nutritional values. In the next paper of this
series, the results of a feeding test with some of
the leaves will be reported.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors wish to thank Dr K. C. Sen, Officer-
in-Charge, Animal Nutrition Section, for his
interest in this work.
REFERENCES
A.O.A.C. (1935). Methods of Analysis
Sen, K. C. (1938). I. C. A. R. Misc.Bull. No. 35
Talapatra, S. K., Ray, S. C. and Sen, K. C. (1940).
Indian J. Vet. Sci. & Anim. Husb. 10, 243