Mineral Composition of Local Tree Leaves for Feeding Sheep and Goats in Kohat District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Mineral profile of tree leaves from eight local species (Acacia modesta, Albezia lebbeck, Capparis aphyla, Prosopes Juliflora, Tecoma undulata, Olea cuspidate, Ziziphus mauritiana and Ziziphus jujuba) was evaluated for feeding to sheep and goats. Leave samples were collected from three different locations (Surgul, Shakardara and Gumbat) in Kohat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan province and analyzed for total mineral matter, Ca, P, Na, K, Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn and In vitro DM digestibility. Statistical variations due to tree species and location were inconsistent for macro and micro minerals. Except Na, the contents of Ca, P and K were significantly influenced by tree species. Calcium contents were in the optimum range (1.66 to 5.14%) in all the leaves except Capparis aphyla (0.22%). Conversely, P was in the lower range (0.05-0.14%) in all samples that resulted in wide Ca:P ratio. Na in all samples was found ten times less than the required levels. Potassium was two folds higher than the recommended dietary level. Among the four micro-minerals, only Zn and Mn responded to difference in tree species and none varied due to location. Copper contents averaged 3.32 ppm across the tree species as against the required dietary levels 4 to10 ppm. The contents of Zn. Fe and Mn were found above the optimum levels and averaged 42, 186 and 94 ppm, respectively. The low in vitro DM digestibility (25.96 51.28%) of the tree leaves may constrain bioavailability of minerals and requires research to overcome this limitation.