INTERSPECIES DIFFERENCES AND VARIABILITY WITH TIME OF PROTEIN PRECIPITATION ACTIVITY OF EXTRACTABLE TANNINS, CRUDE PROTEIN, ASH, AND DRY-MATTER CONTENT OF LEAVES FROM 13 SPECIES OF NEPALESE FODDER TREES

Dry matter, ash, crude protein, and protein precipitation activity (PP A) of 13 Nepalese tree fodder species were monitored in dried samples prepared monthly between November 1990 and May 1991, and additionally in November 1991, covering the season when they are particularly impor tant as fodder. Monthly levels of dry mailer, ash, and crude protein w ere fairly stable except when there was new leaf growth, although year to year differences in dry matter were found in Brassaiopsis hainla ( Bh), Dendrocalamus strictus (Ds), Ficus roxburghii (Fr), and Quercus s emecarpifolia (Qs). Tannin PPA fluctuated considerably in Artocarpus l akoocha (Al), Ficus glaberrima (Fg), F. nerrifolia (Fn), Fr, F. semico rdata (Fs), Litsea polyantha (Lp), and Prunus cerasoides (Pc), and to a lesser extent in Bh, Castanopsis indica (Ci), C. tribuloides (Ct), Q uercus lamellosa (Ql), and Qs. Similar fluctuations in PPA were observ ed in fresh leaf samples taken weekly. Ds did not have any detectable PPA. Trends in PPA fluctuation were generally similar for trees locate d at similar altitudes. Pr, Pc, Al, Fn, Ql, and Ci had falling PPAs be fore shedding leaves. Some of the fluctuations in Fr, Fs, Fg, Pc, and Lp were apparently due to changes in the extractability and quantity o f condensed tannins. These fluctuations in PPA may affect the nutritiv e value of the fodders.