STUDIES ON ENSILING GREEN TREE LEAVES
PEEPAL LEAVES (FICUS RELIGIOSA) SILAGE
N. D.KEHAR and P. N. JOHRI, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar
Received on June 7, 1958 and accepted for publication on August 8, 1958
The problem of adequate supply of nutritious fodder for livestock in India, during the
dry periods of the year, is very baffling. After the cessation of rains, cattle have to depend, for the
greater part of the year, on coarse fodders like cereal straws and mature hays which are nutrition-
ally poor. During the monsoon months, however, there is ample green fodder available which,
in certain places, is in excess of the livestock requirement of that area. Due to lack of suitable
organisation, this surplus is not put to any profitable use. If means are devised for proper con-
servation of this surplus green material, a partial solution of the fodder problem, during the
dry periods, can be found.
In view of the above, attempts have been made in these laboratories to ensile, under village
conditions, green fodders like sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) tops [Kehar and Sahai, 1949],
bhurra (Saccharum munj) [Kehar and Sahai, 1949-50] and berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum)
and shisham (Dalbergia sissoo) shed leaves [Kehar and Kumar, 1950-51]. Encouraged with the
above results, an attempt was made to find out if peepal leaves could be successfully ensiled.
EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS
Peepal leaves were filled, layer by layer, in pits of 8 feet × 5 feet × 4 feet dimensions
At the bottom, as well as on the sides, the pits were lined with 6-inch layer of coarse fodder.
After each addition of about 8 md. of the material, the mass was trampled to exclude air.
When the filled mass was about 2-3 feet above the ground level, it was covered with a six-inch
layer of coarse hay, and finally, the pits were closed with earth and the top was later plastered
with clay. The crevices observed, consequent on the shrinking of the material, were promptly
repaired.
After six months, one of the pits was opened and a sample was taken out for analysis and
palatability test. The silage was found to be of greenish yellow colour with a characteristic
pleasant smell.
Peepal-leaf silage was chemically examined for some of the organic and inorganic con-
stituents. Their chemical composition, along with some of the common silages, has been set
out in Table I.
It is seen that peepal-leaf silage has a higher content of crude protein as compared with
other silages given in Table I. The ether extract content in peepal-leaf silage is higher than
in jowar (Andropogon sorghum), bhurra (Saccharum munj) and guinea (Panicum maximum) grass
silages but lower than in shisham (Dalbergia sissoo)-leaf silages. The total carbohydrate con-
tent in peepal-leaf silage was somewhat lower as compared with the other silages. As regards
the inorganic constituents, viz., calcium and phosphorus, it is seen that the amount of calcium
in peepal-leaf silage is considerably higher than jowar and in bhurra silages. In its content of
phosphorus, peepal-leaf silage is richer than jowar and bhurra silages.
Feeding trials with peepal-leaf silage were conducted on four adult Kumauni bullocks.
The experimental feeding, consisting of silage only, lasted for 32 days. During the last ten
days of the feeding period, a metabolism trial was conducted.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Food consumption and general condition of the animals
The silage was found to be highly palatable. The average daily dry matter consumption
from the silage worked out to be 905.47 gm. per 100 lb. body weight. Throughout the feed-
ing eriod, the animals maintained a healthy appearance and showed, on an average, an
increase of 5 lb. per head in live-weight.
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