Objective The present study intends to reveal and evaluate the feeding value and biomass of mature leaves of Toona sinensis (A. Juss.) Roem (TS) grown in the south and north of China, and help to lay a foundation for the construction of comprehensive feed industry of TS.
Method The contents of rude protein, amino acids, minerals and other nutrients of the mature leaves of TS grown in China were analyzed, and their feeding value were confirmed by mutton-sheep breeding experiments. By analysis of biomass and cultivate-suit area of TS, the development potential of mature leaves of TS as feedstuff were discussed.
Result The mature leaves of TS were equipped with high content of crude protein (16.25%-17.78%) and low content of crude fat (3.10%-5.45%), and contained 17 kinds of amino acids, with the essential amino acids accounted for 33.12%-34.60%. In addition, the mature leaves of TS were also rich in potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc and other mineral elements. Sheep in breeding experiments appeared to favor the mature leaves of TS, and no adverse phenomenon, neither diarrhea nor convulsions, happened. The nutritional value of mature leaves of TS were higher than conventional consumed grains, and were comparable to Medicago sativa.
Conclusion Mature leaves of TS are high in crude protein, low in crude fat, and do have the potential to be protein feed. The region along the Yellow River and the Yangtze River of China are pointed to be the suit development area for feed-used/buds-feed-used TS.
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