Determination of Potential Forage Value of Honey Locust ( Gleditsia triacanthos) Tree Leaves

Abstract

In this study, was purposed to determine the chemical composition, condensed tannin (CT) content, in vitro total gas (TG) production, metabolic energy (ME) and organic matter digestibility (OMD) of honey locust ( Gleditsia triacanthos) tree leaves collected in different months. The differences between the chemical composition, condensed tannin (CT), in vitro total gas production (TG), metabolic energy (ME) and organic matter digestibility (OMD) of honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) leaves by month were found to be significant (P<0.05). Honey locust ( Gleditsia triacanthos) tree leaves crude protein (CP) 5.59%-19.48%, crude fat 3.64-9.71%, acid detergent fiber (ADF) 23.5434.52%, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) 38.58%-49.00, CT 13.86-19.35%, in vitro TG productions varied between 27.41-41.43 ml(-1)200 mg DM, ME values 6.52-8.99 Mj kg(-1) DM and OMD 49.43-64.50%, and differences between them were found to be statistically significant (P<0.05). As a result, considering the crude nutrient composition, it can be said that leaves of honey locust can be an alternative source of roughage, and attention should be paid to their use due to their high tannin content.