Description
In Bangladesh, locally produced fishmeal is being used as a protein source for lactating cows but sometimes it is scarce and expensive. There is a need for an alternative protein source such as a Leucaena species which can be grown by the roadside, embankment or in a small area close to home. An experiment was carried out to assess the effect on the performance of partially replacing fishmeal with fresh foliage from Leucaena leucocephalain the diet of lactating cows. Three diets containing (kg/day) urea-treated rice straw (11.0) with either fishmeal (0.25), fishmeal (0.15) and Leucaena (0.5), and fishmeal (0.075) and Leucaena (1.0)were designed to provide the same metabolizable energy (41 MJME/day) and a similar amount of protein (460 g/day). They were designated diets A, B, and C, respectively. Nine local cows, in their first lactation and weighing on average 128 kg, were grouped into trios according to calving date where animals in each triowere allocated at random to one of the dietary treatments. The experiment began in the 23rd week of lactation and continued for 15 weeks. Mean results for cows on diets A, B, and C, respectively were daily milk yield (kg) 0.99, 1.05, and 1.12; butter fat content (g/kg) 66, 67, and 68; protein content (g/kg) 42, 41, and 41 and daily weight gain (kg) 0.11, 0.18, and 0.14. None of the differences between treatments was significant (p>0.05). There was no evidence of any adverse effect of mimosine in the cows’ given diets B or C. The results indicate that fishmeal may be partially replaced by foliage from the legume shrubs Leucaena leucocephalawithout affecting the performance of local cows.
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Leucaena leucocephala as an Alternative Protein Supplement to Fishmeal for Small Holder Indigenous Lactating Cows in Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, locally produced fishmeal is being used as a protein source for lactating cows but sometimes it is scarce and expensive. There is a need for an alternative protein source such as a Leucaena species which can be grown by the roadside, embankment or in a small area close to home. An experiment was carried out to assess the effect on the performance of partially replacing fishmeal with fresh foliage from Leucaena leucocephalain the diet of lactating cows. Three diets containing (kg/day) urea-treated rice straw (11.0) with either fishmeal (0.25), fishmeal (0.15) and Leucaena (0.5), and fishmeal (0.075) and Leucaena (1.0)were designed to provide the same metabolizable energy (41 MJME/day) and a similar amount of protein (460 g/day). They were designated diets A, B, and C, respectively. Nine local cows, in their first lactation and weighing on average 128 kg, were grouped into trios according to calving date where animals in each triowere allocated at random to one of the dietary treatments. The experiment began in the 23rd week of lactation and continued for 15 weeks. Mean results for cows on diets A, B, and C, respectively were daily milk yield (kg) 0.99, 1.05, and 1.12; butter fat content (g/kg) 66, 67, and 68; protein content (g/kg) 42, 41, and 41 and daily weight gain (kg) 0.11, 0.18, and 0.14. None of the differences between treatments was significant (p>0.05). There was no evidence of any adverse effect of mimosine in the cows’ given diets B or C. The results indicate that fishmeal may be partially replaced by foliage from the legume shrubs Leucaena leucocephalawithout affecting the performance of local cows.
