Evaluation of the productivity and feed value of Wondergraze and Redlands leucaena cultivars under grazing
E. Charmley
A * , C. S. McSweeney B , G. J. Bishop-Hurley B , J. Simington A , J. Padmanabha B and P. Giacomantonio B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Private Mail Bag PO, Aitkenvale, Townsville, Qld 4814, Australia.
B CSIRO Agriculture and Food, 306 Carmody Road, St Lucia, Qld 4067, Australia.
Animal Production Science 63(5) 450-462 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN22341
Submitted: 2 September 2022 Accepted: 24 November 2022 Published: 4 January 2023
© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)
Abstract
Context: Leucaena leucocephala (leucaena) is a leguminous shrub used for beef grazing in low-rainfall regions (<600–700 mm). Newer cultivars have the potential to extend adoption of the species to higher rainfall (>600–700 mm), frost-free areas of Australia.
Aim: We compared productivity, nutritional value and animal performance of two leucaena cultivars, new psyllid-resistant Redlands and the 2010-released Wondergraze, under continuous grazing management in a higher rainfall environment.
Methods: Growing steers were allocated to replicated established stands of Wondergraze or Redlands with inter-row mixed grass–legume pasture from January to July 2021. Pasture and leucaena were characterised for biomass and nutritive characteristics. Botanical composition was measured. Liveweight gain, rumen fermentation, and leucaena mimosine breakdown products were measured in grazing steers.
Key results: At the beginning of the study, leucaena edible biomass was similar for both cultivars (P > 0.05), but at subsequent samplings, biomass of Redlands was lower than of Wondergraze (P < 0.01). Biomass of both cultivars declined rapidly over the grazing period. Pasture biomass increased between February and July and was significantly higher in Wondergraze paddocks (P < 0.05). Animal performance was not significantly different between cultivar treatments, averaging 0.8 kg/day, but declined over time. Patterns of mimosine conversion to DHP isomers and their conjugation were similar for the two cultivars, suggesting that effectiveness of detoxification did not differ between them.
Conclusion: The results demonstrate that leucaena can sustain high levels of animal performance when included in tropical grass pastures in a higher rainfall environment if present in a sufficient quantity (>2 t leucaena edible dry matter/ha established leucaena).
Implications: Grazing leucaena–grass pastures is an effective means of increasing animal productivity in parts of subtropical Australia. However, managing grass and/or leucaena growth to match animal requirements can be challenging.
Keywords: beef cattle, growth rate, legumes, leucaena, mimosine, pasture utilisation, steers, tropical pastures.
References
Andrew MH, Noble IR, Lange RT (1979) A non-destructive method for estimating the weight of forage on shrubs. The Australian Rangeland Journal 1, 225–231.| A non-destructive method for estimating the weight of forage on shrubs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Beutel TS, Corbet DH, Hoffmann MB, Buck SR, Kienzle M (2018) Quantifying leucaena cultivation extent on grazing land. The Rangeland Journal 40, 31–38.
| Quantifying leucaena cultivation extent on grazing land.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bowen MK, Chudleigh F, Buck S, Hopkins K (2018) Productivity and profitability of forage options for beef production in the subtropics of northern Australia. Animal Production Science 58, 332–342.
| Productivity and profitability of forage options for beef production in the subtropics of northern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Coates DB, Dixon RM (2008) Development of near infrared analysis of faeces to estimate non-grass proportons in diets selected by cattle grazing tropical pastures. Journal of Near Infrared Spectroscopy 16, 471–480.
| Development of near infrared analysis of faeces to estimate non-grass proportons in diets selected by cattle grazing tropical pastures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dalzell SA (2019) Leucaena cultivars: current releases and future opportunities. Tropical Grasslands-Forrajes Tropicales 7, 56–64.
| Leucaena cultivars: current releases and future opportunities.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dalzell S, Shelton M, Mullen B, McLaughlan K (2006) ‘Leucaena: a guide to establishment and management.’ (Meat and Livestock Australia and The University of Queensland)
Dalzell SA, Burnett DJ, Dowsett JE, Forbes VE, Shelton HM (2012) Prevalence of mimosine and DHP toxicity in cattle grazing Leucaena leucocephala pastures in Queensland, Australia. Animal Production Science 52, 365–372.
| Prevalence of mimosine and DHP toxicity in cattle grazing Leucaena leucocephala pastures in Queensland, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
De Angelis A, Gasco L, Parisi G, Danieli PP (2021) A multipurpose leguminous plant for the Mediterranean countries: Leucaena leucocephala as an alternative protein source: a review. Animals 11, 2230
| A multipurpose leguminous plant for the Mediterranean countries: Leucaena leucocephala as an alternative protein source: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dixon RM, Coates DB (2008) Diet quality and liveweight gain of steers grazing Leucaena-grass pasture estimated with faecal near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (F.NIRS). Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, 835–842.
