Progress 09/01/06 to 08/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities: Participated and presented research results at national meetings of the American Society of Animal Science, American Society of Agronomy, Caribbean Food Crops Society and Sociedad Puertoriquena de Ciencias Agricolas (SOPCA). Field days were conducted in the summers of 2005, 2006 at Finca Laboratorio Alzamora to discuss and showcase establishment of Calliandra and Cratylea as potential forage for small ruminants. Farmer visits were organized at the Corozal and Lajas Substations of the Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Puerto Rico in 2007 and 2008 to discuss research results. Seedlings of Calliandra, Cratylea and Morus are potted at the Corozal substation and distributed to farmers. Consulting: RUMINANTIA, a publication that provides information on sheep and goat shrub feeding were published and distributed to the nucleus of small ruminant producers. PARTICIPANTS: Elide Valencia, Principal Investigator: Coordinated all aspects of field research and data analysis and reporting. Abner Rodriguez, Animal Nutrition: Support in planning and execution of the field experiments. Rafael Ramos Santana, Forage Scientist: Support in the design, planting and collection and tabulation of experimental data. Paul Randel Foling participated in committee of graduate students and edited abstracts and manuscript preparations Jim Muir at Texas Agri Life, Stephenville trained graduate student S. Pagan at his lab. B. R. Min at Texas Agri Life, Vernon Texas trained Karla Hernandez at his lab and supported part of thesis research. Graduate students Amanda Acero and Karla Hernandez presented a poster and an oral presentation at the animal science meetings supported through project funds. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nucleus of Small Ruminant producers and livestock farmers in general were the major stake holders. Project leaders provided workshop and training to the producers in the three years of the project. Project leaders also participated actively in the nucleus annual meeting and dedicated efforts to publishing RUMINANTIA, a bulletin geared to provide reader-friendly information to stakeholders. Hands on training on identifying anemic small ruminants generated interest on use of alternative medicine and shoed the impact of Calliandra as means of reducing parasite load. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Results from research objectives permitted the recommendation of Calliandra, Cratylea and Leucaena in grazing systems of the Caribbean or in supplementing hay or fresh cut in diets of confined ruminants fed basal diets of grass hay of low quality. Such use of either shrub legume would promote greater animal production and reduce the use of high concentrate feed. Defining the chemical composition of fodder trees supported the recommendation of specific shrubs for different feeding systems in the Caribbean. Higher protein and excellent digestibility of the shrubs, when compared to that of tropical grasses or hay, indicates their potential use as a supplement for small ruminant diets. There was wide variation however, in rumen degradability among shrub legumes. For instance, the high dergradability of M. alba (90%), compared to 40% for C. argentea, and Calliandra spp., suggests that a high tannin concentration may reduce intake of the shrub legumes. Additional research is needed to evaluate possible anti-nutritional factors that may affect the utilization of these feed resources. But when Calliandra was assessed in diet of goats (>25% intake) there was a decrease in fecal excretion of gastrointestinal nematode eggs, thus suggesting that the use of a shrub legume with high condensed tannin, such as Calliandra (12%) could have the beneficial effect of reducing pasture contamination and thus of enhancing small ruminant health. The basic research objectives funded through TSTAR were instrumental in justifying a proposal in applied with the research Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education grant program (SARE). SARE funded a three-year on-farm participatory research program for limited resource farmers in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. This project will generate on farm research data. Results from the potential shrub legume feeding value and its chemical composition enhanced the use of these legumes either as a source of protein or as a de-worming bank, as well as enhancing interest in the use of these legumes for green chop feeding in the dairy industry. The Department of Agriculture through its small ruminant producers program has provided funds to prepare planting material and to distribute to over 50 small ruminant farmers in the several agro-ecological zones of Puerto Rico.
Publications
- Acero, A., B. Sandoval, J. Torres, K. Tous, M. Crespo, E. Valencia, A.A. Rodriguez. 2005. Composicion quimica y selectividad de tres leguminosas arbustivas. Proc. of the X SIGMA Xi Student poster day, Mayaguez, PR, April 21st, 2005.
