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African laburnum (Cassia sieberiana)

Datasheet

Description
Click on the "Nutritional aspects" tab for recommendations for ruminants, pigs, poultry, rabbits, horses, fish and crustaceans
African laburnum (Cassia sieberiana) flowers
Common names 

African laburnum

Species 

Cassia sieberiana DC. [Fabaceae]

Synonyms 

Cassia kotschyana Oliv., Cassia sieberana DC. (ILDIS, 2009)

Feed categories 
Related feed(s) 
Description 

African laburnum (Cassia sieberiana DC.) is a perennial legume shrub or tree, up to 20 m high. Leaves are spirally arranged with elliptical to ovate leaflets. The fruit is a cylindrical pod (up to 90 cm) containing ellipsoid, rusty to dark brown seeds (van der Maesen, 2007).

Distribution 

Cassia sieberiana is native to and widespread in tropical and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Nutritional aspects
Potential constraints 

The leaves of Cassia sieberiana are particularly rich in condensed tannins (Makkar et al., 1997).

Ruminants 

Cassia sieberiana is often used as a fodder for cattle, especially during drought periods (van der Maesen, 2007). Only the pods are palatable (Le Houérou, 1980). In a survey of agropastoralists in western Niger, Cassia sieberiana was found to be rejected by the ruminants due to its offensive odour (Ayantunde et al., 2009).

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
Crude protein % DM 12.2 1.6 9.5 14.1 7
Crude fibre % DM 27.0 2.6 23.9 29.3 4
NDF % DM 48.2 7.7 40.6 59.5 6
ADF % DM 41.8 7.1 35.1 54.5 6
Lignin % DM 19.7 3.0 15.0 22.4 5
Ether extract % DM 4.4 1.4 2.9 5.7 3
Ash % DM 4.9 2.8 3.5 9.8 5
Gross energy MJ/kg DM 19.2 *
 
Minerals Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Calcium g/kg DM 4.5 1
Phosphorus g/kg DM 0.9 1
Potassium g/kg DM 6.1 1
Magnesium g/kg DM 1.9 1
 
Secondary metabolites Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Tannins (eq. tannic acid) g/kg DM 53.0 1
Tannins, condensed (eq. catechin) g/kg DM 0.1 1
 
Ruminant nutritive values Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
OM digestibility, Ruminant % 68.3 *
Energy digestibility, ruminants % 66.1 *
DE ruminants MJ/kg DM 12.7 *
ME ruminants MJ/kg DM 10.3 *

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

References

CIRAD, 1991; Makkar et al., 1997; Makkar et al., 1998

Last updated on 24/10/2012 00:43:23

Main analysis Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Dry matter % as fed 90.8 1
Crude protein % DM 9.3 1
Crude fibre % DM 31.2 1
NDF % DM 44.4 1
ADF % DM 36.1 1
Lignin % DM 13.1 1
Ether extract % DM 1.9 1
Ash % DM 4.1 1
Gross energy MJ/kg DM 18.8 *
 
Ruminant nutritive values Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
OM digestibility, Ruminant % 84.2 *
Energy digestibility, ruminants % 81.5 *
DE ruminants MJ/kg DM 15.3 *
ME ruminants MJ/kg DM 12.4 *
 
Pig nutritive values Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Energy digestibility, growing pig % 41.2 *
DE growing pig MJ/kg DM 7.7 *

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

References

CIRAD, 1991

Last updated on 24/10/2012 00:43:23

References
References 
Aganga, A. A. ; Adogla-Bessa, T. ; Omphile, U. J. ; Tshireletso, K., 2000. Significance of browses in the nutrition of Tswana goats. Arch. Zootec., 49 (188): 469-480 web icon
Ayantunde, A. A. ; Hiernaux, P. ; Briejer, M. ; Udo, H. ; Tabo, R., 2009. Uses of local plant species by agropastoralists in South-western Niger. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 7: 53-066 web icon
ILDIS, 2009. ILDIS World Database of Legumes. International Legume Database & Information Service web icon
Le Houérou, H. N., 1980. Browse in Africa. The current state of knowledge. Papers presented in the International Symposium on Browse in Africa, Addis Ababa, April 8-12, 1980, International Livestock Center for Africa web icon
Makkar, H. P. S. ; Blummel, M. ; Becker, K., 1997. In vitro rumen apparent and true digestibilities of tannin-rich forages. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol., 67 (2/3): 245-251 web icon
Makkar, H. P. S.; Becker, K., 1998. Do tannins in leaves of trees and shrubs from African and Himalayan regions differs in level and activity?. Agroforestry Systems, 40: 59-68 web icon
Paterson, R. T. ; Clinch, N. J. L., 1993. Use of trees by livestock 6: Cassia. National Resources Institute, Chatham, UK, 18 p. web icon
van der Maesen, L. J. G., 2007. Cassia sieberiana DC.. Record from Protabase. Schmelzer, G. H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l'Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands web icon
Zampaligré, N.; Dossa, L. H.; Schlecht, E., 2013. Contribution of browse to ruminant nutrition across three agro-ecological zones of Burkina Faso. J. Arid Env., 95: 55-64 web icon
9 references found
Datasheet citation 

Heuzé V., Tran G., 2015. African laburnum (Cassia sieberiana). Feedipedia, a programme by INRAE, CIRAD, AFZ and FAO. https://feedipedia.org/node/706 Last updated on May 11, 2015, 14:34

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