Screening of tree leaves for bioactive components and their impact on in vitro fermentability and methane production from total mixed ration

This study was taken up to assess the effect of supplementing tree leaves [Eucalyptus globules (Safeda), Populus tremula (Poplar), Ficus bengalensis (Banyan), Saraca asoca (Ashoka), Acacia nilotica (Kikar), Phoenix dactylifera (Khajoor), Aegle marmelos (Bael), Murraya koenigii (Curry), Cassia fistula (Amaltas), Bauhinia variegata (Kachnar), Mangifera indica (Mango) and Psidium guajava (Guava)] at 1–3% on fermentability and in vitro methane production from total mixed ration (TMR). The globulins content was highest in Aegle, while albumin was highest in Psidium leaves. Prolamin was highest in Ficus (17.3%), while glutelin was the highest in Phoenix (6.50%). Ficus (15.2%) and Psidium (10.7%) leaves contained highest level of condensed tannins. Eucalyptus and Mangifera leaves showed the highest antioxidant activity and flavonoid content respectively. Supplementation of TMR with leaves of Acacia, Psidium and Cassia resulted in higher (P < 0.05) DM digestibility, whereas NDF digestibility was highest in TMR supplemented with Mangifera and Acacia leaves. The VFAs concentration varied (P < 0.05) from 4.4 to 6.07 mM/dl in TMR supplemented with Eucalyptus and Saraca leaves. Bauhinia leaves supplementation resulted in the lowest (P < 0.05) methane production from TMR. It was concluded that TMR supplemented with leaves of M. indica, A. nilotica, P. guajava, C. fistula, E. globules and P. dactylifera at 1% has great potential to improve digestibility and or decrease methane production.