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Bauhinia (Bauhinia thonningii)

Datasheet

Description
Click on the "Nutritional aspects" tab for recommendations for ruminants, pigs, poultry, rabbits, horses, fish and crustaceans
Bauhinia (Bauhinia thonningii) tree, Malawi
Bauhinia (Bauhinia thonningii) leaves and inflorescence, Burkina Faso
Bauhinia thonningii
Bauhinia (Bauhinia thonningii) flower, Malawi
Bauhinia (Bauhinia thonningii) pods, Zimbabwe
Common names 

Camel's foot, Rhodesian bauhinia, wild bauhinia, monkey bread [English]; Kameelspoor [Afrikaans]; niama, niamia [Bambara]; klo [Ewe]; barke, barkehi [Fulani]; kalgo, kargo, chanchali [Hausa]; mokgoropo [North Sotho]; mutukutu [Shona]; mukolokote [Venda] 

Species 

Bauhinia thonningii Schumach. & Thonn. [Fabaceae]

Synonyms 

Piliostigma thonningii (Schum.) Milne-Redh. (USDA, 2009)

Feed categories 
Related feed(s) 
Description 

Bauhinia thonningii is a legume tree 4 to 15 m high, with a round crown. The leaves are glossy, bi-lobed, reticulated, 15-17 cm long. They look like camel's foot and account for the tree common names "camel's foot" or "kameelspoor" (SANBI, 2010). The bark is rough and fissured, dark brown to black. It has deep roots. Flowers are unisexual, usually found on different trees, white to pink, pendulous and fragrant (FAO, 2009). The fruits are indehiscent pods, 26 cm x 7 cm, hairy when young and dropping their hairs as they mature.

Bauhinia thonningii is a multipurpose tree. The pods contain an edible pulp and pea-like seeds. Leaves are also edible and used to relieve thirst. The plant is used to make firewood, ropes, dyes and gums, and is used in ethnomedicine. An extract compound (piliostigmin) was found to have virucidal activity against the herpes virus (HSV-1) and African swine fever virus. Bauhinia thonningii trees are browsed by cattle, antelopes and elephants (which tend to destroy the trees) (Orwa et al., 2009).

Distribution 

Bauhinia thonningii is native to Africa. It grows in open woodland, wooded grasslands and sub-humid savannas from sea level up to 1300 m. Optimal growth conditions require an average annual temperature of 20 °C, 700-1400 mm annual rainfall and heavy clay to loamy soils. It is tolerant of acid soils and can withstand dry conditions.

Environmental impact 

Because of its deep roots, Bauhinia thonningii prevents soil erosion. It provides large amount of litter and organic matter to the soil. It is tolerant of fire and quickly re-sprouts after fire (Gignoux et al., 1997). It is a good companion for Annona, Grewia and Combretum species. It can be intercropped with maize provided that its leaves are pollarded to reduce shade (Orwa et al., 2009). In cities, Bauhinia thonningii planted in the streets provides good protection against noise and shade in public spaces. It is also a valuable ornamental (SANBI, 2010).

Nutritional aspects
Potential constraints 

Bauhinia thonningii contains high levels of condensed tannins (Mlambo et al., 2007).

Ruminants 

Bauhinia thonningii is poorly consumed by cattle and small ruminants (Toutain, 1980; Ouédraogo-Koné et al., 2006). It can also be used to feed goats (Kavana et al., 2005). It may be used as a potential protein bank during periods of scarcity (droughts) as it does not drop its leaves or pods early (Mandibaya et al., 1999).

Various methods have been proposed to improve the feeding value of Bauhinia thonningii pods and browse for ruminants. Increasing the protein intake may dilute tannin and then improve utilization of the browse (Rubanza et al., 2003). Soaking the pods in water or NaOH or adding wood ash may reduce the content of condensed tannins (Mlambo et al., 2001). Crushing the pods has been suggested as a way to increase their digestibility (Toutain, 1980). In Burkina-Faso, ground Bauhinia thonningii pods were found to be a potential supplement to growing sheep grazing natural pastures, or to fattening sheep fed cottonseed meal or ground velvet beans (Mucuna pruriens) (Kima, 2008).

