Page 100 - Agroforestry system - book inner (final corrected) - 9.-3-21_Neat

National level e-symposium on “Agroforestry system for augmenting livestock
productivity and empowering resource poor rural farmers”

Conclusion

Gliricidia sepium fodder is suitable green fodder in the place of Desmanthus virgatus for growing
rabbits. Gliricidia sepium fodder increases the growth rate, feed intake and feed conversion ratio and reduces
the feeding cost.
References
AOAC,2012. Official Methods of Analysis of Association of Analytical Chemists, 19 Edn., Association of
th
Official Analytical Chemists, Benjamin Franklin Station, Washington.

Onwudike, 1995. Use of the legume tree crops Gliricidia sepium and Leucaena leucocephala as green feeds
for growing rabbits. Animal Feed Science and Technology 51: 153- 163.

Pasupathi, K., P. Gopu and D. Balasubramanyam, 2020. Growth performance of rabbits on Mangifera indica
tree fodder. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 8: 999-1000

S2-11
Assessment of Tree Fodder Preference by Pulikulam Cattle

G. Srinivasan and T. Sathiamoorthy
Pulikulam Cattle Research Station,
Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Manamadurai- 630 606
Introduction

Voluntary intake of tropical tree fodder can be a major constraint to ruminant performance in tropical
countries. Use of tree fodders as feed supplements can improve the rumen environment, leading to increased
forage intake (Umunna et al., 1995). It is common practice to offer a variety of tree fodder along with grasses
and leguminous fodder in subtropical cattle production systems. Information on effects of these practices on
intake of forages is not readily available. To develop strategy for management of fodder trees in an organized
dairy farm, fast and inexpensive assessment method is needed to assess preference of tree fodder The objective
of the present study was to assess short term preference of tree fodder fed along with basal feed by Pulikulam
Cattle in a cafeteria study.

Material and Methods

Five Pulikulam Cattle weighing 200kg boy weight were allocated to individual pens and fed fresh CO5
(Cumbu Napier) grass and COFS 29 sorghum grass at libitum. . Simultaneously, 2 kg of fresh tree fodder
from each of Agathi (Sesbania grandiflora) and Subabul (Leucaena leucocephala) was offered 5 days for
adaptation. After adaptation, 5 more days were used to measure intake in a ‘cafeteria’ study as suggested
by (Borman et al., 1991). Two kg tree fodders each were measured and offered. After 6 hours, refusals were
weighed. The 5 day experimental period was repeated thrice.

Results and Discussion
During the 6 hour period, the mean agathi intake was 72.16% and mean Subabul intake was 63.3%. There
was a 13.9% marked preference towards tree fodder Agathi (Sesbania grandiflora) than subabul (Leucaena

Institute of Animal Nutrition, Centre for Animal Production Studies, TANUVAS
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development 81