Livestock Feeds

Feed Classification

All Feeds

Roughage

Concentrate Feed

Unconventional Feed

Dhaincha

Common names: Dhaincha, Sesban, Egyptian rattle pod, Egyptian river hemp, jayanti, puri, kelor wana, Umunyegenyege, katodai

Scientific Name: Sesbania aculeata

Feed categories: Legume forages, legume seeds and by-products, forage plants

Physical Characteristics:

The shallow root system of the plant allows for stem growth of up to 12 cm in diameter. Its leaves exhibit pinnate complexity, featuring 6–27 pairs of elongated linear leaflets measuring 26 mm in length and 5 mm in width. The inflorescences, which are 30 cm long racemes, bear 2 to 20 golden blooms embellished with purple or brown streaks. The fruits develop within linear or slightly curved pods reaching lengths of up to 30 cm, each containing 10-50 seeds (Ecoport, 2010; Ecocrop, 2010; Heering et al., 1992).

Production / Availability:

Dhaincha is a perennial leguminous tree that exhibits rapid growth, reaching heights of up to 8 meters. It is widely grown and distributed in tropical areas that are classified as semi-arid or sub-humid. It grows in the highlands around streams and marshes, from sea level to 2300 meters above sea level (Ecocrop, 2010; Göhl, 1982). The optimal growth conditions for Dhaincha include an annual rainfall range of 500-2000 mm, an average annual temperature between 17°C and 20°C. It can grow in a wide range of soils, from loose sandy soils to deep clays.

Dhaincha plant can adapt to saline, alkaline, acidic soil except waterlogging. (FAO, 2010). Its lush green foliage is rich in crude protein and low in fiber, making it suitable for high-quality livestock fodder. In Bangladesh, Sesbania aculeata and Sesbania rostrata, both species of Sesbania, are commonly cultivated during the rainy season for purposes such as green manure, fuel, and animal feed. The foliage from Sesbania species presents significant potential as a high-protein supplement for ruminant animals in tropical regions, possibly reducing the need for concentrates in dietary supplements (Khan et al, 1990).

The seeds of Dhaincha can be sown in the Bengali month of Chaitra (English month of March) in a seedbed at a rate of 40–45 kg/ha. Before sowing the Dhaincha seed, the land should be properly prepared by plowing and harrowing. By soaking the seeds overnight and rubbing them on a rough surface prior to field sowing, the rate of germination can be increased. The seeds should be sown about 1-2 cm deep, spaced 30-45 cm apart. Regular irrigation and weeding at the early stage of growth will be beneficial for Dhaincha plants. As a legume, Dhaincha fixes nitrogen from the air, reducing the need for additional fertilization. However, applying a balanced fertilizer can help boost growth if the soil is deficient in essential nutrients.

Dhaincha has the potential to generate a maximum of 20 tons of dry matter per hectare per year under favorable circumstances. Globally, the average yield ranges from 4 to 12 tons of dry matter per hectare per year, typically involving 3 to 5 harvests annually (Heering et al., 1992). Sesbania can be harvested in cut-and-carry systems once it reaches a height of 1-2 meters, usually with a cutting frequency of 5 times per year. It is recommended to cut the plant at a height of 75-100 centimeters, ensuring enough leaves are left for regrowth.

Sesbania is a nitrogen-fixing shrub that can contribute to soil improvement. It produces green manure, and its leaves are valuable for composting (Cook et al., 2005). The utilization of Sesbania in alley cropping systems is advantageous as its nodules supply neighboring crops with nitrogen, thereby enhancing their productivity. Sesbania can be intercropped with various crops such as maize, beans, cotton, para grass, signal grass, and siratro (Cook et al., 2005).

Nutrient composition

Main analysis	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max.	Nb
Dry matter	% as fed	87.06	0.54	86.18	87.86	7
Crude protein	% DM	21.36	3.79	16.08	26.5	9
Crude fibre	% DM	16.16	3.81	12.9	22.82	9
NDF	% DM	43.43	10.80	31.3	52	3
ADF	% DM	28.62	12.50	20.4	43.01	3
Lignin	% DM	4.5	1.8	2.4	8.4	16*
Ether extract	% DM	4.28	1.08	2.13	5.24	7
Ash	% DM	8.89	1.37	8.43	9.42	9
Gross Energy	MJ/kg DM	18.3	0.5	18.3	19.9	3*
ME (Metabolizable energy)	MJ/kg DM	9.19	-	-	-	1
Calcium	g/kg DM	11.7	-	-	-	1
Phosphorus	g/kg DM	2.08	-	-	-	1

*indicates that the value was cited from Feedipedia; `NDF= Neutral Detergent Fiber: ADF= Acid Detergent Fiber.

