Chemical constraints to the use of tropical legumes in animal nutrition

摘要: Abstract Browse and grain legumes offer considerable potential for enhancing animal productivity in the tropics. However, a major factor limiting wider use of these plants is ubiquitous distribution diverse array natural compounds which are capable precipitating adverse effects animals. Manifestations toxicity range from marked reduction performance nutrient utilisation to profound neurological increased mortality. This review identifies primary anti-nutritional factors tropical evaluates prospects their detoxification. Although protease inhibitors widely distributed legume forage grains, role appears be secondary that other toxic compounds. Recent studies highlight dominant impact lectins determining nutritional value seeds Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (winged bean) Canavalia ensiformis (jack bean). The presence condensed tannins characteristic feature many browse legumes, including Gliricidia sepium, Acacia species, Leucaena leucocephala Albizia falcataria. These polyphenolic sometimes accorded with beneficial attributes ruminant nutrition by virtue capacity suppress bloat prevent excessive degradation high-quality leaf protein rumen. respect there increasing evidence all classes livestock, ruminants. occurrence non-protein amino acids distinguishing legumes. contribute significantly leucocephala, Lathyrus species. several single species causes difficulties detoxification, particularly if deleterious heat stable. Significant experimental procedures have recently been described detoxification winged bean jack bean, methods now await economic appraisal. treatment harvested leaves or spraying leguminous shrubs polyethylene glycol (PEG) alleviate comparatively recent innovation worthy further investigation, view striking improvements sheep fed aneura. most no'able advance relates biotechnological manipulation rumen function, enabling cattle grazing degrade acid, mimosine, innocuous residues. exploiting this technique hould considered. scope any significant meals utrition non-ruminant animals limited, despite advances detoxificaion. In case feedingstuffs, constraints intrinsic low digestibility fraction inferior metabolisable energy content relative grains.