Gliricidia sepium as a sole feed for small ruminants

Eight West African dwarf goats and sheep were fed a sole feed of Gliricidia sepium ad-lib for a period of 16 weeks. Mean daily dry matter intake was 466 and 544 g for the goats and sheep, respectively. Mean daily dry matter intake as a percentage of liveweight was 3.2 for the sheep and goats. Efficiency of feed conversion for the sheep was 1:6 and for the goats 1:11. For both species there was a sharp drop in liveweight and feed intake at the beginning of the experiment. Throughout the experimental period, there were no apparent symptoms of ill-health except in the first week when 80 percent of the experimental animals had diarrhea. The crude protein content of the forage was 26 percent and the in-vitro cellulose digestibility 66 percent. Use of this browse in reduced proportions that might promote animal growth and production responses at reduced cost is still being investigated