CBN-V Video Archives - S6-29
Cassava Hay: An Old Crop with Innovative Impacts as Animal Feed

Wanapat M.

Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand metha@kku1.kku.ac.th

        Feed resources are of paramount important, which contributes to successful animal production, especially in the tropics where fresh forage feeds are seasonal. During the dry season, the scarcity of both quantity and quality of roughage has been critically exerting and it is, therefore, important to find an alternative feed sources. Cassava (Manihot esculenta, Crantz), an annual tropical tuber crop, has been experimentally cultivated and used as a whole crop fodder for ruminants especially for dairy cattle. Manipulation of planting and frequent cuttings of the whole crop throughout the year resulted in significant yield improvement and the nutritive value of cassava hay. Higher protein content (25%CP) with lower condensed tannins (40 g/kg DM), are present in the cassava hay, which could act as a rumen by-pass protein (tannin-protein complex) for further lower-gut digestion and absorption. Intercropping cassava with cowpea as a food-feed, enhanced soil fertility, produced edible green pods for human and the residue as feed for dairy cattle. Feeding trials using cassava hay as an on-top supplement and a concentrate mixture resulted in improved milk yield, milk compositions and reduced level of concentrate and feed cost by 20–40% in lactating dairy cows. Cassava hay with condensed tannins reduces internal parasite egg counts in faeces of cattle and buffaloes. Cassava hay is, therefore, recommended to be grown as an on-farm feed and to be used as a source of roughage of high protein for ruminants. There are on-going trials among small-holder dairy farmers using cassava and cowpea intercrop in livestock-cropping system research.

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