| Diet quality and liveweight gain of steers grazing Leucaena-grass pasture estimated with faecal near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (F.NIRS).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Figueredo ES, Rodrigues RC, Araújo RAd, Costa CdS, Santos FNdS, Silva IR, Jesus APR, Araújo JdS, Cabral LdS, Araújo IGR (2019) Maturity dependent variation in composition and characteristics of potentially digestible tissues of leucaena. Semina: Ciências Agrárias 40, 3133–3142.
| Maturity dependent variation in composition and characteristics of potentially digestible tissues of leucaena.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Garcia GW, Ferguson TU, Neckles FA, Archibald KAE (1996) The nutritive value and forage productivity of Leucaena leucocephala. Animal Feed Science and Technology 60, 29–41.
| The nutritive value and forage productivity of Leucaena leucocephala.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Graham SR, Dalzell SA, Ngu NT, Davis CK, Greenway D, McSweeney CS, Shelton HM (2013) Efficacy, persistence and presence of Synergistes jonesii in cattle grazing leucaena in Queensland: on-farm observations pre- and post-inoculation. Animal Production Science 53, 1065–1074.
| Efficacy, persistence and presence of Synergistes jonesii in cattle grazing leucaena in Queensland: on-farm observations pre- and post-inoculation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Halliday MJ (2017) Unravelling Leucaena leucocephala toxicity: ruminant studies in eastern Indonesia and Australia. University of Queensland.
Halliday MJ, Padmanabha J, McSweeney CS, Kerven G, Shelton HM (2013) Leucaena toxicity: a new perspective on the most widely used forage tree legume. Tropical Grasslands – Forrajes Tropicales 1, 1–11.
| Leucaena toxicity: a new perspective on the most widely used forage tree legume.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Halliday MJ, Giles HE, Dalzell SA, McSweeney CS (2014) The efficacy of in vitro Synergistes jonesii inoculum in preventing DHP toxicity in steers fed leucaena-grass diets. Tropical Grasslands – Forrajes Tropicales 2, 68–70.
| The efficacy of in vitro Synergistes jonesii inoculum in preventing DHP toxicity in steers fed leucaena-grass diets.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Harrison MT, McSweeney C, Tomkins NW, Eckard RJ (2015) Improving greenhouse gas emissions intensities of subtropical and tropical beef farming systems using Leucaena leucocephala. Agricultural Systems 136, 138–146.
| Improving greenhouse gas emissions intensities of subtropical and tropical beef farming systems using Leucaena leucocephala.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hegarty MP, Court RD, Thorne PM (1964) The determination of mimosine and 3,4-dihydroxypyridine in biological material. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 15, 168–179.
Jones RJ, Hegarty MP (1984) The effect of different proportions of Leucaena leucocephala in the diet of cattle on growth, feed intake, thyroid function and urinary excretion of 3-hydroxy-4(1H)-pyridone. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 35, 317–325.
| The effect of different proportions of Leucaena leucocephala in the diet of cattle on growth, feed intake, thyroid function and urinary excretion of 3-hydroxy-4(1H)-pyridone.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jones RJ, Palmer B (2002) Assessment of the condensed tannin concentration in a collection of Leucaena species using 14C-labelled polyethylene glycol (PEG 4000). Tropical Grasslands 36, 47–53.
Lemin C, Rolfe J, English B, Caird R, Black E, Dayes S, Cox K, Perry L, Brown G, Atkinson R, Atkinson N (2019) Tropical Grasslands – Forrajes Tropicales 7, 96–99.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McSweeney CS, Tomkins N (2015) Impacts of leucaena plantations on greenhouse gas emissions in northern Australian cattle production systems. Project B.CCH.6510 Final Report. Meat & Livestock Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
McSweeney CS, Palmer B, Bunch R, Krause DO (1999) In vitro quality assessment of tannin-containing tropical shrub legumes: protein and fibre digestion. Animal Feed Science and Technology 82, 227–241.
| In vitro quality assessment of tannin-containing tropical shrub legumes: protein and fibre digestion.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McSweeney CS, Padmanabha J, Halliday MJ, Hubbard B, Dierens L, Denman S, Shelton HM (2019) Detection of Synergistes jonesii and genetic variants in ruminants from different geographical areas. Tropical Grasslands-Forrajes Tropicales 7, 154–163.