- A. Acero, E. Valencia and A.A. Rodriguez. 2007. Supplementation effects of a tropical legume on weight gains and efficacy of control of gastrointestinal nematodes in weanling goats. J. of Anim. Sci. Sup. 80. p. 121. Acero-Camelo, A., E. Valencia, A. A. Rodriguez y P. F. Randel. 2008. FAMACHA como herramienta para detectar anemia en cabras de carne en Puerto Rico. J. Agric. Univ. P.R. Accepted
- Acero-Camelo, A., E. Valencia, A. A. Rodriguez and P. F. Randel. 2008. Calliandra calothyrsus supplementation effects on weight gain and efficacy of control of gastrointestinal nematodes in weanling goats. J. Agric. Univ. P.R. Accepted
- Adjei, M., E. Valencia and I. KEzenwa. 2006. Potential leguminous shrubs for meat goat production in Florida. p. 225. Proc. of the 42nd Annual Meetings of the Caribbean Foods Crops Society. 10th - 15th July, 2006, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
- Valentin K.H., B.R. Min, E. Valencia, A. Rodriguez, J.E. Miller, J.P. Muir, and W.E. Pnnchak. 2008. Gastro-intestinal nematode infection and in vitro larval migration inhibition in goats fed selected tropical legumes. Vet. Parasitol. submitted. Pagan-Riestra, S., E. Valencia, A.A. Rodriguez and R.Ramos-Santana. 2005. Chemical composition and ruminal fermentation characteristics of tropical fodder trees (Cratylia argentea, Calliandra calothyrus and Morus alba). Proc. of the 42nd Annual Meetings of the Caribbean Foods Crops Society. 11th - 16th July, 2005, Guadeloupe, FWI. (In press).
- Bismarck Sandoval. 2007. Consumo voluntario y digestibilidad en ovinos de henos de pasto guinea (Panicum maximum, Jacq.)-clitoria (Clitoria ternatea L. Dne.) y pasto rhodes (Chloris gayana, Kunth) cv. Callide. Tesis M.S., Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto Universitario de Mayaguez. 90p.
- Ruth Amanda Acero Camelo. 2007. Evaluacion de dos estrategias de alimentacion en ganado caprino: Vigorizacion energetica (Flushing) en hembras reproductora y uso de Calliandra calothyrsus en cabros destetados. Tesis M.S., Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto Universitario de Mayaguez. 76p.
- Karla A. Hernandez Valentin. 2007. Characterization and effect of condensed tannins in tropical forages to reduce nematodes in small ruminants. Msc. Thesis, University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez. 89p.
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Progress 09/01/06 to 08/31/07
Outputs
Information is limited on shrub and tree legumes for supplement feeding and their effect on weanling goat weight gains or control of gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN; Haemonchus contortus). Calliandra (Calliandra calothyrsus) is a tree legume with high protein concentration (C, plus or minus 22%) and condensed tannin (CT 19 to 30%). Its high CP makes it an alternative for supplementing low quality grass diets of ruminants, and its high CT may reduce levels of GIN infestation. An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of Calliandra on average daily gain (ADG) and efficacy against GIN in weanling goats. Eight weanling meat goats (12.4 kg bw0.75) were randomly assigned to two treatments: a base diet of guineagrass hay (GH; Panicum maximum Jacq.); and a diet of leaves and twigs of freshly cut Calliandra (FC) supplemented at 20% dry matter (DM) estimated at 3% LW intake. After morning feeding, goats grazed native pastures. Goats were weighed bi-weekly, and
throughout the trial feces and blood (every 21 d) were taken from individual animals to determine fecal egg counts (FEC) and blood pack cell volume (PCV). FAMACHA(copy rights) index score were also taken on individual animals. Data were analyzed by using repeated measure analysis. Supplementation with FC did not have any effect on ADG, FAMACHA or PCV. Fecal egg count (FEC) was significantly lower in groups supplemented with Calliandra than in those with GH. Adjusted means were 638.16 eggs/g and 982.13 eggs/g for FC and GH, respectively. The decrease in FEC could have the benefit of reduced pasture contamination.
Impacts
Feeding calliandra at 1% body weight of small ruminants minimized gastrointestinal parasites by 30%.
Publications
- Pagan, S., E. M. Valencia, J. P. Muir, A. A. Rodriguez. 2006. In situ dry matter degradability of tropical legumes using fistulated goats and steers. p.24. Abst. Proc. of the Southern Society of Animal Science, Orlando, Fl. 5-8th, 2006
- Acero-Camelo, A., E. Valencia and A.A. Rodriguez. 2006. Concentrate Feeding effects on Goats Reproductive Performance. Proc. of the Caribbean Food Crops Soc. Isla Verde, Puerto Rico, July, 2006.
- Acero-Camelo, A., E. Valencia and A.A. Rodriguez. 2007. Supplementation effects of a tropical legume on weight gains and efficacy of control of gastrointestinal nematodes in weanling goats. J. Anim. Sci. Vol. 85. supplement 1.
- Valentin, K.H., B.R.Min, E.Valencia, A. Rodriguez, W.E. Pinchak, J. Miller, and J.P. Muir. 2007. In vitro larval activity and in vivo gastro-intestinal parasites infestation in goats grazing tropical legumes. J. Anim. Sci. Vol. 85. supplement 1.
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