Potential of Chloroleucon acacioides trees as an alternative feed supplement for grazing ruminants in a tropical silvopastoral system

Chloroleucon acacioides (Ducke) Barneby & J.W. Grimes is a nitrogen-fixing legume common in several Brazilian states that produces fruit during the dry season when tropical forages tend to have low biomass production and nutritional value. The objective of this work was to evaluate the chemical and morphological characteristics of the C. acacioides tree for its use in silvopastoral systems and the benefits of including its fruits in ruminant diets composed mainly of tropical grasses. Thirty C. acacioides trees were randomly selected, and their dendrometric parameters and fruit production were collected. From the fruits, the contents of dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, lignin, non-structural carbohydrates, and tannins, were analyzed. The in vitro gas production technique was used to evaluate three treatments: CTL: 100% Tifton hay; 20CAC: 20% C. acacioides + 80% Tifton hay; and 100CAC: 100% C. acacioides. The C. acacioides trees had an average height of 6.6 m, a canopy area of 111.8 m2, and an average fruit production of 29.6 kg. The fruits had a high protein and non-structural carbohydrates content. The total tannins content was less than 25 g kg-1 of DM. A greater amount of short-chain fatty acids and microbial biomass was observed for the 20CAC and 100CAC treatments compared to the CTL treatments (P < 0.05). Our findings demonstrate that supplementation with only 20% of C. acacioides fruits in ruminants' diet may improve animal nutrition, being a naturally occurring energy and protein supplement for grazing ruminants during the dry season.