Determination of feed value of cherry, apricot and almond tree leaves in ruminant using <i>in situ</i> method

Abstract

In the present study, chemical composition and in situ rumen dry matter degradability (DMD) of some tree  species (cherry, apricot and almond tree leaves) were determined. Crude protein (CP) concentration varied  from 6.76% for almond tree to 2.76% for cherry tree, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber  (ADF), from 29.2, 20.8% for apricot tree to 20.8 and 15.8% for almond tree leaves respectively. Polyphenol  and tannin composition measured from 3.49, 1.2% for almond tree to 1.51 and 0.61% for apricot tree,  respectively. In situ rumen degradability was carried out in three fistulaed Taleshi native male cattle which  were incubated at times of 0, 4, 8, 16, 24, 48, 72 and 96-hour. Almond leaves had higher potential degradation  (a+b) for dry matter (92.37%) and cherry leaves showed lower potential degradation (84.12%), respectively.  Effective rumen degradable dry matter at rate of 0.05/h varied from 69.86% for almond tree to 52.20% for  cherry leaves. Results showed that the almond leaves were higher in nutritive value than cherry and apricot  leaves. Therefore, almond tree leaves could be used with forage in ruminant diets to reduce cost of animals  feed requirements. Overall, it seemed that the tree leaves used in this study, had a higher nutritive value in  ruminant’s nutrition, however more experiments are needed for an accurate determination of nutritional values  of these resources.

Keywords : Dry matter degradability, In situ, Ruminant nutrition, Tree leaves.