The potential of leucaena pallida and acacia angustissima fodder in improving the productivity of dairy cattle in Tabora region
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Date
2005
Authors
Msangi, Rashid Badi Ramadhani
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
Four experiments were carried out to evaluate the feeding value of L. pallida and A.
angustissima and determine how these fodder materials could be managed and used
for sustained dairy production in the farming system in Tabora Region, Western
Tanzania. The first experiment involved assessing the yield and nutritive value of£.
pallida and A. angustissima as related to cutting management. In experiment 2, the
effect of post-harvesting treatment methods on the level of secondary compounds
were evaluated. Experiment 3 was carried out to investigate the effect of
supplementing L. pallida and A. angustissima leaf meals to lactating dairy cows fed
grass hay on milk yield, quality and financial return of the rations. Experiment 4 was
undertaken to determine digestibility and nitrogen balance in dairy cows fed grass
hay supplemented with dried leaf meals from L. pallida and A. angustissima. Results
showed that the 3-months cutting interval had the highest fodder yield (3.44 and 5.41
tDM/ha for L. pallida and A. angustissima, respectively) while 1-month cutting
regime had the lowest fodder yield (2.8 and 3.4 tDM/ha for L. pallida and A.
angustissima, respectively). Nitrogen and mineral contents varied significantly (P <
0.05) between cuttings and edible fractions, which ranged from 27.1 to 47.7 for
nitrogen, 2.37 to 8.49 for calcium, 1.40 to 4.90 for phosphorus and 11.6 to 23.1g/kg
DM for potassium. Condensed tannins (CT) in the edible fractions ranged from 8 to
16 and 17 to 33mg/g DM for A. angustissima (AA) and L. pallida (LP), respectively.
Mimosine content ranged from 26.8 to 63mg/g DM in edible fractions of L. pallida.
In both species, In-sacco DM and N degradability at 48 hours of incubation were
significantly (P < 0.05) higher in 1-month cuttings than in the other cuttings and
ranged from 442 to 591g/kg for DM and 503 to 618g/kg DM for nitrogen. Soaking in
water, sun drying, wilting and drying under shade of the edible fractions reduced 37
to 50%, 22 to 40%, 12 to 18% and less than 10% of CT content, while mimosine
content was reduced by 74 to 91%, 41 to 55%, 20 to 40% and 22 to 26%,
respectively. Milk yield was highest for cows supplemented with cotton seed cake
(CSC) (9.94 kg/day) and lowest for cows supplemented with LP (7.78 kg/day).
Supplementing mixture of the two browse leaf meals gave the highest net return
(104.20 Tshs/litre) while CSC recorded the lowest net returns (66.60 Tshs/litre).
Apparent DM and N digestibility were higher for cows supplemented with CSC
(585g/kg and 931g/kg for DM and N, respectively) and lowest for cow supplemented
with LP (466g/kg and 603g/kg DM for DM and N, respectively). The N absorbed
was more efficiently retained (P < 0.05) with cows supplemented with CSC (21.8
g/day) and poorly retained with cows supplemented with AA (4.24 g/day). These
results indicated that optimal yield and quality of edible fodder materials of the two
browse species could be obtained at 2-months cutting interval. Soaking in water
and/or drying in the sun could reduce tannins and mimosine content in the edible
fractions to an acceptable level before feeding. The two browse species had high CP
and mineral contents and were more economical than cotton seed cake as protein
supplement. Agronomic strategies to maximize fodder production during the dry
season should be given attention. Studies to determine the effect of tannins and other
related polyphenolic compounds on protein availability and utilization by ruminant
animals should be carried out.
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Thesis
Keywords
Leucaena pallida, Acacia angustissima, Dairy cattle, Tabora region