Preference, consumption and weight gain of sheep supplemented with multinutritional blocks made with fodder tree leaves

The potential of incorporating fodder tree foliage in the production of multinutritional feed blocks (MNBs) to supplement grazing sheep was evaluated. Leaves from Guazuma ulmifolia Lam., Leucaena lanceolata S. Watson, Acacia cochliacantha Humb. & Bonpl. Willd, and Brosimum alicastrum Swartz were used to make 2.5 kg blocks which were offered to test the preference, consumption and weight gain in Pelibuey sheep during MNB supplementation while grazing. The MNBs contained 23.5% crude protein, 25% neutral detergent fiber, 17.5% acid detergent fiber, and 63% dry matter in vitro digestibility. Sheep equally preferred MNBs containing B. alicastrum, L. lanceolata, and G. ulmifolia, and less so A. cochliacantha (P>0.05). They also consumed more B. alicastrum MNB dry matter and less from those with A. cochliacantha (P<0.05). Supplementation with MNBs containing B. alicastrum did not increase weight gain (EEM=0.021). However, the nutritional quality of the MNBs might have a higher impact when animal diets in the field are based on low quality forages.