Abstract 563

Yates,-NG

Research Inst. Animal Production (BPT), PO Box 123, Bogor, Indonesia.

Tropical-Animal-Production. 1983, 8: 1, 50-52; 6 ref.

Mean daily bodyweight gain of Javanese thin-tail sheep fed on Leucaena leucocephala increased from 31 to 74 g daily in 1 trial and 40 to 86 g in a 2nd trial when the sheep were offered a salt and trace element supplement. Dry matter intake increased from 63 to 84 g/kg bodyweight0.75 in the 2nd trial and there was a similar but non-significant trend in the 1st. The mineral supplement was readily consumed when offered freely and the average intake was 1.96 ñ 0.04 g/kg bodyweight0.75. When mixed with leucaena to provide a similar mineral intake in the 2nd trial, bodyweight gain was similar to that for a pelleted diet of 50% elephant grass, 40% concentrate and 10% fish meal.