Chemical Composition and Nutritive Value of an Invasive Exotic Species Broussonetia Papyrifera in Ghana

Abstract

The study was done to determine the chemical composition and nutritive value of Broussonetia papyrifera with the aim of determining its potential for forage in Ghana. Due to its prolific regeneration pattern it has invaded large canopy gaps and degraded farm lands with a lot of ecological consequences.  Foliage samples of Broussonetia papyrifera were collected from wild stands in the Tano South District of the Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana, together with samples of Ficus exasperata and Leucaena leucocephala for comparison. The nutrient content (proximate composition, cell wall content and macro-mineral composition), anti-nutritive factor (condensed tannin) and digestibility of the test species were analysed. Results of the study showed that for a cheaper source of plant crude protein (27.17% DM), ether extract (6.45% DM), carbohydrate (25.37% DM), ash (11.54% DM), calcium (2.54% DM), phosphorus (0.23% DM), potassium (0.73% DM), magnesium (0.86% DM) and in vitro organic matter digestibility (50.88% DM), B. papyrifera appears good potential forage in ruminant nutrition. However, the level of condensed tannin (CT) in B. papyrifera (6.96% - 7.09% DM) may interfere with animal performance since they exceed 5.0% DM concentration which may reduce the digestibility of forage as a result of the nitrogen-condensed tannin (N-CT) complex formation that reduces their solubility and degradation by rumen bacteria. The results suggest that B. papyrifera could be a good candidate for forage, especially during the dry season for resource-poor farmers with stalled-fed animals in the B. papyrifera invaded areas in Ghana.

Keywords: Invasive species, chemical composition, nutritive value, forage, Broussonetia papyrifera, Ghana