Ly et al., 2001. Livest. Res. Rural Dev., 13 (3): 1-9

The nutritive value for pigs of sun-dried leaves from trichanthera ( T. gigantea) and mulberry ( M. alba) was assessed in 2 experiments. In experiment 1, digestibility indices and N balance were determined in 8 Mong Cai castrated male pigs (mean liveweight 14.5 kg) fed 30% of sun-dried trichanthera or mulberry leaves according to a balanced change over design. In experiment 2, the in vitro (pepsin/pancreatin) N digestibility of both sets of leaf meals was compared. The substitution of 30% of the basal diet implied that both trichanthera and mulberry provided on average 31.3 and 37.1% of the total N in the diet. In vivo organic matter and N total digestibility as estimated by difference were higher (P<0.01) in mulberry than in trichanthera leaf meal (trichanthera, 71.5 and 66.2; mulberry 84.6 and 81.1%, respectively). The diet containing 30% of mulberry leaf meal exhibited a higher N retention ( P<0.05) than that containing trichanthera leaf meal. In vitro organic matter and N solubility, simulating ileal digestion in pigs, were higher ( P<0.001) for mulberry as compared to trichanthera leaf meal (trichanthera 35.9 and 37.5; mulberry 56.7 and 47.7%, respectively). Further studies concerning factors affecting N utilization of trichanthera by pigs are recommended. The high nutritive value of the mulberry leaves employed in the present experiments indicates its potential as a protein source in pig feeding.