Effect of fresh leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) leaf supplementation on the growth of young Anglo-Nubien crossbred goats feeding either batiki (Ischaemum anistatum var. indicum) and guinea (Panicum maximum) grass.

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted at the University of the South Pacific, School of Agriculture in Samoa, to investigate the effect of leucaena fresh leaf supplementation on the growth of 7 - 9 months old Anglo-Nubian x Local Fiji goats stall fed with either batiki or guinea grass as basal diet. Leucaena leaves were supplemented at 0. 10, 30 and 50 % levels of the total daily forage allowances. 16 goats were divided into two groups of 8 each. Each group was further divided into 4 sub groups of two each while receiving the respective diets. The experimental design was a change-over with two feeding periods, each of 24 days separated by 7-day adaptation period. The parameters measured were voluntary feed intake and apparent nutrient digestibility and estimates of live weight changes. CP content of the two grass diets increased linearly with increase in the level of leucaena in the diet, which ranged from 5.3-18.2% for batiki and 7-19.1 % for guinea. DMI of grass only diets were significantly (P<0.05) lower than those supplemented with leucaena leaves, but there was no significant (P>0.05) difference between levels of supplementation. DM. CP and OM digestibilities improved with increasing levels of leucaena. LWG of goats without leucaena was significantly lower (P<0.05). Batiki at 10 % level of leucaena supplementation was significantly (P<0 05) lower than the two higher levels but in the case of guinea grass there was no significant (P>0.05) difference between levels of leucaena supplementation. At the same level of leucaena supplementation guinea grass consistently gave significantly (P<0.05) higher LWG. Maximum growth was attained at 30 % leucaena supplementation for batiki, while for guinea grass it was at 10 % level.