A descriptive study was undertaken that aimed to examine the leaf composition of 6 species of
multi-purposes trees as forage sources, with particular attention on calcium (Ca) and phosphor (P). The 6
tree species were Cassia siamea, Lannea grandis, Morinda citrifolia, Moringa oleifera, Schleichera oleosa,
and Tamarindus indica. The study period was 2 months, September – Nopember 2005, from sample
collections to the completion of lab works. Nutritional components were the dependent factors, and tree
species was considered as independent factor. Each of the tree species was replicated twice. Most of the
leaf samples were collected in Palu Valley of Central Sulawei, but S. Oleosa leaves were taken from
Selayar and Makassar, South Sulawesi, which were considered as replications. The 6 tree species with 2
replications resulted 12 samples. Each of the samples was analysed through duplicated extracts which mean
represent the value of the relevant sample. Lab works were conducted using ‘proximate’ and ’atomic
absorption spectrophotometers’ methods. Statistical analyses were done using ’general anova’, followed
by ’the least significant differences’. M. oleifera gave the highest crude-protein (22.5%), followed by C.
siamea (16.31%), M. citrifolia (14.45%), T. indica (11.65%), L. grandis (10.90%), and S. oleosa (8.77%).
Ether-extract contents, from the highest to the lowest, were; C. siamea (9.29%), T. indica (6.94%), L.
grandis (6.57%), M. citrifolia (4.84%), M. oleifera (4.82%), and S. oleosa (2.15%). The lowest to the
highest in crude-fiber were; M. citrifolia (12.85%), M. oleifera (13.67%), C. siamea (16.94%), T. indica
(18.59%), S. oleosa (20.67%); and L. grandis (33.56%). Nitrogen free extract content of the leaf samples,
from the highest to the lowest, were; M. citrifolia (64.38%), S. oleosa (63.68%), T. indica (58.09%), M.
oleifera (57.20%), C. siamea (53.25%), and L. grandis (43.06%). Ash contents of the leaf samples were; L.
grandis (5.91%); S. oleosa and T. indica (4.74%); C. siamea (4.21%); M. citrifolia (3.48%); and M.
oleifera (2.18%), respectively. All of the leaf samples contained reasonable high Ca that was higher than
the critical levels for ruminant diets. The leaf Ca contents, respectively from the highest to lowest, were; T.
indica (1.60%), L. grandis (1.42%), C. siamea (1.06%), M. citrifolia (1.00%), S. oleosa (0.85%) and M.
oleifera (0.80%). Mostly P contents of the leaves, however, below the critical levels for ruminant diets,
except in L. grandis and S. oleosa leaves that were contained 0.31% P. The other leaves, T. indica, M.
citrifolia, C. siamea and M. oleifera, respectively, contained only 013%, 0.09%, 0.08%, and 0,05% P
mineral. Most of the leaf samples have had high Ca:P ratio that above the critical levels of ruminant
requirements (3.5:1), except for the S. oleosa leaves (2.7:1). This was due to the relatively high in leaf Ca,
but generally low in P contents.