World Journal of Research and Review (WJRR) ISSN:2455-3956, Volume-5, Issue-3, September 2017 Pages 01-05 Ailanthus excelsa Roxb. (Simaroubaceae) Leaf: as a Potential Fodder Additive R.Sumathi, D. Rajasugunasekar, B. Brindha, R. Lakshmidevi, D. Suresh Babu, N. Senthilkumar, S.Murugesan animals refuse to eat certain tree leaves due to the presence of Abstract— Ailanthus excelsa Roxb. (Simaroubaceae) a particular anti-metabolites. Antinutritive factors can be a promising multi-purpose tree species, as an important source of problem in some species [2] and when those species are dietary nutrients, alleviate the fodder scarcity and thereby significantly boost the livestock production. The present study consumed may cause problem in growth and health of the entailed to analyse the nutritional status of the leaf of Ailanthus animals. Antinutritive factors present in the plants when excelsa Roxb. to find out its utility as food additive to ruminants. consumed lower the digestive efficiency through a variety of The proximate analysis revealed the presence of high moisture, total ash and acid insoluble ash contents. This plant is a good mechanisms including reducing digestibility, binding of source of protein and total free amino acid was quantified high various nutrients or damaging the intestinal wall [3]. in accessions from Coimbatore, Salem, Dharmapuri, Dindigul, Chandran et al., (2013) [4] also indicated that after Theni and Trichy. Crude fat and crude fiber contents were appropriate treatments to remove or reduce some of the found in substantial quantity. The anti metabolites nitrite (and most dangerous fungal toxins Aflatoxin was found in non antinutritional properties present the leaf of Ardisia traceable quantity, thereby the toxicity of the leaf of A.excelsa solanacea, it can be used as a food additive for livestock. was ruled out. In view of the fact, A.excelsa leaves enriched with Hence the present study aims to analyse the nutritive and nutrients, especially with high protein content can be recommended as an efficient fodder for ruminants/cattle. anti-nutritive factors of A.excelsa to prove its suitability as a Index Terms— Ailanthus excelsa, fodder, nutritional, cattle food additive and an alternate fodder. Though A. antinutritional, livestock. excelsa is one of the top priority species for safety match industry in Tamilnadu, it is an excellent fodder material grows in semi-arid, semi moist region and there is a I. INTRODUCTION tremendous scope to develop the species as fodder tree in India has a great livestock wealth, which provides near future. As per the report of Bhandari and Gupta (1972) livelihood and employment to rural people. Acute shortage [5] the leaves are highly nutritious and palatable tree yields of available grazing to feed the livestock has forced an average of about 500-700 kg of green leaves twice a year nutritionists to look for an alternate unconventional feed and also, found to be suitable fodder for cattle, sheep and resource like forest tree leaves as green fodder during lean goats [6]. Taking these into consideration as well as quality period and in difficult environment. Tree fodders are readily feed would supply all nutrients in adequate quantity. accepted by livestock because they are available even during dry season and are important source of protein and other II. MATERIALS AND METHODS dietary nutrients. The contribution from trees and shrubs is A. Collection and processing of A. excelsa leaf sample significant, but forages rarely satisfy the mineral The leaf samples were collected from 66 accessions of requirements of grazing livestock [1]. The potential of tree A.excelsa (64 from the assemblage of the genetic resources leaf as fodder is not preferred because nutritional values of collected from different agro climatic zones of Tamil Nadu, most of the tree species are not validated. In general, it is Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, at Field necessary to sort out the potential of leaf fodder interms of Research station, Kurumbapatti, Salem (7 year old nutritional value. Tree fodders have high levels of crude plantation) and 2 samples from farmer’s field in Kosavapatti protein, minerals and high levels of digestibility. However, Dindigul; Kalligudi, Theni). The leaves were washed thoroughly with distilled water and shade dried for a week at o R. Sumathi, Division of Bioprospecting, Institute of Forest Genetics and room temperature (24 ± 2 C) after taking fresh weight. The Tree Breeding, Coimbatore-641002, Tamil Nadu, India. D. Rajasugunasekar, 2Genetics and Tree Breeding Division, Institute of dried samples were powdered using an electric blender and Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Coimbatore-641002, Tamil Nadu, India. stored in an airtight container for further analysis. B. Brindha, Division of Bioprospecting, Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Coimbatore-641002, Tamil Nadu, India. R. Lakshmidevi, Division of Bioprospecting, Institute of Forest Genetics B. Nutritional and anti nutritional properties and Tree Breeding, Coimbatore-641002, Tamil Nadu, India. The moisture content was determined for the fresh leaf D. Suresh Babu, Division of Bioprospecting, Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Coimbatore-641002, Tamil Nadu, India. samples by drying them at 80ºC to a constant weight. The N. Senthilkumar, Division of Bioprospecting, Institute of Forest Genetics difference between the fresh and dry weight were used for and Tree Breeding, Coimbatore-641002, Tamil Nadu, India. S.Murugesan* Division of Bioprospecting, Institute of Forest Genetics calculating the moisture content of the leaf sample. Total and Tree Breeding, Coimbatore-641002, Tamil Nadu, India. 