Utilisation of Gliricidia leaves (Gliricidia maculata) as a
protein source for dairy goats

 

Nguyen van Hao and Nguyen van Hiep

 

University of Agriculture and Forestry, Thu Duc , Ho Chi Minh City
qthieu@hcm.vnn.vn

 

 

Abstract

 

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of different levels of Gliricidia leaves as a protein supplements in  diets  based on locally available feeds for lactating goats. The experiment was carried out in the goat farm of the UAF with eight crossbred milking does (Anglo Nubian x Bach Thao) 10-12 weeks post partum in their second lactation. The trial was conducted at 10 to12 weeks post partum, beginning on April, 2002. The treatments were: GL(0), GL(50), GL(75) and GL(100), replacing (DM basis) groundnut cake which contributed 30% of diet DM, as the supplement to Napier grass (30% of diet DM) and cassava pomace (40% of diet DM). The design was a Latin square arrangement (4*4). Experimental periods were 21 days, with an adaptation period of 14 days and  a recording period of 7 days.

 

Milk yields  tended to be reduced when  Gliricidia was used to replace the groundnut cake,  the difference between  the control (GL0) and the 100% substitution level (GL100) being significant. The fat content of the milk followed the same trend as yield, possibly due to the higher content of lipids in the groundnut cake,  but there were no effects of treatment on the protein content of the milk. 

 

It is concluded that Gliricidia leaves can be used to replace up to 70% of the groundnut cake for milking goats fed a basal diet of fresh Napier grass and cassava pomace.

 

Key words: Goats, gliricidia, groundnut cake, milk , yield, composition
 

 

Introduction

 

Dairy goats can easily fit into the small-scale farming systems, which constitute the majority of the farming systems in Vietnam. However, maximum and profitable milk production from goats can be achieved only if suitable and locally available feeds are used. Cheap feeds in the form of high protein fodder tree legumes are interesting in this respect. Gliricidia maculata is a fodder tree legume with high potential. It has a high crude protein content in the leaves, and as it is a perennial tree the costs of growing it are low.

 

The utilization of Gliricidia fodder for farm animals has been tested in Central America, Africa and Asia (Devendra 1990). It has also been tested in three strata forage systems (Nitis et al 1989) and in the alley cropping system (Sukanten et al 1995). During the dry period, when there is little pasture or forage grasses available, leaves of Gliricidia could be used as a major feed for goats. Both cattle and sheep have been fed large quantities (60 to 70% of total feed intake) of fresh Gliricidia leaves over long periods in production rations (Chadhokar and Kantharaju 1980; Chadhodar and Lecamwasam 1982). Giving Gliricidia sepium as a supplement to Brachiaria brizantha for a month to Jersey milking cows had no adverse effect on health, production and composition of milk (Chadhokar and Lecamwasam 1982).

 

In the South Eastern region of Vietnam,  600,000 ha of black pepper and coffee are cultivated (Statistical Report 2001).The farmers often use Gliricidia trees as a living post for the vines of black pepper to climb or as shade for coffee plants. Gliricidia cuttings are planted at a spacing of 2.5x2.5 m and are allowed to grow only slightly higher than the pepper vines and therefore must be pruned periodically. The green leaf prunings are often left on the soil surface as mulch. This is a potential high-protein feed for ruminants, especially for dairy goats  in small-scale production systems.

 

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of using Gliricidia leaves to replace 50, 75 and 100% of the groundnut cake in the concentrate fed as a supplement to  Napier grass for lactating goats.
 

 

Material and methods

 

Location 

The experiment was conducted at the experimental farm of the University of Agriculture and Forestry in Ho Chi Minh City, between April and July, 2002. 

Animals

The does, selected from a flock raised in confinement, were crosses of Anglo Nubian x Bach Thao in their second lactation, weighing between 41 and 43 kg. They were vaccinated against foot and mouth disease. The trial began 10 to 12 week post partum.

Experimental design

 

The eight does were fed a basal diet consisting (% in diet DM) of: Napier grass 30, cassava pomace (the by-product from cassava roots, after starch extraction) 40 and groundnut cake 30. The treatments in a Latin square arrangement (4*4) (Mead et al 1996) were 4 levels of Gliricidia leaves replacing the groundnut cake: 0, 50, 75 and 100% (on DM basis). The experiment lasted 14 weeks  in total, 2 weeks of adaptation and four periods  consisting of three weeks per period, 2 weeks of adaptation, and one week of collection of data.