Montoya-Flores MD, Molina-Botero IC, Arango J, Romano-Muñoz JL, Solorio-Sanchez FJ, Aguilar-Pérez CF, Ku-Vera JC (2020) Effect of dried leaves of Leucaena leucocephala on rumen fermentation, rumen microbial population, and enteric methane production in crossbred heifers. Animals 10, 300
| Effect of dried leaves of Leucaena leucocephala on rumen fermentation, rumen microbial population, and enteric methane production in crossbred heifers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Norman HC, Wilmot MG, Thomas DT, Masters DG, Revell DK (2009) Stable carbon isotopes accurately predict diet selection by sheep fed mixtures of C3 annual pastures and saltbush or C4 perennial grasses. Livestock Science 121, 162–172.
| Stable carbon isotopes accurately predict diet selection by sheep fed mixtures of C3 annual pastures and saltbush or C4 perennial grasses.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Petty SR, Poppi DP (2012) The liveweight gain response of heifers to supplements of molasses or maize while grazing irrigated Leucaena leucocephala/Digitaria eriantha pastures in north-west Australia. Animal Production Science 52, 619–623.
| The liveweight gain response of heifers to supplements of molasses or maize while grazing irrigated Leucaena leucocephala/Digitaria eriantha pastures in north-west Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Petty SR, Poppi DP, Triglone T (1998) Effect of maize supplementation, seasonal temperature and humidity on the liveweight gain of steers grazing irrigated Leucaena leucocephala/Digitaria eriantha pastures in north-west Australia. The Journal of Agricultural Science 130, 95–105.
| Effect of maize supplementation, seasonal temperature and humidity on the liveweight gain of steers grazing irrigated Leucaena leucocephala/Digitaria eriantha pastures in north-west Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Poppi DP, McLennan SR (2010) Nutritional research to meet future challenges. Animal Production Science 50, 329–338.
| Nutritional research to meet future challenges.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Quirk MF, Paton CJ, Bushell JJ (1990) Increasing the amount of leucaena on offer gives faster growth rates of grazing cattle in South East Queensland. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 30, 51–54.
| Increasing the amount of leucaena on offer gives faster growth rates of grazing cattle in South East Queensland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Radrizzani A, Dalzell SA, Shelton HM (2011) Effect of environment and plant phenology on prediction of plant nutrient deficiency using leaf analysis in Leucaena leucocephala. Crop & Pasture Science 62, 248–260.
| Effect of environment and plant phenology on prediction of plant nutrient deficiency using leaf analysis in Leucaena leucocephala.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rira M, Morgavi DP, Archimède H, Marie-Magdeleine C, Popova M, Bousseboua H, Doreau M (2015) Potential of tannin-rich plants for modulating ruminal microbes and ruminal fermentation in sheep. Journal of Animal Science 93, 334–347.
| Potential of tannin-rich plants for modulating ruminal microbes and ruminal fermentation in sheep.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Satter LD, Slyter LL (1974) Effect of ammonia concentration on rumen microbial protein production in vitro. British Journal of Nutrition 32, 199–208.
| Effect of ammonia concentration on rumen microbial protein production in vitro.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Shelton M, Dalzell S (2007) Production, economic and environmental benefits of leucaena pastures. Tropical Grasslands – Forrajes Tropicales 41, 174–190.
Shelton M, Brewbaker JL (1998) Leucaena leucocephala – the most widely used forage tree legume. In ‘Forage tree legumes in tropical agriculture’. (Eds RC Gutteridge, HM Shelton) pp. 15–29. (Tropical Grassland Society of Australia: Brisbane, Qld, Australia)
Stifkens A, Matthews EM, McSweeney CS, Charmley E (2022) Increasing the proportion of Leucaena leucocephala in hay-fed beef steers reduces methane yield. Animal Production Science
| Increasing the proportion of Leucaena leucocephala in hay-fed beef steers reduces methane yield.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tomkins N, Harrison M, McSweeney CS, Denman S, Charmley E, Lambrides CJ, Dalal R (2019) Greenhouse gas implications of leucaena-based pastures. Can we develop an emissions reduction methodology for the beef industry? Tropical Grasslands-Forrajes Tropicales 7, 267–272.
| Greenhouse gas implications of leucaena-based pastures. Can we develop an emissions reduction methodology for the beef industry?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tothill JC, Hargreaves JNG, Jones RM, McDonald CK (1992) ‘BOTANAL - a comprehensive sampling and computing procedure for estimating pasture yield and composition. 1. Field sampling.’ (CSIRO: Brisbane)
Waghorn G (2008) Beneficial and detrimental effects of dietary condensed tannins for sustainable sheep and goat production: progress and challenges. Animal Feed Science and Technology 147, 116–139.
| Beneficial and detrimental effects of dietary condensed tannins for sustainable sheep and goat production: progress and challenges.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
