Abstract:
The nutritive value of leaves from four Ghanaian fodder trees, that is, Spondias mombin, Antiaris
toxicaria, Baphia nitida and Ficus exasperata and three shrubs, that is, Thespesia populnea, Grewia
carpinifolia and Griffornia simplicifolea, were evaluated by chemical, in sacco and in vitro
methods. Introduced Gliricidia sepium leaves were included as control feed. Chemical analysis
indicated that all samples were high in N (2.84%±4.08%) and low in neutral detergent fibre (NDF)
(36.0%±60.6%). With the exception of S. mombin leaves, which had 10.5% total extractable
phenolic and 8.6% extractable tannin content, all other tested feeds were low in extractable
phenolics (0.56%±3.18%), extractable tannins (0.11%±2.52%) and condensed tannins (<1.21%).
Dry matter (DM) and protein degradation after 48 h incubation in sacco ranged from 60.0%±87.5%
and 73.1%±93.4%, respectively. B. nitida showed the lowest degradability values (45.7% and
52.5%, respectively). A similar trend was observed from the in vitro gas production data. Use of
polyethylene glycol 4000 (phenolic binding agent) indicated that inhibitory effect of phenolics on
rumen microbial fermentation was minimal. Data from this study have shown that such Ghanaian
browse plants have potential to be used as feed supplements. # 1998 Elsevier Science B.V
