Title : On-farm evaluation of tree leaf supplementation using Leucaena leucocephala and Gmellina arborea to goats under traditional feeding management

Researchers : Elenita Espinosa and F. Gabunada

Implementing Agency : Farm and Resource Management Institute Visayas State College of Agriculture

Site Location : Matalom, Leyte

Source of Funds : BAI/FAO Regional Working Group on Grazing and Feed Resources FARMI, Visayas State College of Agriculture

Objectives :

• To obtain farmers’ evaluation on tree-leaf supplementation in goats using Gmellina and Leucaena
• To evaluate, with farmers, the performance of tethered goats supplemented with Leucaena or Gmellina leaves

The activity was conducted on-farm with farmers’ participation during the dry and wet season of 1998. A total of twenty-seven goats (9 males, 20 females) were distributed to 9 farmer cooperators. These farmers were from three barangays of Matalom (3 farmers from each barangay).

In addition to the farmers’ traditional feeding practice, 1 kg of legume tree leaves were fed to goats in Treatments 1 and 2. Goats in Treatment 1 received 1 kg of Leucaena leucocephala leaves while goats in Treatment 2 received Gmellina arborea leaves. Treatment 3 served as the control (no supplementation).

Farmer-cooperators were visited every month to (a) monitor weight changes of the animals, and (b) discuss with farmers their experiences related to the activity. At the end of the year, a workshop was conducted to come up with conclusions and ideas to improve the practice of supplementation.

The data collected were monthly weight changes of the animal and farmers’ observations and comments.

Significant Findings :

• Goats provided with tree-leaf supplements had higher liveweight gains than the control (no supplementation). Moreover, those supplemented with Gmellina arborea had higher weight gain than those provided with Leucaena leucocephala (Table 1).

• The explanation of this surfaced during the farmers’ workshop. It was learned that goats provided with Gmellina leaves were also able to feed on the fruits. Apparently, the fruits provided better nutriment for the goats. Moreover, goats provided with Leucaena leaves were not eating much of the supplement. Although the same was true to the Gmellina supplement, the goats in the latter were able to feed also on the fruits aside from the leaves.
• The farmers’ workshop provided some useful insights on the practice of tree-leaf supplementation to goats in smallholder situations (Tables 2 and 3). For instance, the farmers’ observation that a considerable proportion of the supplement was not eaten implies the need to think about appropriate means or scheduling when to provide the supplement.
• Another fact often neglected when dealing with tree leaf supplementation is the possibility that not only the leaves, but also fruits are eaten by the animals.

The seminar-workshop was conducted at the Matalom site office on October 9, 1998.This was participated in by 20 farmers composed of goat cooperators, alayon leaders and other farmers interested in raising goats. The participants are the following:
 

The activity started at 10:00 with a short opening program.

This was immediately followed by the presentation of research findings. E. Espinosa presented the results of the study particularly the liveweight changes of the animals (Table 1). Farmers problems and observations (Tables 2 & 3) made during the conduct of the experiment were also presented for validation purposes.

= Dead

* New animal

** Kid/produced offspring

Table 3. Farmer-cooperators’ observations on feeding Leucaena and Gmelina leaves to goats.

In addition, the following experiences and observations were also shared by the farmer-cooperators:

1. Bingbing Gula

1. Irid Pria

To facilitate faster purchase of experimental goats Dr. Balbarino requested the help of alayon leaders. These animals will be in addition to the existing experimental animals in Phase I.

The researchers and the cooperators divided the experimental animals folowing the sharing system agreed at the start of the experiment. The table below shows the animal inventory and sharing system of the study.
 

• goats doesn’t like much pure diet stylo. (Felipe Itallo)
• destructive to neighbors’ crops if loosen. (Cinto Purgatorio)
• materials for goat house construction are expensive. (Carlos Infortuna)
• diarrhea/dysentery/wet feces, decreased pasture area due to massive tree planting. (Dodong Inderio)
• lack of pasture area. (Carlos Infortuna)
• migration. (Cinto Pizon)

• Lost tags - B. Gozo, I. Pria, D. Padon

. The workshop proper started at 2:20 pm. With the identified problems in raising goats, the group was made to come up with possible solution/s. Indicated below is the group output:
 

An inventory of the female goats that have already produced offsrpings was also done for the purpose of using the young animal (male only) in Phase II of the experiment. Farmer-cooperator whose animal/s produced kid/s and the availability of these animals are as follows:

Other decisions made: