Nutritive value of Leucaena leucocephala for growing bull calves

Twelve cross-bred (Holstein X Gir) bull calves (11-12 months of age) were divided into two groups and fed over a 90 day period on two levels of leucaena. Animals in Group I were offered leucaena ad lib. whilst those in Group 2 received a restricted amount of leucaena plus a mixture of sorghum straw and molasses (75:25) fed ad lib. Digestibilities of dry matter, crude protein, acid detergent fibre and neutral detergent fibre for leucaena are presented. The live weight gain was significantly (P less than 0.05) higher in animals fed leucaena ad lib. than in those fed a restricted amount of the forage. The animals did not show any symptoms of toxicity during the experimental period.