mb.com.ph; January 11, 2012, 4:58pm

MANILA, Philippines —  An ongoing research on forage crops for goats points to a very promising potential of Indigofera as an excellent source of protein for both the dairy and meat type goats.

The study is being undertaken at the Alaminos Goat Farm (AGF) in Alaminos, Laguna, operated by the Almeda family, Rene and his two sons Arthur and Toti. Indigofera is an imported leguminous tree that produces a lot of herbage relished by goats.

In a recent analysis, the Indigofera was found to have a higher protein content than malunggay and mulberry. It was found to contain 27.6 percent protein compared to 27.1 percent of malunggay and 20.4 percent of mulberry. Both malunggay and mulberry are also being tested for their efficacy as animal feed.

Indigofera has also been found to be a fast grower and high-yielder. To determine the potential yield of Indigofera on a per hectare basis, a trial plot of 10 square meters was established where 24 seedlings were planted on May 25, 2011. Five months later, on October 25, the first cutting was made and the 24 trees yielded 12 kilos. Two months later, the second cutting was made. This time the trees yielded 20.3 kilos.

Rene Almeda says that at 20,000 trees per hectare after two cuttings a potential yield of 27,000 kilos can be assumed. With the succeeding cuttings every one or two months, the yield could even increase.

Indigofera is the main forage species that the Almedas are growing in their Alaminos Salad Garden. The 30 long plots that they have planted to different forage plants are where they cut the green feeds that they give to their dairy goats. Each day, they harvest from one plot.

Indigofera is one species that many animal scientists of the government agencies had previously ignored. They had probably assumed that Indigofera was not palatable for small ruminants. It was not included in the book on goat raising published by the PCARRD.

Rene said that he saw the research report from Vietnam which showed that Indigofera has a high protein content. He then included it in their salad garden. It turned out that the goats loved to eat Indigofera, especially if the leafy branches are harvested every month. Today, in their research, shredded Indigofera is mixed with the concentrate ration at the rate of 30 percent.

Their caretaker had observed that every time he gave the dairy goats Indigofera, their milk yield increased. This has led the Almedas to conduct the research in cooperation with Remedios Acacio of the Bureau of Animal Industry.

One clear advantage of Indigofera over other forage species like malunggay is that it is high yielding and it is much easier to establish and maintain. Once established, it can be easily maintained by regular fertilization with goat manure and irrigation during the dry months.

Indigofera can be easily multiplied by seed. During the last Agrilink trade show, the Almedas were able to dispose of 5,000 seedlings they propagated in their farm. The Indigofera produces a lot of seeds which germinate very easily. To produce seeds, the trees must be left to grow without harvesting the leafy branches for feeding to the animals. (By ZAC B. SARIAN)

Source: Forage crop for goats promising