1 www.wjrr.org Ailanthus excelsa Roxb. (Simaroubaceae) Leaf: as a Potential Fodder Additive ash, crude fat (ether extract), acid insoluble ash (AIA), and Theni (3), and Trichy (1) contained optimal crude fiber crude fiber (CF), free fatty acids, Nitrite content and content (11-12%) as recommended in BIS, indicating that Aflatoxin of the leaf sample were determined following the these accessions are potentially palatable and better sources methods described by the Association of Official Analytical to feed livestock. Crude fat content ranged from 0.07% to Chemists [7]. Crude lipid content was determined using 7.085 % with an average of 2.45% among the accessions of A.excelsa. CF content was recorded high in B. hanila (3.22%) Soxtron apparatus. Total nitrogen (N) was measured using very fast growing locally preferred fodder trees of middle macro Kjeldahl apparatus and crude protein (CP) content in hills of Nepal [16]. Crude protein content varied widely the sample was calculated by multiplying total nitrogen by among accessions of A. excelsa. It ranged from 12.65 % 6.25. (Pollachi-16) to 27.53 % (Trichy -87) with an average of 17.10 %. About 30 accessions found to have crude protein III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION content more than the average value. Six accessions belongs to Coimbatore, Theni, Trichy, Dharmapuri and Kosavapatti A. Nutritive factors showed protein content recommended in BIS (Min. 20 %) The result of proximate analysis revealed moisture content which were considered as good source to cattle as alternate ranged between 24.83 % and 77.29% with an average of protein. See Table I. Nag and Mathai (1994) [17] and Azim 51.70%. Since nutrient requirements of animal are expressed et al., (2002) [18] have also reported Ailanthus species as on dry matter basis moisture content is important to analyze good sources of protein. Crude protein dietary level below forages as animal feed [8]. Total ash content ranged from 10% adversely affects rumen fermentation [19]. CP level in 5.65% to 12.2% with an average of 8.1%. Lowest ash content selected tree species like Melia azedarach, Albizzia procera, was recorded in accession 3 of Coimbatore west zone and and Leucaena leucoephala was higher than 15% except highest in accession 18 of Pollachi west zone. As reported Mangifera indica (9%) [20], (29.6%) in Emilia sonchifolia [9] ash content of the tree leaves ranged between 60-150g/Kg [21], and higher level of CP was recorded in fodder tree dry matter; higher ash (>18%) and silica (13.6%) content of leaves [22]. The difference in CP contents of different tree rice straw as compared to finger millet straw (8.4 and 5%) is species is due to the difference in protein accumulation the most credible reason for decreased dry matter during growth. digestibility of rice straw [10]. Ash provides no calories it only gives an indication of the total mineral content and B. Anti-Nutritional factors reduces fodder quality as per the report of Pinos-Rodríguez et al., (2007)[11]. Dan Undersander (2007) [12] reported that Aflatoxins are known to be the fungal toxins that cause 1% increase in ash content will decrease the digestible detrimental effects on animal and decreased feed utilization nutrients and Alfalfa containing significantly higher ash and reduced productivity. Analysis of Aflatoxin (B1, B2, G1, content has reduced palatability and milk production. G2) showed not detectable quantity of aflatoxin in all the samples. Animals are highly susceptible to nitrite poisoning. The acid insoluble ash a substance that has also been used to When high nitrate feeds are consumed, it caused acute effect determine feed intake in cattle and the most widely used on them. The optimum level of nitrate of 0-1000 ppm in internal marker in digestibility studies [13], [14]. Among the forage on dry matter basis is considered safe to feed[23], whereas if cattle consume large amounts of forage containing 66 accessions maximum of 3.55% acid insoluble ash was 1.76% or more nitrate ion found toxic [24]. In the present recorded in accession 44 whereas 52 of Trichy Karur study, the nitrite content ranged between 3.15 to maximum of Cauvery Delta and 98 of Uttarkand found to have lowest 44.64 ppm was considered as non toxic as per previous (0.02%) acid insoluble ash content. All 66 accessions found reports.