NUTRITIVE VALUES OF MIKANIA-SCANDENS AND ERYTHRINA-INDICA IN BLACK BENGAL GOATS

Two experiments were conducted on Mikania scandens, a climber which gr ows naturally in marshy areas (Experiment I), and the leaves of Erythr ina indica, a tree frequently cultivated on the borders of agricultura l farms as fencing (Experiment II), which were given as the sole feed to adult male Black Bengal goats. The voluntary intake of dry matter ( DM) was 2.30 +/- 0.17 and 3.28 +/- 0.08 kg per 100 kg body weight per day in Experiments I and II, respectively. DCP and TDN contents in Exp eriments I and II were 12.72 +/- 0.30% and 18.58 +/- 0.18%, and 72.63 +/- 0.56% and 61.16 +/- 0.81%, respectively, on a DM basis, whereas ba lances of N, Ca and P were positive in both experiments. The results o f this study show that these leaves can meet the need for green fodder for goats for a short period.