Multi-purpose tree to boost livestock production

By Our Agriculture Correspondent

GLIRICIDIA MACULATA, a promising multi-purpose leguminous tree, can help in alleviating the fodder scarcity, and also contribute significantly in boosting livestock production, according to Dr. S. Subbiah, former Joint Director of Animal Husbandry, Tamil Nadu. ``It yields protein-rich green fodder, which can easily substitute half the concentrate in livestock feed, and thus reduce the cost of production substantially. Besides, the green fodder helps in improving the quality and quantity of milk in animals,'' he says.

Working on Gliricidia as a tree fodder for livestock for well over a decade, Dr. Subbiah has found its impact on cows, buffaloes, sheep and goat and poultry. ``Gliricidia leaves are rich in vitamins, especially vitamin A and minerals required for the growth and production of all livestock. The proteins and other nutrients in Gliricidia are found to be far superior in quality, with high digestibility and assimilability compared to other leguminous fodder crops,'' he points out. The amino acid content in this fodder is far higher than alfalfa (Lucerne), subabul and also copra, according to him.

The green fodder can be fed to cattle at a rate of 10-15 kg, and it can ideally reduce half the quantity of concentrate feed. In a dairy farm of 150 cows, it can ensure a minimum saving of Rs 2000 a day, according to him. ``A two-hectare plantation of Gliricidia can yield the quantity of fodder to meet the demand of the 150 cows. The economic advantage of Gliricidia plantation has been demonstrated in several large farms in Tamil Nadu,'' he explains.

Gliricidia can be fed to draught cattle and buffaloes to improve their efficiency. Sheep and goat fed with this nutrient-rich tree fodder have shown better performance. There is remarkable increase in the lambing and kidding percentage, survival rate, birth weight, growth rate and meat production in animals fed with this fodder. The meat production is almost doubled when the animals were fed with Gliricidia leaves. It also helps in increasing the resistance to diseases in animals, and also reduces the mortality, according to Dr. Subbiah.

``Most animals readily take to Gliricidia fodder. However, some animals may be reluctant to feed on Gliricidia fodder initially. For them, partially dried fodder may be given. The palatability of the fodder can be enhanced by semi-drying and by the addition of salt, molasses or jaggery solution. These animals should be trained to take the fodder by adopting these simple and practical methods,'' he says. The fodder can be mixed with other familiar fodder. The leaves can be chopped and minced and mixed with concentrates to improve the feeding efficiency. The leaves can be dried and pulverised to blend with concentrate feeds. Silage with Gliricidia will prove to be a rewarding exercise to offset the fodder scarcity, according to him.Gliricidia was introduced in Tamil Nadu several decades ago as a green leaf manure crop, and it is extensively grown as low-cost live-fence. Farmers in other countries use Gliricidia roots and leaves for rodent control. Its usefulness as a promising nectar- and pollen-yielder for honeybees is to be fully exploited. This multi-purpose, leguminous tree has several more uses, and it has to be propagated in all the holistic farming systems, which environmentally and economically sustainable life-supporting systems, according to experts.

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