Nutritional Evaluation of Air Dried Terminalia mantaly Leaves as Feed Ingredient

Abstract

The study was carried out to evaluate the nutritional property of air dried Terminalia mantaly leaves (TML). These leaves were harvested from terminalia trees within the premises of the College of Animal Science and Animal Production, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. Two hundred grams of fresh terminalia leaves were weighed and processed by airdrying. The samples were spread in a well-ventilated room (approximately 28.5°C) for fortyeight hours. The results revealed that TML contained appreciable amounts of crude protein (18.62%), energy(2706kcal/kg), crude fibre (13.49%), ash (7.91%), crude fat (3.17%) and low moisture (11.29%). The results show the presence of potassium(0.77%), sodium(0.25%), magnesium(0.26), calcium(0.24%), phosphorus(0.37%), iron(169.78%), copper(13.66%)

and zinc(57.7%). Potassium and phosphorus had the highest concentrations with 0.77% and 0.37% respectively. Anti-nutrients contents analyzed showed saponins(0.27%), cyanogenic glycosides(0.22%), flavonoids(0.0039%), phenol(0.21%), alkaloids(0.18%), tannin(0.06%), phytate(0.26%), steroid(0.0057%), and oxalate(0.14%). The anti-nutritional content in TML is low and so may not cause any adverse effects on animals. In conclusion, the appreciable amounts of protein and mineral contained in Terminalia mantaly leaves are important nutritional requirements for inclusion in the feed of monogastrics as well as ruminant animal. It would be recommended that experimental trials using Terminalia mantaly leaves should be conducted.