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Workshop-seminar "Making better  use of local feed resources" SAREC-UAF,  January , 2000.

 

Leguminous forages as a protein source for livestock animals in upland farming systems

 

Le Khac Huy, Le Van An, Nguyen Thi Hoa Ly, Dao Thi Phuong and Ngo Huu Toan

 

Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry,
24 Phung Hung, Hue, Vietnam
upland@dng.vnn.vn

 

Abstract

The general objective of the study was to introduce leguminous forages into the small-scale farming systems in the upland area in order to supply the protein for feeding animals and to use forages to conserve soil and enhance nutrient management. The study was started by a survey in two upland villages in Thua Thien Hue province, Vietnam to understand the situation of the farming systems and the feed supplements for animal production. The survey showed that low protein content in the diet was a major constraint in animal production in the upland villages. The appropriate solution to have protein sources for feeding animal might be through the introduction of  legume forages in to the farming system.

 

Results of a study on growth and biomass yield of five legumes (Stylosanthes guianensis CIAT 184, Caliandra calothyrus, Leucaena leucocephala, Gliricidia sepium, Flemingia macrophylla) indicated that all these forages grew well under the climatic conditions in central Vietnam.  However, their growth depended on the soil fertility and pH level. Six months after sowing the legume trees could grow up to 2-3m high. The cutting interval at 60 days gave a high biomass yield around 0.6-0.8 kg fresh matter/m^² and the edible ratio from biomass yield was from 55 to 65%.

 

The crude protein (DM basis) of Stylosanthes guianensis CIAT 184, Caliandra calothyrus, Leucaena leucocephala, Gliricidia sepium and Flemingia macrophylla were 21.5, 16.6, 30.4, 20.1 and 19.1%, respectively. The crude fibre in Flemingia macrophylla was 24.7% in DM and was much higher than in other forages. Except for Flemingia macrophylla, the forages had digestibility of DM from 67 to 76% and of crude protein from 75 to 80%.  The digestibility of DM and of crude protein in Flemingia macrophylla was 58 and 59%, respectively. These forages grew well under the farm conditions in the upland areas and they could be used as a protein source for feeding animals.

 

Key words: Legume forages, Stylosanthes guianensis CIAT 184, Caliandra calothyrus, Leucaena leucocephala, Gliricidia sepium, Flemingia macrophylla, upland farming

Introduction

The improved welfare of small-scale farmers in upland areas of Vietnam is dependent on increasing productivity of agricultural and forestry production as well as improving the services on education and health care. Livestock constitute 20-30% of farmer capital of smallholder farmers in the Southeast Asia (FAO 1989), and contribute more than 50% to cash income of some upland farm communities (Bouahom 1993). In Xuan loc and Hong Ha communes, livestock play a very important role in the income source and provide draught power for land preparation and manure for improved crop production (Le Van An et al 1999).

 

Livestock productivity in upland areas in central Vietnam is very low. Feed supply, both quantity and quality, was identified as the major constraint to improve livestock production in this region. With the support from GO and NGO organizations on credit programs the numbers of animals are increasing significantly in recent years. Animal health care and marketing is improving, however, without feed supplement, livestock production is still facing low productivity. The main limitation in feed supplements for livestock in this region is the lack of protein in the diet. The availability of protein sources for feeding of livestock in this area are mainly from by-products of marine processing. However, for the poor farmers, they can not get enough of these by-products to feed their animals because they do not have money. The possible solution to solve the problem of feed shortage should be based on what farmers can produce themselves. Legume forages can be introduced to provide feed with high protein content and to enhance the soil fertility in small farming systems in the upland.

 

The research objectives

The general objectives were to introduce leguminous forages into the small-scale farming systems in the upland in order to supply an available protein source for feeding animals and to use forages to conserve soil and enhance nutrient management.

 

The specific objectives were:

·        To understand the situation of the farming in the upland, its constraints, potential and solutions to improve productivity and soil erosion

·        To introduce legume forages into the farming system to supply feed for animals and to protect soil erosion

·        To identify the growth, development and the biomass yield of forages under farmer conditions

·        To identify the nutritive value of legume forages as a protein source for feeding animals

 

 

Materials and Methods

Materials

Forage species

 These were:    

·        Stylosanthes guianensis CIAT 184

·        Caliandra calothyrus

·        Leucaena leucocephala

·        Gliricidia sepium

·        Flemingia macrophylla

 

Location

The experiments were conducted at the experimental farm of the university and at Xuan Loc commune where the farmers were applying cultivation on sloping lands. At Hong Ha commune, a survey was done to identify the farming system and problems in livestock production.

 

Experimental design

At the university farm, each species was planted in 3 plots with 10 m² for each plot. At the commune, the experiment was carried out in the fields of 8 farmers. Each species was planted in an area of 50 m². Some farmers planted larger areas as they needed to supply feed for their animals.

 

Procedure

The seeds were sown in January 1998. The seedlings were kept in the nursery for 1.5 months before planting in the field. The density of planting was 0.3m x 0.5m with 5 seedlings planted in 1 m², except for Stylo, where the planting density was higher (0.2m x 0.5m).

 

Research methods

The Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) method was applied to understand the farmer problems in the upland areas and the livestock production at two villages. The farmers participated in the design, implementation and evaluation of the experiments. The data on growth, development and biomass yield of forages were gathered every month. The legume biomass was analysed for …. (AOAC 1990). Digestibility trials were carried out at the Experimental Farm of the University using five goats (crossbred between local and Bach Thao breeds) that were from 8 to 10 months of age. A  Latin square design (5*5) was used with 10 day periods: 5 days for adaptation and 5 days for collection of faeces. The data were analysed by the GLM procedure in the ANOVA program  of the Minitab Software (Version 12).

