{
  "abstract": "In West Africa, legume trees are widely used by agro-pastoralists to enhance livestock productivity, yet their potential to mitigate enteric methane (eCH₄) remains insufficiently documented. This study evaluated the effects of supplementing Panicum maximum hay with leaves of Leucaena leucocephala and Gliricidia sepium leaves on feed intake, apparent digestibility, and eCH₄ emissions in Sudanese Fulani zebu bulls (244 ± 24.3 kg). Animals were housed in individual stalls and received daily rations equivalent to 2.5–3.5% of body weight on a dry matter (DM) basis. The control diet consisted of 100% P. maximum C1 hay diet (P100), while experimental diets included mixtures of P. maximum with leucaena or gliricidia leaves at ratios of 90:10, 80:20, 70:30 and 60:40. Two additional diets combined P. maximum with cottonseed cake, matched for crude protein (CP) content to the 20% legumes-supplemented diets. Each trial lasted 21 days, with 14-day adaptation period and 7-day data collection (feed intake, apparent digestibility, eCH₄ emissions). Tree legume supplementation increased CP content and reduced fibre content in the rations. Compare with the control, dry matter intake rose by 11− 18% with leucaena leaves (p<0.05) and by 4%—8% with gliricidia leaves (p<0.05). Crude protein digestibility (CPd) increased in supplemented diets whereas organic matter, dry matter, neutral detergent fibre, and acid detergent fibre digestibility declined in supplemented diets. eCH₄ yield (g/kg DMi) decreased significantly by 12.3% with 30% leucaena and by 5% with 30% gliricidia inclusion (p<0.05). Supplementation with cottonseed cake also significantly enhanced feed intake (p<0.05) and produced emission reductions comparable to leucaena. These findings demonstrate that incorporating forage trees leaves or cottonseed cake into cattle rations improves ration quality, enhances intake, and reduces eCH₄ emissions. Such practices align with agroforestry initiatives, offering cost-effective protein supplementation while supporting climate-smart livestock production and enhancing local knowledge and practices in West Africa and beyond.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 9,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Bienvenu d'Ela Somda"
    },
    {
      "name": "Denis Bastianelli"
    },
    {
      "name": "Gérard Xavier Gbenou"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ollo Sib"
    },
    {
      "name": "Luc Hippolyte Dossa"
    },
    {
      "name": "Laurent Bonnal"
    },
    {
      "name": "Souleymane Sanogo"
    },
    {
      "name": "Valérie Marie Christiane Bougouma-Yameogo"
    },
    {
      "name": "Mohamed Habibou Assouma"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4qc4ckpz2jm36.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1007/s10457-026-01696-0",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "4qc4ckpz2jm36",
  "issns": [
    "0167-4366",
    "1572-9680"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://hal.science/hal-05851224v1",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "hal",
      "0.sdv"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1102|Ruminant Nutrition and Digestive Physiology"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223017403",
  "pdf_url": "https://hal.science/hal-05851224/document",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-20",
  "publisher": "Springer Verlag",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4qc4ckpz2jm36.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-04T12:20:53Z",
      "native_id": "hal-05851224",
      "source": "hal",
      "url": "https://hal.science/hal-05851224v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "openalex:1102|Ruminant Nutrition and Digestive Physiology",
      "subfield": "plant-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Potential for enteric methane emissions mitigation in zebu cattle through Leucaena leucocephala and Gliricidia sepium leaf supplementation compared with cottonseed cake in West Africa",
  "title_text": "Potential for enteric methane emissions mitigation in zebu cattle through Leucaena leucocephala and Gliricidia sepium leaf supplementation compared with cottonseed cake in West Africa",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-06T12:20:44Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4qc4ckpz2jm36",
  "venue": "Agroforestry Systems",
  "versions": []
}