Nutrient composition and phenolic constituents in some feed and fodder samples from temperate regions of Kumaon Himalaya

Abstract

A total of 57 samples comprising of 15 different types of feeds/fodder, viz. mixed grass hay, barley grass (Hordeum vulgare), oat grass (Avena sativa), bimalsiya grass (Pennisetum orientale), kumeria grass (Heteropogon contortus), kikiyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum), mature and immature oak leaves (OL) two types: banj,(Q, uercus leucotricophora), (Kharsun Q, semicarpiftlia), quiralleaves (Bahuinia retusa), poplar (Populus ciliata) leaves, maize flour (Zea mays), pelleted feed and concentrate mixture were collected from the farmers during the field survey at temperate regions (> 1700-2100 m msl) of Kumaon Himalaya. The feed samples were analysed for different nutrient composition and phenolic constituents. The CP content in mixed grass hay ranged from 4.6 to 8.6/0and had 81.5/0NDF, 55.6% ADF and 10.9/0ADL. The bimalsia grass had highest CP (20.9%) followed by kikiyu (10.9%) and kumeria (6.1/0) and was also rich in HC (44.8%) and had least ADL (2.8%). The barley and oat grass had CP 5.8 and 16.50/0, respectively. Total Ash was 8.1/0in kumeria and 7.6<>; 0in mixed grass hay, but had high> 50/0AlA. The oat had higher P content (0.58/0) compared to other grasses and the Ca: P ratio was very narrow («1.5: 1). Cao/owas highest in barley grass (0.89) followed by bimalsia (0.71), oat and kumeria (0.62-0.68) and was low in mixed grass hay (0.57) and kikiyu (0.51). The tree leaves were rich in OM (93.0-96.3/0vs 88.3-92.4 /0). The CP content was nearly double in immature oak leaves (19.7-20.7%) than the mature one (9.4-10.1/0). In other tree species, the CP content was high in poplar (14.6/0) and low in quiral (5.8 10). The ADL content was 21.6% in mature Banj leaves and 6.7 10in poplar. Quiralleaves had a nearly balanced concentration of Ca (1.93%) and P (0.69%) and the other tree leaves had a very wide ratio (nearly 10:1).The immature oak leaves had nearly equal Ca and P concentration (0.37- 0.49 /0).The concentration (°/0)of poly-phenolic components, viz. total phenolics (TP), total tannin phenolics, condensed tannins (CT), hydrolysable tannins (HT) and non-tannin phenolics revealed that the TP was 7.06 to 9.81 in different leaves and was highest in immature Kharsun (Q, semicarpiftlia) (9.61 to 10.01). The immature oak leaves also had higher HT content 5.35 in Q, leucotricophora and 7.24 in Q, semicarpifoliai. CT was highest in mature Banj leaves (3.11) followed by Quiral (2.93), poplar (1.97)and Kharsun (1.65) and was very low in immature oak leaves (0.68-0.88). The CP content was 9.2, 22.7 and 19.7 °/0in the maize flour, pelleted feed and concentrate mixture, respectively. The pelleted feed ADL content (6.6°/0)was higher than other two concentrate feeds. The Ca and P content in the concentrate mixture and pelletedfeed was nearly at optimal ratio (2:1).