NUTRITIONAL AND ANTI-NUTRITIONAL CHARACTERS AND RUMEN DEGRADABILITY OF DRY-MATTER AND NITROGEN FOR SOME MULTIPURPOSE TREE SPECIES WITH POTENTIAL FOR AGROFORESTRY IN ZIMBABWE

In a preliminary study on the nutritional value of seven multipurpose trees (MPTs), currently showing potential use in agroforestry systems in Zimbabwe, crude protein values ranged from 189 g kg(-1) DM in Flemi ngia macrophylla to 292 g kg(-1) DM in Acacia angustissima. Acid deter gent fibre (ADF) content was low especially in Sesbania sesban (99 g k g(-1) DM),while ADF contents in Flemingia macrophylla (277 g kg(-1) DM ) and Cajanus cajan (255 g kg(-1) DM) were the highest. The MPTs had a sh contents ranging from 58 g kg(-1) DM in Flemingia macrophylla and C ajanus cajan to 95 g kg(-1) DM in Sesbania sesban. MPTs with detectabl e amounts of condensed tannins were Calliandra calothyrsus (17.9 g kg( -1) DM), A. angustissima (10.3 g kg(-1) DM) and Flemingia macrophylla (3.4 g kg(-1) DM). These MPTs were poorly degraded in the rumen compar ed to the other four species. The presence of condensed tannins could lower their potential as ruminant feeds.