Nutritional tables
Tables of chemical composition and nutritional value 

Avg: average or predicted value; SD: standard deviation; Min: minimum value; Max: maximum value; Nb: number of values (samples) used

Main analysis Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Dry matter % as fed 30.9 7.6 19.7 39.8 9
Crude protein % DM 10.1 2.4 6.4 15.3 22
Crude fibre % DM 27.0 3.6 20.0 32.1 19
NDF % DM 56.4 5.4 47.6 64.2 18
ADF % DM 44.4 6.0 31.5 56.0 18
Lignin % DM 21.9 5.1 13.0 31.2 18
Ether extract % DM 4.5 1.7 2.6 7.6 18
Ash % DM 6.9 1.5 4.8 9.4 22
Gross energy MJ/kg DM 18.7 *
 
Minerals Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Calcium g/kg DM 12.1 7.0 2.8 21.4 17
Phosphorus g/kg DM 1.5 0.7 0.4 3.6 17
Potassium g/kg DM 10.7 5.2 4.4 20.2 15
Sodium g/kg DM 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1 3
Magnesium g/kg DM 2.3 0.8 1.3 4.1 15
Manganese mg/kg DM 163 130 36 297 3
Zinc mg/kg DM 25 11 14 36 3
Copper mg/kg DM 8 2 6 10 3
 
Secondary metabolites Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Tannins (eq. tannic acid) g/kg DM 27.1 18.3 0.0 57.0 7
Tannins, condensed (eq. catechin) g/kg DM 15.5 26.4 0.2 46.0 3

The asterisk * indicates that the average value was obtained by an equation.

References

Bartha, 1970; CIRAD, 1991; Rubanza et al., 2003

Last updated on 24/10/2012 00:43:24

Main analysis Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb  
Dry matter % as fed 91.6 1.5 88.4 95.0 24  
Crude protein % DM 7.7 1.0 5.9 9.5 28  
Crude fibre % DM 23.5 1.7 21.0 28.5 25  
NDF % DM 45.7 3.6 41.8 56.8 25  
ADF % DM 40.7 2.1 38.3 43.5 5  
Lignin % DM 12.4 2.9 9.1 16.1 4  
Ether extract % DM 2.9 0.7 2.0 5.0 26  
Ash % DM 4.8 0.6 3.8 6.1 26  
Starch (polarimetry) % DM 3.6       1  
Water-soluble carbohydrates % DM 5.7       1  
Gross energy MJ/kg DM 18.4 0.9 18.4 23.3 21 *
               
Minerals Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb  
Calcium g/kg DM 1.9 0.4 1.4 3.1 25  
Phosphorus g/kg DM 0.7 0.3 0.5 1.5 25  
Potassium g/kg DM 14.5 2.0 12.5 16.2 4  
Magnesium g/kg DM 1.2 0.2 1.0 1.4 4  
Manganese mg/kg DM 17       1  
Zinc mg/kg DM 10       1  
Copper mg/kg DM 7       1  
               
Secondary metabolites Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb  
Tannins (eq. tannic acid) g/kg DM 110.7       1  
               
Ruminant nutritive values Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb  
OM digestibility, Ruminant % 86.6         *
Energy digestibility, ruminants % 83.7         *
DE ruminants MJ/kg DM 15.4         *
ME ruminants MJ/kg DM 12.7         *
Nitrogen digestibility, ruminants % 59.2       1  
a (N) % 5.2       1  
b (N) % 94.9       1  
c (N) h-1 0.018       1  
Nitrogen degradability (effective, k=4%) % 34         *
Nitrogen degradability (effective, k=6%) % 27         *
               
Pig nutritive values Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb  
Energy digestibility, growing pig % 53.2         *
DE growing pig MJ/kg DM 9.8         *
NE growing pig MJ/kg DM 5.9         *

The asterisk * indicates that the average value was obtained by an equation.

References

CIRAD, 1991; Imperial Bureau of Animal Nutrition, 1936; Mandibaya et al., 1999; Mlambo et al., 2008; Ndlovu et al., 1995; Walker, 1975

