Evaluation of Gliricidia sepium forage and leaf meal as feedstuffs for rabbits and chickens

Gliricidia leaves were evaluated as a forage for rabbits. In Experiment 1, four replicates of weanling rabbits were fed one of 9 forages and libitum along with a restricted quantity of concentrate feed. The forage groups consisted of 3 woody legumes (Leucaena leucocephala, Sesbania sesban, and Gliricidia sepium), 2 grasses (Elephant grass, Brachiaria) and 4 agricultural by-products (corn leaf, cassava tops, banana leaf, papaya leaf). The growth rate f rabbits fed Gliricidia ranked 5th in the list of 9 feeds, exceeded by Leucaena, Sesbania, Elephant grass and cassava tops. The digestibility for Gliricidia for various fractions was: crude protein (CP), 48,8 por ciento, dry matter, 33,7; and energy, 42,8 por ciento. The digestibility of CP after Leucaena, Sesbania and papaya leaves, 4th for energy after Leucaena, Sesbania and corn leaves, and 9th for the fiber fractions. In Experiment 2, the same forages as in Experiment 1 plus sweet potato leaves were evaluated as supplements to a concentrate diet. Weight gains of rabbits over a 5 week period were significantly lower (P<0,05) with Gliricidia than with Leucaena, Sesbania, cassava tops and papaya leaves. In Experiment 3, combinations of forages were used as supplements to a concentrate plus Leucaena diet in a growth trial. Thus each forage was tested in combination with Leucaena. Gowth rate was highest with Leucaena as the sole forage supplement. Growth was significantly reduced (P<0,05) when Gliricidia was mixed with Leucaena. The results of these studies indicate that Gliricidia gives sub-optimal performance when used as a forage supplement for rabbits. Further work is necessary to determine if this is due to a palability effect, the presence of toxins, or to other factors. The results with rabbits should also be of relevance to the potential value of Gliricidia as a forage for other livestock.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	51102 Brewbaker, J.L., 39486 (eds.), 56980 CHEEKE, P.R., 108354 RAHARJO, Y.C., 131893 Withington, D., 72055 Glover, N., 15141 Nitrogen Fixing Tree Association, Hawaii (EUA), CATIE - Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza Turrialba, Costa Rica autor/a 3977
Format:	biblioteca
Published:	Honolulu, Hawaii (EUA), NFTA, 1987
Subjects:	ALIMENTOS PARA ANIMALES, DIGESTIBILIDAD, NUTRIMENTOS, AVES DOMESTICAS, GLIRICIDIA SEPIUM, LEUCAENA LEUCOCEPHALA, SESBANIA,
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