Ber leaves (Zizyphus jujuba)

Local name: Beri

Zizyphus jujuba is a commonly grown shrub, whose leaves are used as a conventional fodder for sheep and goats. In arid zones, it is an important fodder for these two  species of animals. Ground leaves used in combinations with  other feeds in dry season in Rajasthan. Entire shrub can be cut, leaves allowed to dry and beaten off with sticks. Dried product called pala (a generic term  for  dried  leaves collected as livestock feed) and yielding at 1.0-1.6 kg dry matter per tree.

Nutritive value

In a comparative study on the palatability of different varieties of  tree leaves; it  was observed that beri leaves are comparatively more palatable than pipal or pakar leaves. The beri leaves have high crude protein content (18.6%) but the digestibility coefficient is only 36%.