Mimosine - a factor limiting the use of Leucaena leucocephala as animal feed
1983
Meulen, U. | El-Harith, E.A. (Goettingen Uni. (Germany, F.R.). Inst. fuer Tierphysiologie und Tierernaehrung)
Leucaena leucocephala is a leguminous plant which is used for several purposes in the tropical and subtropical regions. Because of this high crude protein content (ranging from 25 to 35% in the dry matter) and relatively well balanced amino acids content, it could be considered a very suitable feed source. However, the legume contains a toxic amino acid, B-N (3-hydroxy-4-pyridone)-aminopropionic acid, Mimosine, which seems to limit the incorporation of this legume in the feeds of farm animals. The different strains of Leucaena leucocephala vary considerably in their mimosine content. Determination of the mimosine content in the Leucaena material (expressed in g/kg body weight of the alkaloid by livestock) represent an important parameter for evaluating the nutritive value of the Leucaena material.
Show more [+] Less [-]AGROVOC Keywords
Bibliographic information
This bibliographic record has been provided by University of the Philippines at Los Baños