Strategies of feeding subabul (Leucaena leucocephala) forage in livestock - a review.

摘要

Subabul forage, a rich source of quality protein (27-30% CP with high lysine and methionine contents), minerals and beta -carotene (546 mg/kg DM), shows adverse effects in livestock when fed in large quantities since it has several antinutritional factors like mimosine, tannin, galactomannan gum, proteinase inhibitor, etc. The intensity of toxicity depends on the level of dietary ingestion of mimosine and 3,4-dihydroxypyridone (DHP). Efforts have been made to eliminate toxic effects in animals through controlled feeding and/or supplementation/treatment of subabul with chemicals. Feeding after ensiling and heat treatment of leucaena could reduce the chance of toxicity. But the latest approach is biological processing for degrading mimosine to nontoxic metabolites through transfer of rumen liquor (inoculums) from leucaena-adapted animals to non-adapted ones. However, there is a need to know under what feeding regime and physiological stage the technique will be more useful..