In Vitro Evaluation of Potentially Edible Brazilian Trees and Shrubs in Ruminant Nutrition.

The present study aims to evaluate the nutritional value of different tree and shrub leaves in Brazilian ruminant production systems. Eight potentially edible trees and shrubs were identified from interviews with 30 ruminant producers: Aroeira (ARO; ), Black Mulberry (BMU; ), Candeia (CAN; ), Jatobá (JAT; ), Gliricídia (GLI; ), Santa Bárbara tree (SBT; ), Tithonia (TIT; ), and White Mulberry (WMU; ). Four leaf samples of each edible tree were sampled, and chemical analyses and in vitro assays were performed.