Nutritional value of top feeds from Dharwad region of Karnataka with special reference to mineral contents

In the present study, the top feeds of 14 tree species (legume and non-legume) from Dharwad region of Karnataka were assessed for their nutritional value. Mean crude protein (CP) contents of top feeds were higher for legume (21.91%) than non-legume (16.07%) tree species, while fiber contents were comparable between legume and non-legume tree species. The condensed tannin (CT) levels were less than the threshold value (∼ 5%) baring three non-leguminous plants. The macro and micro mineral contents varied plant to plant like Ca 0.98 (H.binnata) to 4.03% (S. sesban), Mg 0.46 (A. lebbek) to 1.55% (S. grandiflora), P 0.11 (F. racemosa) to 0.41% (Pithecellobium dulce), Na 0.01 (G. sepium) to 0.05% (F. tsiela), K0.34 (H. binnata) to 0.96% (F. tsiela), Fe 154.9 (F.tsiela) to 546.6 ppm (F. racemosa), Zn 15.47 (A. heterophyllus) to 44.02 ppm (S. sesban), Cu 6.85 (D. latifolia) to 11.62 ppm (F. tsiela) and Mn 38.16 (A. lebbek) to 106.48 ppm (S. sesban). In the top feeds calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) were adequate while phosphorus (P), sodium (Na) and potassium (K) were inadequate to meet the ruminant animals's requirement. Among the micronutrients copper (Cu) was adequate in some plants and deficit in others. Iron (Fe) content was much in excess of the requirement and cobalt (Co) was found in sufficient amount in all the plants. Manganese (Mn) was present in adequate amount while the critical element zinc (Zn) was deficient in few plants. Thus most of evaluated top feeds are rich in protein, low in tannin, adequate to deficit in macro and micro minerals and may be utilized as protein and mineral feed resources with suitable supplementation as per the requirement.