A note on the potential nutritive value of Ziziphus mucronata (buffalo thorn) foliage during different seasons

Abstract

Foliage of Ziziphus mucronata (buffalo thorn) was collected during the spring, summer and autumn. The chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of organic matter (IVDOM) of these samples were determined. Crude protein concentration ranged between 123–262 g kg DM⁻¹, and tended to be higher in spring than in the other seasons. The acid detergent fibre ranged between 175–312 g kg DM⁻¹ and also tended to be higher in autumn than in either spring or summer. The IVDOM values in this study were high (>700 g kg DM⁻¹) compared to values reported in literature for the same species and other browse species such as Cassia sturtii, Tripteris sinuatum and Sutherlandia microphylla. The concentrations of calcium (Ca), sodium, zinc and manganese (Mn) appear to be higher in autumn while the concentrations of phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), potassium and copper (Cu) tended to be lower at this time compared to other seasons. In spring, the concentrations of Ca and Mn appear to be low while those of P, Mg and Cu are relatively high compared to the other seasons. However, the P content of Z. mucronata foliage was deficient in summer and autumn, while Cu was deficient in all seasons.