This study was conducted to evaluate the influence of leaves of two shrubs on digestion and nitrogen retention by sheep. Twelve rumen-fistulated castrated male sheep (Pelibuey x Rambouillet) of 42.2&plusmn;1.3 kg live weight were randomly assigned to three diets (four sheep/diet): diet 1 containing 77% of Cynodon plectostachyus straw and 23% Medicago sativa hay, diet 2 containing 70.7% C. plectostachyus straw and 26.3% Senegalia greggii leaves, and diet 3 containing 76.3% C. plectostachyus straw and 14.3% Prosopis juliflora leaves. Medicago sativa hay was used as control feed of good nutritional quality. The intakes of dry matter and the fiber components of sheep were not significantly different between sheep fed the diets containing the M. sativa hay or S. greggii leaves, but both were significantly higher than sheep fed the P. juliflora leaves. The in vivo digestibility coefficients of dry matter and the fiber components were not different (P&gt;0.05) between sheep fed the all diets; however, the digestibility of CP was higher (P&lt;0.05) for sheep fed the M. sativa diet compared with sheep on other diets. The N intake was similar (P&gt;0.05) between sheep fed diets containing M. sativa hay or S. greggii leaves, but both were higher than sheep containing P. juliflora leaves. A similar pattern as N intake was registered in fecal and urine N excretions. The N balance was higher (P&lt;0.05) and positive in sheep fed the M. sativa hay diet followed by S. greggii and sheep on P. juliflora were lowest and negative. Senegalia greggii leaves may have potential as an economical supplementary feed for sheep fed diets based on roughages.&nbsp;

Nutritional evaluation of Senegalia greggii and Prosopis juliflora as browse supplements for sheep&nbsp;

Background: Senegalia catechu (L.f.) P.J.H. Hurter and Mabb. (S. catechu) is a versatile leguminous tree of the Fabaceae family. Commonly termed &quot;khair,&quot; it is widely distributed across the country occurring naturally and as a plantation crop. This species flourishes in the Sub-Himalayan region of India, ranging from an altitude of 300 to 1,300 meters. Species is commercially valuable due to the extraction of Katha and cutch, apart from various other uses in traditional medicine. However, natural regeneration is severely hampered in wild due to seed dormancy resulting from the hard seed coat. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: Senegalia catechu (L.f.) P.J.H. Hurter and Mabb. seeds were sorted into two size categories i.e. small (L1) and large (L2) and then subjected to eight presowing treatments to evaluate their effect on germination and initial seedling development in split plot&nbsp; design at Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India. The treatments were replicated thrice. 
&nbsp; 
Result: Large seed size (p&le;0.05) significantly took lesser number of days taken to emergence (4.79 days), higher germination per cent (71.04%), maximum germination energy (30.57%). Large size seeds also exhibited superior growth and seedling biomass parameters. Amid the presowing treatments, cow dung slurry for 3 days (T8) showed lesser number of days taken to emergence (3.00 days), higher germination percentage (78.33%), germination value (18.46) and germination rate index (2.30 per cent/days) and minimum mean germination time (8.03 days). Maximum seedling growth and seedling vigour index were found in seeds treated with cow dung slurry for 3 days (T8).Further, this study seeks to explore the research avenues for conservation and utilization of Senegalia catechu (L.f.) P.J.H. Hurter and Mabb. in central and sub mountainous region of Punjab and other parts of India.

Effect of Seed Size and Presowing Treatments on Germination, Early Seedling Growth and Seedling Vigour of Senegalia catechu (L.f.) P.J.H. Hurter and Mabb. in Nursery Condition