Nutritional aspects Dhaincha

Dhaincha foliage serves as a protein-rich feed option, with its crude protein content typically exceeding 22% of dry matter and potentially surpassing 30% of dry matter. Sesbania foliage, comprising stems and leaves, generally exhibits a moderate to low cell wall content (NDF less than 30% of dry matter) in most instances. While Sesbania is considered one of the legume forages with the least tannins, certain accessions have demonstrated higher tannin levels (Kaitho et al., 1998). Notably, Sesbania leaves contain significant amounts of saponins, exceeding 10% of dry matter, which could inhibit methane production in the rumen but might also have adverse effects on animal health or growth (Goel et al., 2008; Mekoya et al., 2009).

Sesbania species generally exhibit higher dry matter digestibility compared to many other tree and shrub legumes (Gutteridge et al. 1994). The foliage of Sesbania sesban degrades rapidly and extensively in the rumen (Kaitho et al., 1998). In vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) is estimated to be approximately 75% (Gutteridge et al., 1994). For goats, in vivo dry matter digestibility ranges from 66 to 71% (Gutteridge et al., 1994). Numerous studies have shown that Sesbania foliage enhances the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein in ruminants when included in their diet (Nguyen Thi Hong Nhan et al., 2009). Additionally, Sesbania foliage improves nitrogen retention in cattle, sheep, and goats, often outperforming other forage legumes in terms of nitrogen retention (Wambui et al., 2006). It can also serve as a supplementary protein source in cattle fed tropical roughages, constituting up to 25% of their diet (Tessema et al., 2004). Feeding Dhaincha foliage at a rate of 1.5-3.0 kg/day along with 500 g/day of rice polish to native cattle has been observed to boost milk production by up to 28% (Akbar, 2001).

References

Akbar M. A. 2001. Cultivation of African Dhaincha and fodder Khesari as animal feed in rice filed. Leaflet published by assets.publishing.service.gov.uk.

Cook, B. G.; Pengelly, B. C.; Brown, S. D.; Donnelly, J. L.; Eagles, D. A.; Franco, M. A. ; Hanson, J.; Mullen, B. F.; Partridge, I. J.; Peters, M.; Schultze-Kraft, R., 2005. Tropical forages. CSIRO, DPI&F(Qld), CIAT and ILRI, Brisbane, Australia

Ecocrop, 2010. Ecocrop database. FAO

Ecoport, 2010. Ecoport database. Ecoport

FAO, 2010. Grassland Index. A searchable catalogue of grass and forage legumes. FAO, Rome, Italy

Goel, G.; Makkar, H. P. S.; Becker, K., 2008. Effects of Sesbania sesban and Carduus pycnocephalus leaves and fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) seeds and their extracts on partitioning of nutrients from roughage- and concentrate-based feeds to methane. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol., 147 (1-3): 72-89

Göhl, B., 1982. Les aliments du bétail sous les tropiques. FAO, Division de Production et Santé Animale, Roma, Italy

Heering, J. H.; Gutteridge, R. C., 1992. Sesbania sesban (L.) Merrill. Record from Proseabase. Mannetje, L.'t and Jones, R.M. (Editors). PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation, Bogor, Indonesia

Hiai, S.; Oura, H.; Nakajima, T., 1976. Color reaction of some saposenins and saponins with vanillin and sulfuric acid. Plant. Med. 29, 116–122

Kaitho, R. J.; Kariuki, J. N., 1998. Effects of Desmodium, Sesbania and Calliandra supplementation on growth of dairy heifers fed Napier grass basal diet. Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci., 11 (6): 680-684

Khan, M., Jabber, M., Akbar, M., & Topps, J. (1990). A Legume browse, sesbania sesban as an alternative protein supplement to fishmeal for lactating cows in bangladesh. Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production, 1990, 153. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0308229600019334

Nguyen Thi Hong Nhan; Ngo Van Man; Preston, T. R., 2009. Biomass yield of Hymenachne acutigluna and Paspalum atratum in association with Sesbania sesban on seasonally waterlogged soils and their use as feeds for cattle in the Mekong delta, Vietnam. Livest. Res. Rural Dev., 21 (8): 121

Tessema, Z.; Baars, R. M. T., 2004. Chemical composition, in vitro dry matter digestibility and ruminal degradation of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum (L.) Schumach.) mixed with different levels of Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol., 117 (1-2): 29-41

Wambui, C. C.; Abdulrazak, S. A.; Noordin, Q., 2006. The effect of supplementing urea treated maize stover with Tithonia, Calliandra and Sesbania to growing goats. Livest. Res. Rural Dev., 18 (5): 64