Animal food of the future

Trichantera gigantean, a fodder tree more popularly called Nacedero or Madre de Agua in local parlance might as well be the animal food for the future.

Using fresh Trichantera leaves to grower-finisher diet enables a farmer to save up to P334 from seeds for 20 percent replacement and P777 with 30 percent replacement to commercial ration with comparable results of average daily gain and the feed conversion ratio to full commercial ration.

The non-leguminous tree species was brought to the Philippines from the Latin American country of Colombia way back in 1997. It has been found to grow well in all types of soil and elevations up to 1,800 meters above sea level at low densities as 6,700 cuttings per hectare according to Bureau of Animal Industry Director Dr. Jose Q. Molina.

Molina said it grows between plantation crops and produces 40 to 60 tons per hectare of fresh leaves.

Right now, Nacedero is being propagated in large quantities in Tiaong, Quezon. Each small cutting costs P10 at the BAI compound.

The Madre de Agua is easy to take care of. It does not need fertilizers and prefers to be subjected to constant cutting for propagation. In fact, it started in the country with only two cuttings and has adapted very well to local conditions.

The cuttings can be grown in plastic bags then transferred in the field after three months. It can be planted directly to the ground and wait for jus six months before harvest.

Subsequent cuttings can be done at an interval of 90 days when the saplings height is about a meter above the ground. If the tree is not cut, it can grow up to 20 feet and its verdant green leaves spread into bigger and wider size.

The leaves of the Nacedero or Madre Agua is a potential source of protein, varying from 18-22 percent in crude protein form from dry matter and apparently most of this protein is real protein with good amino acid balance.

Nutritional analysis showed that the leaves also contained ether extract of 2.8 percent, crude fiber, 13.4 percent, ash 19.7 percent, moisture, 9.6 percent and NFE, 37 percent.

Since the leave are succulent, palatable, sweetish-tasting and of high nutritive value, BAI first experimented on it by feeding it to pigs in fresh form or processed into leaf meal.

The result was very encouraging as the Trichantera leaves proved to be excellent substitute for about 20 to 30 percent of the commercial growing-finishing fed diet.

The pigs given Nacedero had thinner fat and more flesh but healthier, heavier and their meat more reddish in color and better-tasting than those who were not fed with Madre de Agua.

Further experiments also showed that Trichantera can also be fed to poultry such as ducks (up to 10 percent of their diet); laying hens and quails (10 percent), cattle, goats, sheep and rabbits.

As found in the carcass and sensory evaluation of slaughtered animals fed with the fodder, their meat was found to be moderately juicy and slightly tender and generally well-liked, said Molina.

Asked if Madre de Agua or Nacedero could be fed to human beings and have the same wonderful effect, Molina said it has to be proven yet on an experimental basis. – PNA