Growth of Brahman Cross Heifers Grazing Leucaena

In the study on Brahman cross heifers grazing Leucaena, conducted over three trials, it was found that Leucaena was initially unpalatable, but heifers showed increased growth rates after two weeks. However, stocking rates of 2.2 and 3.4/ha were insufficient to control Leucaena growth, and at a higher rate of 4.6/ha, hair loss and goitre were observed. Iodine supplementation did not significantly benefit the heifers due to high variability among animals, and no response was noted on adjacent grass pastures. Additionally, of 14 heifers mated, six were not detectably pregnant after 6-9 months, indicating reduced fertility. Overall, Leucaena was unpalatable, caused health issues, and reduced fertility, with too much variation to assess productivity effectively.