Feed Value of Some Nigerian Browse Plants: Chemical Composition and in Vitro Digestibility of Leaves

Abstract

The leaves of 36 browse plants were found to contain high levels of crude protein (2.35-30.91%); crude fibre (9.18-32.96%); ash (2.69-14.29%); ether extract (0.88-9.66%) and gross energy (3.64-5.22 kcal/g). Organic matter digestibility values ranged from 31.93% to 78.69% and were affected by lignin and ADR (P<0.001), cellulose (P<0.05) but not by their protein levels (P>0.05). Shrubs and herbs were more digestible than the tree browse. Gross energy values apparently were high but did not significantly (P>0.03) influence in vitro digestibility.