Assessment of the protein value for ruminants of Leucaena and other forage legumes from the Caribbean
1982
Phillip, L.E. (McGill Univ., (Canada). MacDonald Campus. Dept. of Animal Science)
The paper reports on a study conducted to assess the protein value of several samples of leucaena forage cultivated in the Caribbean. Leucaena protein escaping rumen degradation but subject to post-ruminal enzymatic hydrolysis was also considered. Results indicated that despite the high protein content of leucaena forage (25%), only half may be biologically useful for ruminant animals. A large portion of the rumen undegraded protein in leucaena resisted pepsin hydrolysis. Samples of other pasture legumes, particularly Siratro (Macroptilium spp.) and Glycine (Neonotonia spp.) had much higher protein value than did leucaena. Mineral analyses of the various forage legumes, revealed that compared with the pasture legumes leucaena also contained low levels of zinc. There was, however, a high degree of variability in the mineral content of leucaena cultivated in the different islands.
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