 | Abstract 296Nutritive value of matured wilted castor (Ricinus communis Linn.) leaves for crossbred sheep.Behl,-CR; Pande,-MB; Pande,-DP; Radadia,-NS Livestock Research Station, Gujarat Agricultural Univ., Sardar Krishinagar, Gujarat 305 506, India. Indian-Journal-of-Animal-Sciences. 1986, 56: 4, 473-474; 2 ref. The lower leaves of castor oil plant, which normally fall down and are wasted, contained when wilted, with digestibility in parentheses, crude protein 11.5 (70.2), fibre 14.7 (75.6), ether extract 5.8 (45.3), N-free extract 52.7 (77.4), ash 15.4, calcium 2.5 and phosphorus 0.3% in DM. Digestible crude protein (DCP) was 8.05 and total digestible nutrients (TDN) 65.57%. When rams were fed on leaves only average daily consumption was 99.7 g DCP and 815.3 g TDN, more than recommended values, and weight gain was 243 g daily. Daily retentions were N 9.8, Ca 7.5 and P 0.8 g. This abstract relates to the following species: |