Last updated on 02/05/2013 17:03:59

References
References 
Bartha, R., 1970. Fodder plants in the Sahel zone of Africa. München, Weltforum Verlag
FAO, 2009. Grassland Index. A searchable catalogue of grass and forage legumes. FAO, Rome, Italy web icon
Gignoux, J. ; Clobert, J. ; Menaut, J-C., 1997. Alternative fire resistance strategies in savanna trees. Oecologia, 110:576-583 web icon
Imperial Bureau of Animal Nutrition, 1936. Composition of some African foods and feeding stuffs mainly of vegetable origin. Technical Communication No. 6, Rowett Institute, Aberdeen, p. 32
Kavana, P. Y. ; Kizima, J. B. ; Msanga, Y. N., 2005. Evaluation of grazing pattern and sustainability of feed resources in pastoral areas of eastern zone of Tanzania. Livest. Res. Rural Dev., 17 (1) web icon
Kima, S. A., 2008. Utilisation of Piliostigma thoningii (Schum.) pods in animal production and study of insect infestation. Mémoire de fin de cycle, Université Polytechnique de Bobo-Dioulasso, Juin 2008, N°00-2008 ELEV web icon
Mandibaya, W. ; Chihora, R. M., 1999. The nutritional value of Piliostigma thonninghii (Mutukutu, Monkey bread) pods as a feed supplement for communal cattle in Zimbabwe. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol., 78: 287-295 web icon
Mlambo, V. ; Mould, F. ; Mueller-Harvey, I. ; Owen, E. ; Ndlovu, L. ; Mugabe, P. ; Sikosana, J. ; Smith, T., 2001. Chemical composition and in vitro fermentation characteristics of Acacia and other tree pods (R7351). In: Sustaining livestock in challenging dry season environments. Strategies for smallscale livestock farmers (T. Smith, S. H. Godfrey, eds.). Proc. 3rd Workshop on Livestock Production Programme Projects, Ingwe Lodge and ICRISAT, Matopos, Zimbabwe web icon
Mlambo, V. ; Sikosana, J. L. N. ; Mould, F. L. ; Smith, T. ; Owen, E. ; Mueller-Harvey, I., 2007. The effectiveness of adapted rumen fluid versus PEG to ferment tannin-containing substrates in vitro. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol., 136 (1-2): 128-136 web icon
Mlambo, V. ; Mould, F. L. ; Sikosana, J. L. N. ; Smith, T. ; Owen, E. ; Mueller-Harvey, I., 2008. Chemical composition and in vitro fermentation of tannin rich tree fruits. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol., 140: 402-417 web icon
Ndlovu, L. R. ; Sibanda, H. M. ; Sibanda, L. M. ; Hove, E., 1995. Nutritive value of pods of indigenous browsable tree species in a semiarid area of Zimbabwe. Ann. Zootech., 44 (Suppl. 1) web icon
Onana, J., 1995. Les ligneux fourragers du Nord-Cameroun. I. Inventaire et phénologie. (Browse trees of north Cameroon. I. Inventory and phenology). Rev. Elev. Méd. Vét. Pays Trop., 48 (2): 213-219 web icon
Orwa, C.; Mutua, A.; Kindt, R.; Jamnadass, R.; Anthony, S., 2009. Agroforestree Database: a tree reference and selection guide version 4.0. World Agroforestry Centre, Kenya web icon
Ouédraogo-Koné, S. ; Kaboré-Zoungrana, C. Y. ; Ledin, I., 2006. Behaviour of goats, sheep and cattle on natural pasture in the sub-humid zone of West Africa. Livest. Sci., 105: 244-252 web icon
Rubanza, C. D. K. ; Shem, M. N. ; Otsyina, R. ; Ichinohe, T. ; Fujihara, T., 2003. Nutritive evaluation of some browse tree legume foliages native to semi-arid areas in western tanzania. Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci., 16 (10): 1429-1437 web icon
Rubanza, C. D. K. ; Shem, M. N. ; Ichinohe, T. ; Fujihara, T., 2008. Quantification and characterisation of condensed tannin of selected indigenous browse tree species leaves of north-western Tanzania. J. Food Agric. Environ., 6 (2): 145-149 web icon
SANBI, 2010. Bauhinia thonningii. South African National Biodiversity Institute, South Africa web icon
Toutain, B., 1980. The role of browse plants in animal production in the Sudanian zone of West Africa. In: Browse in Africa, the current state of knowledge. H. N. Le Houérou (ed.), ILCA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia web icon
USDA, 2009. GRIN - Germplasm Resources Information Network. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland web icon
Walker, C. A., 1975. Personal communication. Central Research Station, Mazabuka, N. Rhodesia
20 references found
Datasheet citation 

Heuzé V., Tran G., 2016. Bauhinia (Bauhinia thonningii). Feedipedia, a programme by INRAE, CIRAD, AFZ and FAO. https://www.feedipedia.org/node/265 Last updated on March 29, 2016, 13:50

English correction by Tim Smith (Animal Science consultant) and Hélène Thiollet (AFZ)
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