Leucaena leucocephala (LAM.) DE WIT A KEY SPECIES FOR A SUSTAINTABLE BOVINE PRODUCTION IN TROPIC

Abstract

Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit (Leucaena) is a woody fodder legume with extensive use as livestock feed in the tropics becasuse of its adaptation and productivity in tropical environments. This review discusses benefits of Leucaena as feed for bovines in realtion to tropical grasses, among these benefits are: lower methane (CH4) emission; higher intake of protein, Ω3 fatty acids and minerals; incorporation of atmospheric nitrogen (N2) to the soil-plant-animal chain; and, higher N efficiency by the bovine. Mimosine and concentration of condensed tannins above 5% might cause digestive disorders in bovines, then Leucaena intake has to be controlled and use of Leucaena populations with lower mimosine and condensed tannins concentrations. Silvopastoral systems are an option to have Leucaena available for grazing cattle, row tree planting has shown higher animal production than scattered trees and cluster. Silvopastoral system with Leucaena can increase total available forage by 8.7 t of DM ha-1 yr-1, this additional forage can have 22 to 25% and 55 to 61% crude protein and in vitro dry matter digestibility, respectively. Planned incorporation of Leucaena to the grazing areas has shown to yield 9.1 to 9.8 kg of milk cow-1 day-1 or 11957 to 14403 kg milk ha-1 yr-1; and, 693 to 851 g of live-weight gain animal-1 day-1 or 788 to 1337 kg of live-weight ha-1 yr-1. Leucaena inclusion on grazing areas improves livestock productivity in tropical areas with lower environmental impact than tropical grasses alone; however, more reaserch is needed to overcome some Leucaena agronomic and nutritional limitations.