Shrubs and tree fodders for non-ruminants
1993
Lopez, P.D.L. (Philippines Univ., Los Banos, College,Laguna (Philippines). Inst. of Animal Science)
The trend of increasing prices of animal feedstuffs has compelled researchers from developing countries to direct their research thrust on non-conventional feeds with particular emphasis on protein substitutes. The utilization of plant leaves as possible sources of protein is one among many possibilities. Studies on shrubs and tree leaves, leaf vine, grasses, algae and other water plants showed that on a dry weight basis leaves may contain 20 to 30 percent crude protein, 12 to 18 percent crude fibre and 500-600 ppm xanthophyll. Plant leaves are commonly processed into leaf meals for non-ruminant animals. If processed properly, leaf meals are good pigmenting agents due to the presence of several different xanthophylls of the general family of carotenoids. Among the leaf meals, ipil-ipil (Leucaena leucocephala) and cassava (Manihot esculenta) leaf meals are the most popular. Other leaf meals such as Trema orientales, Muros indica, Moringa oleifera, Sesbania rostrata, etc. are potentially useful but more studies are needed to determine their availability and usefulness. The use of leaf meals as feed is limited by their high fibre content and in some cases the presence of toxic factor(s) and/or metabolic inhibitors(s). Thus, the idea of extracting protein from leaves was conceived to obtain a product high in protein, low in fibre and without residual toxin. This leaf protein concentrate (LPC) has a higher feeding value and can be included at high levels as a substitute for soybean oil meal. Interest in the production of leaf proteins, has been very slow mainly because of economic reasons. Other shrubs and tree leaves are used in small quantities as soilage in swine. Very limited quantities are fed to poultry in confinement
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