The species is native to Mexico. It belongs to the family Leguminoseae (Fabaceae) it is known in Mexico as huizachillo. In the USA, ground tamarind and mimosa. It is a perennial legume that grows in summer on clay soils that receive 500 to 750 mm of water; it is resistant to neutral pH and grows in large areas of grasslands. It is productive and drought tolerant. It grows in tropics and subtropics, still reasonably cold tolerant and although it is defoliated by frost, this regrowth of crowns once there is enough moisture. Under heavy grazing conditions, all varieties of Desmanthus adopt a habit of rosette-crushed. It is mainly used as feed because of its high protein content and low toxicity to animals that consume it.
Desmanthus virgatus …show more content…
Studies have determined that the plant has a level of protein and digestibility equal to the Leucaena. It has a high protein and its use for low forage species and growth especially in heavy soils is recommended. The dry matter production is about 7.6 ton/ha/cut, in Hawaii can produce up to 23 ton/ha/cut and in Australia up to 70 ton/ha/ year. Hawaii plants are mechanically cut to a height of 5 to 7.5 cm. ground. Cutting intervals 91 days to obtain a dry matter yield of 23 ton/ha/year. The forage yield decreases with the progress of time; for example, after 4 years of implementation the plant mortality is advanced. Leucaena leucocephala exceeds Desmanthus regarding forage yield; however, it has an interesting feature; Desmanthus is not toxic to …show more content…
Seasonal variation of predicted dry mater digestibility (%), digestible energy (Mcal/kg), metabolizable energy (Mcal/kg) and dry matter intake (g/kg BW/day) of the leaves of Desmanthus virgatus collected in northeastern Mexico
Concept Seasons Annual Winter Spring Summer Fall mean Dry matter digestibility 64 65 61 63 64
Digestible energy 3.0 3.1 2.9 3.0 3.0
Metabolizable energy 2.6 2.6 2.5 2.5 2.6
Dry matter intake 83 84 83 83 83
Table. 7.4. Seasonal content of macro (g/kg) and microminerals (mg/kg) of leaves of Desmanthus virgathus collected at northeastern Mexico
Concept Seasons Annual EE Winter Spring Summer Fall mean
Macrominerals
Ca 14 9 16 12 13
K 9 8 6 12 9
Mg 9 9 8 5 7
Na <1
P 1 1 2 1 1
Microminerals
Cu 6 5 6 6 6
Fe 38 37 33 40 37
Mn 57 33 41 53 46
Zn 23 15 16 23
Desmanthus virgatus …show more content…
Studies have determined that the plant has a level of protein and digestibility equal to the Leucaena. It has a high protein and its use for low forage species and growth especially in heavy soils is recommended. The dry matter production is about 7.6 ton/ha/cut, in Hawaii can produce up to 23 ton/ha/cut and in Australia up to 70 ton/ha/ year. Hawaii plants are mechanically cut to a height of 5 to 7.5 cm. ground. Cutting intervals 91 days to obtain a dry matter yield of 23 ton/ha/year. The forage yield decreases with the progress of time; for example, after 4 years of implementation the plant mortality is advanced. Leucaena leucocephala exceeds Desmanthus regarding forage yield; however, it has an interesting feature; Desmanthus is not toxic to …show more content…
Seasonal variation of predicted dry mater digestibility (%), digestible energy (Mcal/kg), metabolizable energy (Mcal/kg) and dry matter intake (g/kg BW/day) of the leaves of Desmanthus virgatus collected in northeastern Mexico
Concept Seasons Annual Winter Spring Summer Fall mean Dry matter digestibility 64 65 61 63 64
Digestible energy 3.0 3.1 2.9 3.0 3.0
Metabolizable energy 2.6 2.6 2.5 2.5 2.6
Dry matter intake 83 84 83 83 83
Table. 7.4. Seasonal content of macro (g/kg) and microminerals (mg/kg) of leaves of Desmanthus virgathus collected at northeastern Mexico
Concept Seasons Annual EE Winter Spring Summer Fall mean
Macrominerals
Ca 14 9 16 12 13
K 9 8 6 12 9
Mg 9 9 8 5 7
Na <1
P 1 1 2 1 1
Microminerals
Cu 6 5 6 6 6
Fe 38 37 33 40 37
Mn 57 33 41 53 46
Zn 23 15 16 23