EFFECTS OF SUPPLEMENTATION WITH FOLIAGE FROM THE TREE LEGUMES ACACIA-ANGUSTISSIMA, CAJANUS-CAJAN, CALLIANDRA-CALOTHYRSUS AND LEUCAENA-LEUCOCEPHALA ON FEED-INTAKE, DIGESTIBILITY AND NITROGEN-METABOLISM OF SHEEPGIVEN MAIZE STOVER AD-LIBITUM

Foliage (leaves, small-diameter stems and flowers and fruits if presen t) was harvested in March 1993 from Acacia angustissima, Cajanus cajan , Calliandra calothyrsus and Leucaena leucocephala and given as a supp lement at four levels (0, 50, 100 and 150 g dry matter/day) to a diet of maize stover fed ad libitum to sheep. Sixteen sheep were used and d ivided into four groups of four, each with a mean weight of 18 kg. Eac h group was allocated at random to one of the legumes. Four 4 x 4 Lati n square design experiments were carried out using 14-day periods and during the second week of each period feed intake, digestibility, nitr ogen balance and microbial protein yield were measured. For each legum e, other than C. calothyrsus, there was a significant increase (P < 0. 05) in dry matter intake as the level of supplement increased. For all four legumes, there was a significant increase (P < 0.05) in digestib ility of organic matter, nitrogen balance (NB) and microbial protein y ield as the level of supplement increased. As judged by increases in i ntake of digestible organic matter and NB, A. angustissima gave the be st response, followed by C. calothyrsus and L. leucocephala which were similar and then C. cajan gave the poorest response. (C) 1997 Elsevie r Science B.V.