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Abstract - Four local castrated male pigs of 12.5 to 18.5 kg were used to study the effect of stylosanthes leaves and cassava leaves fed alone or as mixtures on the intake, nutrient digestibility and N balance on a basal diet of broken rice. The broken rice was fed at the rate of 2.5% (DM basis) of live weight. The leaves were fed ad libitum.

Feed DM intake was higher when cassava leaves were fed alone or mixed with stylo as compared with stylo as the only supplement. There were no differences among treatments in digestibility of dry matter and N. There appeared to a curvilinear relationship between daily N retention and the proportion of cassava leaves in the foliage.

It was concluded that fresh cassava leaves can safely be fed to growing pigs and will support better performance than use of stylosanthes foliage when the basal diet is broken rice.

Key words : broken rice, cassava, digestibility, intake, leaves, pigs, stylosanthes

Reference : Bounhong Norachack, Soukanh Keonouchanh, Chhay Ty, Bounthong Bouahom and Preston T R 2004: Stylosanthes and cassava leaves as protein supplements to a basal diet of broken rice for local pigs. Livestock Research for Rural Development. Vol. 16, Art. #74. Retrieved October 9, 104, from http://www.cipav.org.co/lrrd/lrrd16/10/boun16074.htm