Species information
Foliage
Manila tamarind can be used for lopping and browsing, to be fed as the sole forage or as a supplement (Göhl, 1982).
In yearling female lambs, the DM intake of dry and fresh leaves ranged from 3.93 to 4.55% body weight with a slightly higher intake and significantly higher digestibility for fresh leaves (Harish et al., 2003). Similar level of intake (4.55 kg DM/100 kg BW) was registered with 6 month-old goats fed young leaves, resulting in an average daily gain of 50 g/day (Kundu et al., 1983).
Several studies have reported beneficial effects of Manila tamarind foliage used as a supplement (Fall Touré et al., 1998; Kahindi et al., 2007; Paengkoum et al., 2010; Saha et al., 2008). In 6 month-old East African goats consuming Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum), an increase in supplementation level (from 7.5 to 22.5 g DM/kgW0.75) resulted in higher crude protein, DM intake and weight gain (from 8 to 43 g/day). However, a supplementation level higher than 22.5 g DM/kgW0.75 depressed intake and caused N losses. From this study, the recommended level for optimal production is in the 40-50% diet DM range (22.5 g DM/kg W0.75) (Kahindi et al., 2007). In another study with cross-bred goats, Manila tamarind foliage replaced 45-50% of the crude protein from soybean meal without affecting productive performance, rumen fermentation and microbial protein yield (Paengkoum et al., 2010).
Pods
Early research suggests that pods are very palatable to livestock (Göhl, 1982).