SUPPLEMENTARY VALUE OF TEPHROSIA BRACTEOLATA, TEPHROSIA CANDIDA, LEUCAENA LEUCOCEPHALA AND GLIRICIDIA SEPIUM HAY FOR WEST AFRICAN DWARF GOATS KEPT ON RANGE

• Main Authors: Jacob BABAYEMI, Musbau BAMIKOLE
• Format: Article
• Language: Bulgarian
• Published: University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture 2006-12-01
• Series: Journal of Central European Agriculture
• Subjects: hay legumes; range; performance; digestibility
• Online Access: http://jcea.agr.hr/articles/378_SUPPLEMENTARY_VALUE_OF_TEPHROSIA_BRACTEOLATA_TEPHROSIA_CANDIDA_LEUCAENA_LEUCOCEPHALA_AND_GLIRICIDIA_SEPIUM_HAY_FOR_WEST_AFRICAN_en.pdf

Supplementary values of unconventional browse Tephrosia bracteolata (TB) and Tephrosia candida (TC) and commonly utilized browse plants Gliricidia sepium (GS) and Leucaena leucocephala (LL)) were studied in goats grazed on a rangeland in the dry season. Crude protein (g/Kg DM) content of TC (19.25) compared favourably to those of GS (19.78) and that of LL (19.91) while that of TB was low (14.25). Total cell wall content, neutral detergent fi bre (NDF, g/Kg DM) was lower in both TB (56.03) and TC (59.11) than in GS (61.20) and LL (37.50). Dry matter intake (g/d) of TB (87.39) was signifi cantly higher than that of TC (76.49) while similar values were recorded in GS (63.81) and LL (63.31). Improved daily weight gain (g/d) of 14.88, 17.86, 14.88 and 17.86 were obtained when goats were fed TB, TC, GS and LL browse supplements responsively compared to the daily gain of 11.90 from the unsuplemented goats. The digestibility of CP, NDF and ADF in both TB and TC compared favourably to those of GS and LL. The fi ndings from this study have shown that Tephrosia bracteolata and Tephrosia candida can be used as alternative browse supplement for goats grazing on natural grassland in the dry season to achieve improved weight gain. This will translate to a reduction in the pressure on the commonly use browse like Gliricidia sepium and Leucaena leucocephala.