The Nutritive Value of Tagasaste, a Leguminous Fodder Tree, in Marginal Summerrainfall Areas of South Africa

SYNOPSIS

Tagasaste (Chamaecytisus palmensis) was evaluated on a monthly basis for nutritive value: in vitro digestibility of organic matter (IVDOM), crude protein (CP), acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and lignin. Tagasaste is able to produce highly digestible leaves and fairly digestible twigs, with a relatively high CP content in both components. The average CP content of the leaves and twigs was 20% and 9% respectively. A marked feature of this species is its ability to retain leaves and hence nutritive value during the winter months.

Keywords:

• Cell wall content
• Chamaecytisus palmensis
• crude fibre
• digestibility
• Tagasaste