Evaluation on spatial distribution of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit nodules

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feed value of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam ) De Wit as a renewable protein suppl em ent for low-quality forages. Eight trials were conducted at the University of Pretoria experim ental farm in Hatfield and the Agricultural Research Council experim ental farm in Roodeplaat. The overall results show ed that Leucaena leucocephala is a suitable protein supplement for low-quality forages. The chem ical com position showed that Leucaena leucocephala forage has adequate potential nutrients. T he rate of nitrogen degradation in th e shoot was m uch slower and to a lesser extent than in m ature pods with seeds while the dry m atter in the shoot degraded faster and to a greater extent than in the pods. In com parison with other forages (Lucerne Eragrostis and Veld grass) Leucaena forage experienced a tim e lag of 6 hours before nitrogen could start degrading unlike the other three forages which did not have tim e lags. However the dry m atter in Leucaena forage did not experience any tim e lag which gave Leucaena forage the best perform ance am ong the xiii four forages. Lucerne on the other hand had more read ily available R DP while Leucaena had more UDP. The effect of supplem enting low-quality forages with varying levels of Leucaena forage was t hat the com binations b etween Leucaena and Veld grass gave better perform ance than the com binations between Leucaena and Eragrostis grass. Crud e prote in is the lim iting factor in the perform ance of low-quality forages. Therefore the supplem entation of low-quality forage with Leucaena re sulted in h igher f eed inta ke diges tib ility and pa ssage. The ad dition of Browse Plus TM increased the daily feed intake the productio n of rum en a mmonia and volatile fatty acids significantly. However it did not h ave a sign ificant effect on the rum en environm ent and the proportions of volatile fatty acids. The incubation and colour detector m ethods for the detection of Synergistes jonesii bacte ria in the rum ens of sheep we re found to be sim ple reliable and fast. It was confirm ed that Synergistes jonesii bacteria can persist for m ore than four m onths in the rum ens of sheep through autum n and winter drought without Leucaena forage in the diet. It was also shown that seasons have an inf luence o n the leve l of m imosine in Leucaena forage. Hence it w as recomm ended that the forage has to be utilised fresh in summer when th e level of m imosine is lower to m inim ise the risk of toxicity.

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