THE NUTRITIVE VALUE OF LEUCAENA LEUCOCEPHALA CV. PERU IN BALANCE AND GROWTH STUDIES WITH GOATS AND SHEEP

C. DEVENDRA

SUMMARY

The results are presented on the feeding value of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam) de Wit cv. Peru based on two balance studies with goats and sheep, in addition to a growth study over 71 days with kids. The chemical composition of leucaena was similar to results published in India and Australia. Goats had an average daily DMI of 51.0 to 60.9 g/W^0.75kg and sheep 39.4 to 53.7 g/W^0.75kg. The digestibility of dry matter was 53.9 to 56.4%, organic matter 54.1 to 57.1% , crude protein 44.8 to 45.0% and crude fibre 38.5 to 64.8% for goats. The corresponding values for sheep were 50.0 to 50.5%, 51.1%, 40.5 to 46.3% and 31.2 to 60.2% respectively; excepting for the digestibility of crude protein, only in trial I were between species significant (P<0.05). Nitrogen retention data gave values of 22.8 to 36.3% as percentage of intake for goats and 8.7 to 18.4% for sheep; the differences were significant (P<0.05). The nutritive value was DCP 9.3 to 11.0 and 9.1 to 10.1%,TDN 46.9 to 67.8 and 46.7 to 54.2%, DE 8.66 to 12.62 and 8.62 to 10.00 MJ/Kg and ME 7.10 to 10.35 and 7.07 to 8.20 MJ/Kg for goats and sheep respectively 25, 50 and 75% leucaena in Napier grass-legume diets significantly stimulated (P<0.05) 24.4, 32.9 and 55.8 g/day increased live weight gain; the highest dietary leucaena level gave maximum gain. Feed efficiency was correlated with increased live weight gain (r= -0.481, P<0.01). It is suggested that up to 50% dietary leucaena level is suitable for goats. The wider use of the forage for feeding ruminants in Malaysia is discussed.

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