Management of anti-nutritive factors - with special reference to leucaena.

Abstract

Strategies for managing anti-nutritive factors in tree legumes are discussed and include: avoid using the plant; use supplements to overcome the anti-nutritive factor; reduce access to the problem feed; use cultivars low in anti-nutritive compounds; and use rumen microorganisms to detoxify the compounds. The progress towards successful management of the toxic amino acid mimosine in leucaena in northern Australia is summarized.