Resumen 264

McSweeney,-CS; Wesley-Smith,-RN

CSIRO Division of Tropical Animal Science, Davies Lab., Townsville, Qld. 4814, Australia.

Australian-Journal-of-Experimental-Agriculture. 1986, 26: 6, 659-664; 24 ref.

Sheep were studied to determine whether their low intake of organic matter (400 to 500 g daily OM) of calopo (Calopogonium mucunoides) was due to toxic properties of the plant, factors that affect its acceptability or to the mineral status of the legume. Low intake of calopo was not due to its toxicity as supplementation with 500 g daily of ground calopo via the ruminal fistula did not depress voluntary intake of lucerne hay more than when an equivalent amount of siratro was given. Treatment of the plant with the taste-modifiers monosodium glutamate (2% DM fed) and molasses (5%), or with sodium hydroxide 4% w/w or its molar equivalent of potassium hydroxide was associated with an immediate and sustained increase in organic matter intake of about 40%. This intake is similar to that of other tropical forages with similar digestibilities. The taste or odours of the plant therefore seem to limit intake. The low sodium (0.03%) and marginal potassium (0.55%) content of calopo induced a deficiency of these elements in the sheep which did not affect intake in the short term. Treatment with molasses had the advantage of supplying extra K and energy.