Selectivity and Palatability of Tree Fodders in Sheep and Goat Fed by Cafeteria Method

Preference among tree fodders in four Madras red breed of sheep and four kanni breed of goats fed with four locally available tree species viz. Albizia lebbek, Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocephala and Inga dulce was studied through intake studies by cafeteria method for a period of 35 days. The nutrient composition of the tree leaves was analysed. Leucaena leucocephala was mostly preferred by sheep and goats and the consumption of tree leaves was 24.41±0.67 and 33.90±3.27g DM/kg metabolic body weight per day respectively. In both sheep and goat, palatability of Leuceana leucocephala and Inga dulce were ranked first and second respectively. Gliricidia sepium was ranked third in goats followed by Albizzia lebbeck in where as Albizzia lebbeck was ranked third in sheep followed by Gliricidia sepium. From this study it was concluded that leaves of Leuceana leucocephala could serve as a better tree fodder for small ruminants.