Evaluation of Himalayan Elm (Ulmus wallichiana) leaf meal as a partial substitute for concentrate mixture in total mixed ration of sheep

Abstract Exploring novel feed resources in substitution for concentrate feeds is a primary aim for lowering the cost of feeding and a viable strategy to mitigate the shortage of animal feeds. The present experiment was accomplished by in vitro and in vivo assays with the aim to evaluate the potential of Himalayan Elm (Ulmus wallichiana) leaf meal (ELM) as partial substitute to the concentrate feed mixture in total mixed ration (TMR) of sheep. Under in vitro study, graded levels (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50%) of ELM inclusion substituting concentrate feed mixture constituting 40% of the basal TMR were evaluated for degradability of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF). In vitro degradability of DM, OM and NDF were higher (P