Feeding Mixtures of Tree/Shrub Leaves for Ruminant Animals
Such trees and shrubs often grow on farms (Fig. 1). They are used for fences, as ornamental plants, or for firewood or fruit. If one species cannot supply all the forage needed, farmers gather a mixture of available leaves and feed these to their animals (Fig. 2).
For instance, feeding Gliricidia leaves to ruminants is a popular practice all over Southeast Asia. No known toxicity has been reported. Gliricidia leaves can make up 10 - 30% of the diet (on a fresh weight basis).
The Technology
Fresh leaves from suitable trees and shrubs are fed to ruminants to supplement low quality feed such as rice straw. Alternatively, the fresh leaves can be used as the main feed themselves. Such leaves provide a variety of nutrients. Leguminous trees and shrubs have a high protein content. They also contain minerals and vitamins. They have a high level of fermentable energy and dry matter digestibility.
The tannin content makes these a possible source of by-pass protein necessary for high animal productivity. Leaves from leguminous trees and shrubs also promote higher feed intake, because they are not retained in the rumen for long.
Collecting the Leaves
Generally, such leaves are fed to livestock in a cut-and-carry system, in which fodder is gathered and brought to stalled or tethered animals. This does not involve a large amount of extra labor for farmers, since they can gather leaves while they are doing their farm chores.
Gliricidia leaves are fed mixed with fresh grasses, crop residues, and leaves of other trees. To accustom the animals to Gliricidia leaves, it is best to sprinkle them with salt or dilute with molasses. In some areas, farmers wilt the leaves for one day before feeding them to goats, to improve their acceptability.
Precautions
Farmers should not use these leaves as the sole source of feed. Some amount of concentrate e.g. rice bran has to be included in the rations. Furthermore, the leaves of some species may contain alkaloids and polyphenols that affect palatability and animal health. Also, most leguminous species produce inedible seed pods during the dry months. Growers must know the peculiar characteristics of each type of tree and shrub in order to be able to use its leaves properly as a livestock feed.
Index of Images
Figure 1 Mixture of Trees and Shrubs. the Leaves Are Fed to Ruminant Animals
Figure 2 Feeding Cut Forage to Goats, Davao, Philippines
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