Toxicity of Leucaena Leucocephala 1. Equal Toxic Effects of Two Leucaena Strains on Two Breeds of Tropical Cattle.

Abstract

The toxic effects of Hawaii and Peru varieties of Leucaena leucocephala on Brahman crossbred and Javanese Zebu cattle were compared under grazing, using Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) as a non-thyrotoxic control. Incidence of hair loss, erosions of the mucosa of the tongue and goitre was the same for both varieties of Leucaena and both breeds of cattle. These effects were not found with Buffel grass. Toxicity was also observed with the indigenous Papua New Guinea variety of Leucaena. Animal production per hectare on Leucaena was similar to that on Buffel grass.