FORAGE INTAKE AND LIVE WEIGHT GAIN OF STEERS GRAZING THREE DIFFERENT LE UCAENA SPECIES MIXED SIGNAL GRASS SUPPLEMENTED WITH POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL

Abstract

A research has been conducted to evaluate forage intake and live weight gain of steers grazed on three different Leucaena species mixed with signal grass supplemented with polyethylene glycol (PEG) in drinking water. Eighteen steers weighing 500138 kg were randomly allocated as a factorial design (3X2) within 3 replicates. The first factor is 3 species of Leucaena (Leucaena pallida, KX2 and Leucaena Zeucocephala) and the second factor is either with or without PEG. Steers were continously grazed for three»month period. The results indicate that Leucaena species had no effect on dry matter intake and live weight gain. The dry matter intake and live weight gain were 13.2, 12.4 and 13.3 kg d'l, and 0.64, 0.49 and 0.50 kg d" for Leucaena pallida, KX2 and Leucaena leucocephala respectively. Polyethylene glycol significantly improved dry matter intake but no effect on live weight gain. The proportion of legume in the diet was elevated by supplementation of PEG in drinking water. The proportion was 21.2% for group of steers with PEG compared to 10.6 % for group without PEG. It is concluded that Leucaena species stimulated intake and live weight gain equally. PEG however consistently improved the nutritive value of legume, by enhancing pasture intake, particularly legume.