Comparative analysis of the nutritional quality of browse leaves (<i>Spondias mombin</i> and (<i>Albizia saman</i>) and tuber peels (yam and cassava) used as ruminant feeds

Abstract

The proximate and mineral analyses of two browse leaves (Spondias mombin and Albizia saman) and two tuber peels (yam (Dioscorea rotundata) and cassava (Manihot esculentum)) were carried out in order to justify their use as feedstuff for ruminant animals and then compare the nutritional parameters of the browse leaves with that of the tuber peels. The proximate composition (moisture content, ash, crude fibre, crude protein, etc) of the samples were determined using standard procedure by AOAC, while the mineral contents were determined with the aid of Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The results of the proximate  analyses showed that the browse leaves have 24.42% and 15.98% protein for Albizia saman and Spondias mombin respectively, while the tuber peels are 7.66% and 3.72% for yam and cassava peels respectively. However, the tuber peels are better dietary sources of energy as they have higher Nitrogen Free Extract (Carbohydrate) values (81.67% and 78.97% for yam and cassava peels respectively) as compared to the browse leaves  (39.37% and 51.95% for Albizia saman and Spondias mombin respectively). The Fe content of the browse leaves was 23.95 and 12.80 mg/100g for Albizia saman and Spondias mombin respectively, while the tuber peels had 12.30 and 9.00 mg/100g Fe content for cassava and yam peels respectively. The browse leaves had higher Ca contents of 780 and 1798 mg/100g for Albizia saman and Spondias mombin respectively, while that of the tuber peels was significantly lower with 712 and 63 mg/100g for cassava and yam peels respectively. Also yam peels had the highest K concentration (1548 mg/100g). This analysis showed that the browse leaves (Albizia saman and Spondias mombin) and tuber peels when combined (by mixing the dried tuber peels and browse leaves at different ratios) in the diet of ruminant animals will meet their nutritional needs, but it is inadequate if any of them is used as a single diet.

Keywords: Browse Leaves, Tuber Peels, Feedstuff, Ruminant Animal.