Study on the determination of the nutritional components and the feeding value of Broussonetia papyrifera leaf meal

The crude protein, crude fiber, calcium and phosphorus and 17 amino acids in the leaf meal of Broussonetia papyrifera were measured. The protein nutritional value was expressed as essential amino acid score and index. The feeding value was evaluated by the fuzzy optimum decision method. The results showed that B. papyrifera leaf meal was a protein feed which contains 23.62% crude protein and 20.95% seventeen amino acids. The ratio of E/T and E/N were 0.44 and 0.80, which were higher than the reference of 0.40 and 0.6 provided by FAO / WHO, respectively. Amino acid score of B. papyrifera was 50, which was lower than the leaf meal of tetraploid black locust, powder of pine needle and alfalfa meal. The essential amino acid index of B. papyrifera was 95.24, which was equal to that of above control feeds. The fuzzy optimum decision analysis showed that the leaf meal of B. papyrifera has a greater feeding value than alfalfa meal and the powder of pine needle, but its value was lower than tetraploid black locust meal.