Screening Tree Leaves for Bio-active Compounds and their Effect on In vitro Fermentation and Methane Production from Total Mixed Ration

This study was undertaken to screen the tree leaves (TLs) for bio-active compounds and assess their impact on the substrate degradation and methane production from total mixed ration (TMR) by in-vitro gas production technique. The sundried, finely ground leaves of Mangifera indica (MI; Mango), Cassia fistula (CF; Amaltas/Amulthus) and Acacia nilotica (AN; Babul) were supplemented individually and in combinations i.e. MI+CF, MI+AN, CF+AN and MI+CF+AN to TMR at 1% level on DM basis. Results revealed that the total phenols, condensed tannins, hydrolysable tannins, DPPH and vitamin C content were the highest (P