The study was conducted to explore the possibility of utilization of Velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) whole plant foliage for application as animal feed using the proximate analysis based on AOAC analytical standard and further the fodder quality and digestibility parameters were estimated using various factorial methods. Velvet bean was harvested for testing as forage between 90-120 days after sowing from Fodder Unit, College of Veterinary Science, Hyderabad wherein the whole plant samples were pooled. Crude protein (CP) was 16.80 percent while crude fiber (CF) was 19.0. The CF recorded was higher than the conventional feeds generally used for non-ruminant livestock hence the whole plant foliage may probably suit to be fed to ruminant and pseudo-ruminants. Other results were total ash 7.8 %, moisture content 73.0 % and lipid content 2.40%. The Calcium was 1.03 % and Phosphorous 0.19%. The quality analysis of fibers was Neutral Detergent Fiber 59.00% and Acid Detergent Fiber was 40.30%. The estimated dry matter intake on dry matter basis was 2.03%and estimated digestibility parameters i.e. Relative Feed Value (RFV) was 90.67%; Relative Feed Quality (RFQ) was 98.60 %. The other results of analysis were acid detergent lignin (ADL) 9.92%, hemi cellulose (HC) 22.10%, acid insoluble ash (AIA) 0.27% and silica 0.17%. The analysis results depict potential nutritional use as animal feed which has to be further tested in vivo at various levels of inclusion.

Highlights

• Estimation of velvet beans fodder quality and digestibility parameters by factorial methods.
• Results depict potential nutritional use of Velvet beanas animal feed.