Investigation of Nutrient Content and Digestibility Levels of Mulberry Leaves (Morus Alba) Grown in Different Provinces

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Published: May 19, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/jhvms.41912
Keywords:
mulberry leaves nutrient in vitro gas metabolic ener gy
İ Ulger
Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Türkiye
T Ayasan
Osmaniye Korkut Ata University, Kadirli Faculty of Applied Sciences, Osmaniye, Türkiye
M Kaliber
Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Türkiye
SB Beyzi
Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Türkiye
H Inci
Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Bingöl University, Bingöl, Türkiye
ÇÖ Özkan
Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science, Kahramanmaras, Türkiye
Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the possibilities of using mulberry leaves collected from 10 different provinces in animal feeding. Dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude ash (CA), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), crude fat (CF), gas production (GP), organic matter digestibility (OMD) and energy values ​​(ME and NEL) of mulberry leaves collected from different provinces were calculated. Gas production of mulberry leaves was determined in 24 h incubation periods and gas production kinetics was explained using the equation y=A (1-exp-ct). The highest dry matter (DM) ratio of mulberry leaves was found in mulberry leaves collected from Şanlıurfa (33.18%). The highest CA ratio was determined in mulberry leaves collected from Kayseri (21.25%). The highest CP ratio was found in mulberry leaves collected from Adıyaman (20.96%). The highest CF ratio was found as 4.54% in mulberry leaves collected from Adana. The differences between the provinces in terms of DM, CA, CP, CF rates were statistically significant (P<0.001). The ADF rate was found to be the highest as 28.44% in the Aydın group (P<0.001). In the study, NDF rate and HEM rate were found to be 35.65% and 18.13%, respectively, in mulberry leaves collected from Niğde (P<0.001). While the OMD rate was found as 46.13% in the Adıyaman group, it was found as 59.89% in the Yozgat group. It was found that the difference between the provinces in terms of OMD rate was statistically significant. 24-hour GP values, % methane production, ME, NEL values ​​obtained from mulberry leaves were the highest in mulberry leaves collected from Yozgat as 40.33 ml; 3.46 ml; 9.07 MJ/kg; it was determined as 5.40 MJ/kg (P<0.05). As a result, it was seen that the soil structure and climate structure of the region where the mulberry leaves obtained from different provinces are located have a significant effect on the nutritional values. Although there are significant differences in terms of the chemical composition of the mulberry leaves and some estimated parameters, it can be said that the mulberry leaves have high HP content and good digestibility.

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