Nutritive value of edible forage from two Leucaena leucocephala cultivars with different growth habit and morphology

International audienceThe nutritive value of edible forage from Leucaena leucocephala cv. Cunningham (CUNN) and cv. CNIA-250 (CNIA) was determined during the rainy (R) and dry (D) seasons of Cuba without fertilization or irrigation. Forage was supplied ad libitum and the French system of total faeces collection was used for nutritive value determination and expression by using six adult castrated Pelibuey wethers for each determination. There were noticeable differences in the chemical composition and nutritive value between the two cultivars which were also influenced by year season. The highest protein and energy content were found in CNIA and during the rainy season which could also explain its higher forage intake and digestibility, while CUNN expressed higher DM and nutrient yield throughout the year, mainly due to advantages in tree size and morphology (higher ramification and proportion of leaves, and acceptable branch length). Quality and nutritive value results indicated that these Leucaena cultivars have a suitable potential as supplements for sustainable ruminant nutrition strategies during both seasons of the year; CNIA, because of its smaller height, is strongly recommended for agrosilvopastoral small ruminant browsing systems