Determination of the nutritional content and digestivity ofsome tree leaves growed in Şanlıurfa

In this study, the nutrient composition and in-vitro dry matter digestion values of leaves taken 4 times at 45-day intervals (between 15 July and 1 December) from mulberry, acacia and plane trees grown in Şanlıurfa were determined. At the end of the study, in terms of nutrient composition of tree leaves, except for ADF values, the effects of tree species x harvest time interactions were observed on other nutrient contents (P<0.01). The effect of tree species and harvest time on ADF values was found to be significant (P<0.0001). Similarly, tree species x harvest time interactions were observed on in vitro dry matter digestion, dry matter intake and relative feed values (P<0.01). The effect of tree species and harvest time on digestible dry matter values was found to be significant (P<0.0001). As a result, it was concluded that mulberry and acacia tree leaves can be good quality roughage sources in terms of in vitro dry matter digestion and crude protein values, but plane leaves are not sufficient in terms of these properties.