 

Feeding and management

 

Fresh leaves of Gliricidia maculata were harvested every day at 6 am. The cassava pomace and groundnut cake were bought at a local feed mill. The goats were housed in individual pens on raised slatted floors, with separate troughs for grass, Gliricidia leaves, cassava pomace and groundnut cake. Drinking water and a mineral lick block were available at all times. The Napier grass (chopped to 5-10 cm length) and Gliricidia leaves were offered twice per day at 7.00 h and 15.00 h. The cassava pomace and groundnut cake were given once at 07.00 h before milking. The kids were kept in a group separate from their mother and were not allowed to suck their mothers. Milking was done twice per day in the morning and afternoon. Total milk was weighed every day and and given to the kids 3 times  per day with a feeding bottle.

 

Data collection and analyses

 

The feed consumption and feed refusals were collected from individual animals and weighed every day in the morning before feeding.  The feeds and refusals  were analysed for DM, ash, nitrogen, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF).

 

Statistical analysis

 

The data were analysed using the GLM option of the ANOVA software version 10.2 of MINITAB (1998). The model was:

Yijk = p + Ai + Bj + Ck + eijk

Yijk = dependent variable, p = overall mean,  Ai= effect of diets, Bj =  effect of animals,

Ck = effect of periods, eijk = random error.
 

 

Results and discussion

 

 The Napier grass was harvested at an immature stage as reflected in thge low DM content and relatively high level of crude protein (Table 1). The low crude protein in the groundnut cake (34%) indicates that it was probably the by-product of the oil-extracted decorticated seed (Göhl 1998).

 

 

The goats on all dietary treatments readily consumed the feeds, indicating no palatability problems.  According to Chadhokar and Kantharaju (1980) Glidicidia maculata was found to be palatable by both cattle and sheep even when fed in very large quantities over a long periods.  Milk yields  tended to be reduced when  Gliricidia was used to replace the groundnut cake (Table 2),  the difference between  the control (GL0) and the 100% substitution level (GL100) being significant (P=0.04). The fat content of the milk followed the same trend as yield, possibly due to the higher content of lipids in the groundnut cake,  but there were no effects of treatment on the protein content of the milk. 

 

 

Conclusions

 

This study showed that moderate levels (up to 70%) of Gliricidia leaves can be used to replace the groundnut cake for milking goats fed a basal diet of fresh Napier grass and cassava pomace.

 

References

 

Chadhokar PA and Kantharaju H R 1980 Effect of Gliricidia maculata on Growth and breeding on Bannur ewes. Tropical Grasslands, 14, 78-81.

 

Chadhokar PA and Lecamwasam A1982 Effect of feeding Gliricidia maculata to milking cow: A preliminary report. Trop. Grasslands 16(1), 46-48.

 

Devendra C 1990 The use of shrubs and tree fodders by ruminants. In: Shrubs and Tree Fodder for Farm Animals, IDRC- 276e, Ottawa, Canada, 42-60.

 

Gohl 1998 Tropical Feeds. FAO: Rome  http://www.fao.org/ag/AGA/AGAP/FRG/afris/default.htm

 

Mead R, Curnow R N and Hasted A M 1996 Statistical Methods in Agriculture and Experimental Biology. Chapman & Hall, london- New york- Tokyo-Melbourn-Madras. 412pp.

 

MINITAB 1998 MINITAB release 10.2. Minitab Inc., 3081 Enterprise Drive, State College, PA 16801-3008, 814-238-3280, USA.

 

Nitis I M,  Lana K, Suarna M, Sukanten W, Putra S and Arga W 1989 Three strata forage system for cattle feeds and feeding in dry farming area in Bali. Final Report to IDRC Canada, 270p.

 

Statistical Report 2001 Statistical Publishing House. 184.pp.

 

Sukanten W, Nitis I M, Lana K, Suarna M and Putra S 1995 Growth and yield of sixteen provenances of Gliricidia in dry season. In: Strategies for suitable forage – based livestock production in South east Asia. 6: 147-153.