Abstract:
The study was carried out to assess the availability; fodder yield and nutritional as well as
anti-nutritional contents of selected fodder trees leaves in Mirab Abaya Woreda, Gamo Zone,
Southern Ethiopia. Household survey, field observation, measurements and laboratory
analyses were used to generate the data. Sampled households are selected randomly from the
list. Survey data were collected from randomly selected 138 respondents using a pre-tested
structured questionnaire. About 11, 18 and 13 fodder trees respectively in highland, midland
and lowland were identified and ranked. A total of 12 top ranked fodder tree species were
considered for fodder yield estimation and laboratory analysis. The collected data were
analyzed by using the SPSS software. The average leaf yields (kg DM) of the selected fodder
species ranged from 24.83 for Rhus natalensis in lowland to 856.22 for Erythrina brucei in
highland and vary significantly (P < 0.05) among the species. The CP content was highest
for Erythrina brucei (20%) and was least in Psydrax schimperiana (15%), the Ash content
was least for Nuxia congesta (5.58%) and was highest in Dombeya torrida (9.81%), the
highest EE was observed in Mystroxylon aethiopicum (1.90%) and the lowest was noted for
Nuxia congesta (1.26%), the NDF was highest for Arundinaria alpine (60.10%) and was
least in Psydrax schimperiana (29.72%), the ADF values ranged from 16.52% inNuxia
congesta to 44.84% in Cordia africana, the ADL values ranged from 7.22% in Acacia
mellifera to 19.90% in Millettia ferruginea. The CT content was lowest for Psydrax
schimperiana (0.04%) and was highest in Arundinaria alpine (0.12%), the Oxalate values
ranged from 1.74% in Terminalia brownii to 3.78% in Erythrina brucei and the Cyanide
values ranged from 1.30% in Rhus natalensis to 2.73% in Psydrax schimperiana. Generally
the differences in nutrient contents between different fodder species were significant(p<0.05). The fodder species studied have good nutrient contents, especially proteins, and
have low and safe levels of anti-nutritional factors. From the results of this study, it can be
concluded that the fodder tree species can be considered a potential source of CP to
supplement poor quality roughages to fill the gap.
