Effect of supplementing elephant grass with Gliricidia sepium, Lannea coromandelica and concentrate feed on Bali cattle performance

The low quality of elephant grass makes supplementation with high quality feed is necessary. In this respect, locally available high-protein tree forages like Gliricidia sepium and Lannea coromandelica might be suitable used as supplement for cattle fed sole elephant grass. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementing with Lannea coromandelica , Gliricidia sepium, mixture of Lannea coromandelica and Gliricidia sepium and concentrate feed on dry mater intake, digestibility and growth of Bali cattle fed elephant grass basal diets. The animals were assigned randomly with five experimental diets, i.e. 1 elephant grass 100%, 2.elephant grass 60% + Lannea coromandelica leaves 40%, 3 elephant grass 60% + Gliricidia sepium leaves 40%, 4 elephant grass 60% + Lannea coromandelica leaves 20% + Gliricidia sepium leaves 20% and 5 elephant grass 60% + concentrate feed 40% (dry matter basis). Results indicate that with respect of gain and efficiency of feed utilization, mixture of Lannea coromandelica leaves 20% + Gliricidia sepium leaves 20% and concentrate were the best supplement, followed by Gliricidia sepium 40% and Lannea coromandelica 40%. However, because of high prices of concentrate, mixture of Lannea coromandelica and Gliricidia sepium can be considered as the best supplement. It can be concluded that locally available tree forage of Lannea coromandeica and Gliricidia sepium can be used to replace concentrate feeds.as supplement.for animals fed elephant grass basal diet.