Effects of Erythrina variegata, Gliricidia sepium and Leucaena leucocephala on dry matter intake and nutrient digestibility of maize stover, before and after spraying with molasses

Two 4×4 Latin square design experiments were completed. In experiment 1, four mature Anglo-Nubian×Fiji goats were used to study effects of supplementation of a basal diet of maize stover with Erythrina variegata (E) Gliricidia sepium (G) and Leucaena leucocephala (L). Parameters measured were dry matter intake (DMI) and nutrient digestibility. Maize stover (MS) was treated with urea, used as a control diet, and had a crude protein (CP) content of 9.3%. Erythrina variegata was higher in CP than L and G. DMI of the urea-treated stover diet was lower (P<0.05) than the untreated MS supplemented with E, G or L. Among the legume supplements, DMI (g/kg W0.75 per day) was lower (P<0.05) in the MS/G diet compared to MS/E or MS/L diets. There were differences (P<0.05) between the urea-treated maize stover (UTMS) and MS with either E, G or L on the digestibility of dry matter (DM), CP, neutral detergent fibre (NDF), OM and energy (P<0.05), but no differences (P>0.05) among MS/L, MS/E and MS/G. In experiment 2, four mature goats were used to measure the response of goats when the UTMS; MS/legume diets were sprayed with molasses. The DMI (g/kg W0.75 per day) of the urea-treated MS sprayed with molasses was lower (P<0.05) than the MS/legume, but DMI among the MS/legume diets did not differ. The digestibility of DM, CP, NDF, OM and energy of urea-treated MS were lower (P<0.05) than values found for MS/legume diets. It is suggested that either E, G or L could be used as protein supplements to improve the nutritional quality of MS fed to mature goats. Addition of molasses to diets further improved DMI and apparent nutrient digestibility by the goats. This study shows the substantial effect of legume supplements on MS intake and digestibility by goats. Molasses, when available, should be sprayed on fresh leaves of Gliricidia sepium and other forage legumes, that are initially rejected, in order to improve their acceptance and DMI when fed in confinement or in cut-and-carry production systems.