 

Results

PRA survey in the two villages

Project staff members and people from the two communes of Xuan Loc and Hong Ha conducted the PRA in August 1998. Cultivation was done on sloping land for food crops and raising animals. There was a very small area of paddy. Instead of rice production, other food crops were cultivated such as cassava, sweet potatoes, beans.  There was usually a home-garden for fruit trees and forest tree planting was also done. It was found that animals play a very important role in these areas as a source of cash income and to supply manure and draught power for cultivation. The main characteristics of each village are described below:

 

In Xuan Loc

·        Diversification of livestock and crop production

·        Paddy field area very small

·        Home garden models - Fish pond and Livestock - were developed

·        Cattle production was very important.

·        Animal production was increasing in the farming system

·        The development of sugar cane and forestry planting had been increasing in recent years.

·        Close relation of market to production

 

In Hong ha:

·        Farming system was changing from shifting cultivation to settled farming

·        Intensive farming, mainly based on natural condition of soil fertility, feed available

·        Upland farming played an important role

·        Upland rice and  cassava were the main crops.

·        Crop pattern is changing

·        Imperata grass dominates in the natural grazing land

·        Production system focused on food security

 

Problems and constraints in livestock production

·        Lack of feed, especially in dry season for cattle and buffaloes

·        Low quality of feeds, normally poor in protein content

·        The land for grazing was limited  because of expanding crops such as sugar cane

·        Low live weight gain of the animals

·        Much time was spent in taking care of the cattle and to cut natural grasses for supplemental feed. Herding was often done by children which inhibited school attendance.

·        Animal diseases

 

Problems and constraints in farming

·        Low productivity of crops

·        Soil erosion

·        Lack of capital investment for fertilizers and chemical pesticides

·        Weed control

 

Potential for forage production

·        High demand of feeds for animals, especially for cattle and buffaloes

·        Available land in the fields and in the home-gardens

·        Production technique of farmer is improving

·        Feed supplement for animals by cutting

 

The multi-purpose use of the legume forages

·        As feed supplement, especially protein source

·        Living fences for home gardens and fields

·        Soil improvement by control of soil erosion and as cover crops

·        Supplying nitrogen to cultivated soil

 

 Soil analysis at the experimental sites

                           

 

The soil pH was low, especially at Xuan Loc and Hong Ha communes (Table 1). Organic matter and P₂O₅ concentrations  were also low.  Soil erosion was a problem on the sloping fields.

 

Growth and the biomass yield of leguminous forages under farm conditions

         

 

Figure1. The growth in height of  the legume forages over first 180 days

 

The growth of the legumes was slow during the first 3 months (Table 2; Figure 1) and then increased  rapidly. It was necessary to take good care the young seedling during the foundation period, such as weeding. The age at the first cut was found to be very important. Normally for legume trees, the first cut should be taken around 180 days. However, it appeared that Stylo should be cut after 120 days, when it reaches 0.7-0.9m in height. The growth of the forages at Xuan Loc was slower than at the University farm due to the poor soil fertility and low pH.

 

 

 

Due to the differences in soil fertility, the biomass yield and edible proportion of the harvested biomass were also different. The soil pH at the University farm was higher than in the farmers’ fields, and legume trees normally growth better with high soil pH. The yield at the second cut was lower than at the first cut, but had a higher edible proportion. Stylo when cut at 60 day of regrowth was 100% edible.

 

The nutritive value of the forages

All species had high dry matter content (Table 3), especially Caliandra. The protein content was highest in Leucaena (30.4%) and lowest in Caliandra. There was a high fibre content in  Flemingia macrophylla and this could be the cause of the low palatability of this legume. Stylo also has a high content of fibre. The farmers used Stylo for feeding pigs and chickens.

 

In general, all the legume forages had high nutritive value, especially the protein, which is the nutrient most limiting in traditional livestock diets.

 

The digestibility of the forages

There were differences (P<0.05) in feed intake between legume species (Table 4). Leucaena and Caliandra were eaten in highest amounts; lowest intake was on Flemingia. There were no differences in digestibility among species for any of the major nutrients (P>0.05). However, there was a tendency for digestibility coefficients to be lowest for Flemingia.

 

 

 

 

Conclusions

Livestock play an important role in upland farming. However, the rate and efficiency of animal production is not high due to varying factors, of which lack of protein in the diet is the main limitation. Growth and biomass yield of the leguminous species planted in both areas were high. These species could grow well under the natural conditions in the central uplands of Vietnam. However, where the soil fertility is poor and the pH low, the legume forages may not perform well.

 

The nutritive value of the forages was high as shown by the chemical composition and the digestibility. Feed intake by goats was highest for Leucaena, followed by Caliandra, Stylo, Glicidia and then Flemingia. Digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and crude protein did not differ among species.

 

References

AOAC 1990  Official methods of analysis of the Association of Official Analytical Chemist (15^th Edition.), Washington, DC  1: 69-90.

 

Bouahom B  1993 Cattle Production Systems. In DLF “Cattle Production Systems”. Proceedings of an international held in Laos 22-24 November 1993 (Department of Livestock and Fisheries, Laos).

 

FAO  1989  Forages for Smallholders Project - Project Implementation Document. AusAID pp. 58.

 

Le Van An, et al , 1999  Annual Report: Community-based Upland Natural Resource Management in Hong ha, Vietnam. Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry, Hue, Vietnam.

 

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