Potential Benefits from the Utilization of Leucaena leucocephala in Thai Swamp Buffaloes Production

Abstract
Description
This paper aims to comply four studies of using Leucaena leucocephala as feed supplement on Thai swamp buffaloes. These studies were conducted by the Research and Development Center for Livestock Production Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand. Leucaena is interesting forage which needs further study to investigate which technology is suitable to use it as a feed for swamp buffaloes. In this review, leaves of leucaena were used as a main feed ingredient in dietary supplement. The rain tree pods (RTP) dietary supplement containing high sugar enhanced microbial supply to the small intestine. On other the hand, rain tree pod also can be used as an appetizing material for combination with leaves of leucaena, mulberry and cassia. The low fibre digestibility in dietary supplement containing leucaena may be due to tannins contents. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) treatment and addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG) are ways to inactivate tannins contained in the leucaena. Toxicity of leucaena did not affect buffaloes, when appropriate proportion of leucaena to ruzi grass was fed. The mixed diet containing leucaena not more than 25% was the highest benefit for buffaloes as the mimosine+di-hydroxypyridine (DHP) in the urine was less 100 mg/kgBW0.75. The high proportions of RTPP (rain tree pod pellets) in leucaena increased purine derivatives (PDs) and mimosine + DHP in the urine, but none the different proportions of RTPP affects to purine derivatives/digestible organic matter (PDs/DOMI) ratios. Several studies demonstrated the approach to use leucaena as the alternative feed supplement, to enhance the quality of feeds in swamp buffaloes production improvement. The practical implication of this review, is that it would be benefit for the smallholder farmers to use leucaena for their livestock, because it is not only to improve quality of feeds and reduce cost of feed, but also higher biodiversity results in a higher N retention in soils and a lower methane releases in the atmosphere.
Keywords
Leucaena leucocephala; Rain Tree Pod (Samanea saman); Rice Straw; Swamp Buffaloes
Citation