The use of Leucaena leucocephala supplementation to improve the utilisation of maize stover by sheep

• Main Authors: Kimambo, A.E, Makiwa, A.M, Shem, M.N. (Sokoine Univ. of Agriculture, Morogoro (Tanzania). Dept. of Animal Science and Production)
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) ILCA 01.04.1992
• Subjects: ALIMENT CONCENTRE; ALIMENTACION COMPLEMENTARIA; ALIMENTATION COMPLEMENTAIRE; ALIMENTOS CONCENTRADOS; ANALISIS ESTADISTICO; ANALYSE STATISTIQUE; CONTENIDO DE MATERIA SECA; DEGRADACION; DEGRADATION; FORRAJE GROSERO; FOURRAGE GROSSIER; INGESTION DE PIENSO; LEUCAENA LEUCOCEPHALA; MATERIA ORGANICA; MATIERE ORGANIQUE; OVIN; OVINOS; PRISE ALIMENTAIRE (ANIMAUX); RESIDU DE RECOLTE; RESIDUOS DE COSECHAS; TENEUR EN MATIERE SECHE; ZEA MAYS
• ISBN: 9290531991; 9789290531999

Presents an experiment conducted to investigate the effect of Leucaena leucocephala supplementation on the intake and rumen degradation of maize stover (staha variety) by sheep. A feed intake study on four levels of Leucaena supplementation (0,3,6 and 9g dry matter/kg liveweight per day) in 4x4 latin square design was undertaken. Dry-matter degradation of maize stover and rumen ammonia concentration were measured using two fistulated sheep fed the four diets. Total dry-matter intake of the supplemented diets was significantly (P0.05) higher than that of the unsupplemented diet. Daily dry-matter intake of maize stover along increased from 32.8 g/kg for the unsupplemented diet to 36.2 g/kg for the diet containing the lowest level of Leucaena supplementation. Higher levels of Leucaena supplementation led to a decrease in the amount of maize stover consumed. Results indicate that intake and rumen degradation of maize stover in sheep could be improved by supplementing the animals with up to 6 g DM/kg liveweight per day of Leucaena hay. Higher levels of supplementation appear to lead to substitution effects.