A Review on Selected Tropical Tree Legume Leaves in Poultry Diet

Abstract

The high prices of protein sources from fish meal and soybean meal are the main constraints to increasing poultry production in developing countries. One way to alleviate the problems is through utilization fodder tree legume leaves to replace a part of fish meal and soybean meal in poultry diet. Fodder tree legumes of Moringa oleifera, Leucaena leucocphala, Gliricidia sepium, Calliandra calothyrsus, Acacia angustissima and Sesbania grandiflora leaves have been studied as protein sources in poultry diets. To generate information concerning chemical composition and effect of incorporating tree legume leaves in diet on poultry performance, the literatures in Google Scholar, Scopus, CAB Abstract, PubMed and CrossRef databases were reviewed.  Results revealed that leaves of those tree legumes contain protein higher than required by poultry but also have higher fiber than can be tolerated by poultry. They also contain lower metabolizable energy than carbonaceous concentrate or proteinaceous concentrates and have antinutritional factors that may hinder poultry performance. Compared with concentrate feeds, all those legume leaves can only incorporated in poultry diets at low levels without affecting poultry performance. Except for Sesbania grandiflora leaves that toxic to poultry, all other tree legume leaves can be incorporated in poultry diets. The best growth performance of birds fed on high levels of those legume leaves was found in the leaves of Moringa oleifera, followed by Leucaena leucocephala, Gliricidia sepium, Acacia angustissima</em> and Calliandra calothyrsus</em> leaves It can be concluded that those tree legume leaves can be included in poultry diets with varying optimum levels.