Bulky diets for ruminants consisting of the hay Tifton 85 and leucaena

Abstract

Support herds feeding in the Northeast Region is guaranteed during the rainy season. However, during the dry season, which usually includes most of the year, are observed substantial losses in quality and forage availability in rangeland, which is directly reflected in the productivity of herds. The search for alternative forage at the time of the dry season, which are economically viable, has led many farmers to use in association with the leucaena hay Tifton 85 in ruminant feed, alternatives are studied and reported in the literature, not only because the agronomic advantages that offers leucaena, positive response on the performance and productivity in the northeastern herds, by using them. This literature review was conducted in order to discuss the nutritional characteristics of leucaena and forms for use in ruminant feed. Information is addressed as chemical composition, digestibility and consumption, improving animal performance. The results of different research papers suggest various uses of leucaena hay associated with Tifton 85 in order to obtain satisfactory results.