Madre de Agua: A Nutritious and Sustainable Forage for Livestock and Poultry

If you are looking for a forage plant that can provide high-quality feed for your livestock and poultry, you may want to consider Madre de Agua (Trichantera gigantea), a tropical tree that has many benefits for both animals and the environment.

Madre de Agua Rooted as Planting Material

Madre de Agua is native to Central America and northern South America, but it can grow well in various types of soil and climates, including the Philippines. It can be planted as a live fence, intercropped with other plants, or grown in pots or bags. It can produce 40 to 60 tons of fresh leaves per hectare per year, which can be harvested every three months ¹². 

The leaves of Madre de Agua are rich in protein, fiber, calcium, and amino acids, making them a nutritious and balanced feed for different kinds of animals, such as chickens, goats, pigs, rabbits, cows, and turkeys. The leaves can be fed fresh or processed into leaf meal, silage, or pellets. They can also replace up to 20 to 30 percent of commercial feeds, reducing the feed costs and improving the health and productivity of the animals ¹²³.

                     

Madre de Agua leaves

Madre de Agua is not only beneficial for livestock and poultry, but also for the environment. The tree has a fast regrowth rate and can grow in shaded areas, making it a sustainable and resilient option that helps conserve natural resources. By reducing the dependence on commercial feeds, Madre de Agua can also help mitigate the negative impacts of conventional livestock farming on the environment, such as deforestation and pollution ¹².

 

Madre de Agua is a versatile and valuable forage plant that can enhance the livelihoods of backyard livestock farmers. By planting and using Madre de Agua, you can provide your animals with a protein-rich feed that improves their health and performance. You can also contribute to the preservation and improvement of the environment by using a natural and renewable resource. Madre de Agua is truly a forage plant for the future ¹².