Tropical Grasslands (1997) Volume 31, 599–604

Uses, yield and nutritive value of mulberry (Morus alba) trees for ruminants in the semi-arid areas of central Tanzania

C.M. SHAYO

Zonal Research and Training Centre, Livestock Production Research Institute, Mpwapwa, Tanzania

Abstract

A study to determine yield and nutritional value of mulberry (Morus alba) trees for livestock was conducted at the Livestock Production Research Institute, Mpwapwa in central Tanzania. Mulberry cuttings were planted at 3 spacings, (treatments) S1 (0.5 × 0.7 m), S2 (1 × 2 m) and S3 [Double row (1 × 1 × 0.5 m)]. Randomly selected trees in each block were cut to about 15–30 cm high (2 years after establishment) towards the end of the rainy season, and in the middle of the dry season and harvested material used for yield and nutritive value determination. Regrowth was harvested at different times during the dry season for biomass determination. This study was accompanied by a brief survey to determine distribution and uses of mulberry trees in some villages around Mpwapwa township.
About 5% of farmers had a few (2–5) mulberry trees growing around their homesteads, which were used for shade, fruits and to a lesser extent as vegetables, for medicinal purposes and as fuel wood. Leaves of the trees contained 14.3, 18.6, 24.6, 20.8, 3.8, 8.1, 12.6 and 2.5% ash, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), hemicellulose (Hem), acid detergent lignin (ADL), cellulose (Cel) and acid detergent insoluble ash (ADIA), respectively. In vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of the leaves was 82.1%. The nutrient composition of the bark was 7.7% ash, 7.8% CP, 46.8% NDF, 36.9% ADF, 9.9% Hem, 7.1% ADL, 29.8% Cel and 1.1% ADIA. The IVDMD of bark was fairly high (60.3%) and the rate of in sacco dry matter (DM) degradation of the leaves was very high (70–80% of the DM disappeared after 24 h of incubation). Degradability of the bark after 72 h of incubation was around 70%.
Yield of leaves exceeded 20 t/ha DM when cut at the end of the rainy season and again in the mid-dry season. Corresponding yields of stem and bark were 31 t/ha and 6.6 t/ha, respectively.

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