Agricultura Scientia 21: No 1: 25-34(2024) 
https://doi.org/10.18690/agricsci.21.1.3 
 
*Correspondence to: 
E-mail: animalexp@yahoo.co.uk 25 
 
 
Supplemental Role of Fodder Tree Legumes in Dwarf 
Sheep and Goats Feeding Systems – A Review 
 
Oladapo Ayokunle FASAE
1
*, Felicia Temitope ADELUSI
2
 
1
Department of Animal Production and Health, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria 
2
Department of Agricultural Extension and Management, Federal College of Forestry, Ibadan, Nigeria 
 
 
 
ABSTRACT 
 
The potential of fodder tree legumes (FTL) as a promising and nutritional strategy to minimize the problem of insufficient supply 
of forages, especially during the dry season, in West African dwarf sheep and goats’ production systems was reviewed. For more 
sustainable agricultural systems, including expanding the use of locally produced available feedstuffs, FTL species with a focus on 
Leucaena leucocephala, Gliricidia sepium, and Enterolobium cyclocarpum represent an interesting strategy to provide dietary 
nitrogen and improve feed digestibility, weight gain, and nitrogen retention, thus enhancing dwarf sheep and goats’ productivity. 
They also contain concentrations of biologically active compounds with nutraceutical value that assist in slowing down the 
infections with parasitic nematodes of the gastrointestinal tract and mitigating enteric methane emissions from these animals. 
The dietary crude protein and tannin content ranged from 16.20 to 26.79% and 0.95 to 2.92%, respectively across the FTL species. 
Mean weight gain (g/day) of 43.23 to 48.59 and 32.46 to 40.87, respectively were reviewed for dwarf sheep and goats fed FTL 
supplementary diets. Haematological and serum biochemical variables monitored were within the permissible range for healthy 
animals and showed the adequacy of nutrient supply from FTL species with nutrient utilization to improve productivity. The review 
concluded that the combination of excellent nutritive value reported for FTL provides important opportunities for sustainable 
dwarf sheep and goat feeding systems.  
Keywords: sheep, goats, performance, tree legumes, tannins, anthelminthic, methane mitigation 
 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
The dwarf breeds of sheep and goats are widely distributed 
throughout the humid savannah zones of Nigeria where 
they have been part of rural livelihoods for eras, playing a 
significant role in the food chain and being instrumental in 
poverty reduction in resource-poor communities (Lebbie, 
2004; Fasae et al., 2012; Adebayo et al., 2022). These animals 
with an average weight of 20-30kg and 25-40kg for goats and 
sheep, respectively have immense contributions to rural 
livelihoods within the West African subregion (NRC, 1991; 
Odeyinka, 2001; Odusanya et al., 2017). Despite the valuable 
contributions of these animals to farmers’ livelihoods, 
inadequate nutrition through prolonged dry season 
droughts and infections with gastrointestinal parasites pose 
a threat and represent a major constraint to their 
sustainable production (Lamidi and Ologbose, 2014). During 
this dry period, the natural pasture does not only have low 
 
 
dry matter yield but is also poor in quality with low crude 
protein content. Hence, the nutrient bioavailability to 
livestock production from such feed resources is very poor to 
fulfill the energy requirement to maintain their body 
weight, resulting in low digestibility, severe drop in body 
condition, and poor productivity of the animals (Odusanya 
et al., 2017).  
This has however necessitated the exploration of 
drought resistance fodder tree legumes (FTL) which are of 
good quality to meet the nutritional requirements of these 
animals for year-round feeding, so as to attain their genetic 
potential. FTL are important evergreen strategic feed 
resources in ruminant production systems and serve as a 
potential source of readily available high-quality fodder with 
relatively low feeding costs, to many smallholders. They have 
remained to complement the dry season feed supply, as they 
possess the potential for vigorous growth, re-growth, and 
palatability, serving as an integral part of farming systems 
that have significant promise for ruminant production in 
 

Supplemental Role of Fodder Tree Legumes in Dwarf Sheep and Goats Feeding Systems – A Review 
26 
 
the tropics (Kebede et al., 2016; Getachew et al., 2022). FTL has 
been widely used as a source of supplemental nitrogen for 
ruminants. The leaves have high crude protein, minerals, 
and degradability when used as a supplement to low-quality 
roughages. (Abdulrazak et al., 1997; Reynolds and Atta-Krah, 
2006; Fasae and Bello, 2023).  
The presence of tannins in FTL leaves which account for 
up to 20% of the dry matter (Harvey et al., 2019) have likewise 
demonstrated noteworthy benefits for ruminants when 
consumed moderately. Tannins have been found to serve as 
a bioactive substance that significantly improves productive 
performance, serving as a practical and realistic alternative 
to non-drug gastro-intestinal parasite control strategies as 
well as supporting the manipulation of rumen fermentation 
to induce methane mitigation in ruminant production 
systems (Jerónimo et al., 2016; Jafari et al., 2019; Besharati et 
al., 2022).  
This paper reviews the supplemental role of Leucaena 
leucocephala, Gliricidia sepium, and Enterolobium 
cyclocarpum fodder tree legumes, based on their availability, 
high nutritive value, and inclusion in diets as one of the 
many ways of improving the utilization of poor-quality 
roughages in dwarf sheep and goat feeding systems. 
 
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF FODDER 
TREE LEGUMES 
 
Wide variation was observed in the crude protein (CP) 
contents of the leaves of FTL species (Table 1). Values 
obtained were within 16.20 to 25.76% which were above the 
threshold level of 7% CP required by the microbes in the 
rumen to support the metabolic functions of their host 
(NRC, 2000). The high dietary protein content of FTL species 
demonstrates their ability to correct nitrogen deficiency in 
augmenting the quality of local forages for sheep and goat 
production. Thus, assists in maintaining seasonal and yearly 
feed stability and also ensures sustainable rural livelihoods, 
when compared to ruminant systems based on grass or 
cereals, especially during dry periods. The dietary NDF 
contents across the FTL species were within the permissible 
limit guaranteed as optimal intake of tropical feeds by 
ruminant animals (Van Soest, 1994). These levels have been 
attributable to the better influence of dry matter intake and 
time of rumination by these animals. Nutritional models 
have predicted dietary NDF to be an important driver of 
rumen digesta load and therefore feed intake (Ellis et al., 
1999). NDF lower than 30% can result in possible rumen 
health issues such as acidosis, while values higher than 60% 
are negatively correlated with lower consumption, which 
means the animal fills up faster. 
The detection of trace amounts of tannins, a group of 
“secondary” plant metabolites described to account for up to 
20% of the dry matter in forage legumes have been observed 
 
to form complexes with protein, carbohydrate, alkaloids, 
vitamins, and minerals. Mean moderate values obtained for 
tannins in FTL forages fed to dwarf sheep and goats were 
within the bearable range which was attributed mostly to 
the effect of air and sun-drying of the leaves. This supports 
the assertions in many reports that air and sun-drying 
reduce or inhibit tannin concentration in forages (Stewart 
and Mould, 2000; Mohamed et al., 2015). Moderate dietary 
tannin concentrations (<3 % dry matter-DM) in ruminant 
diets have been confirmed to be bloat-free with more rumen 
undegradable protein, and a beneficial role as antioxidants 
that can supply satisfactory dietary protein for post-ruminal 
digestion and absorption in the small intestine to 
significantly enhance ruminant productive performance 
(Lowry et al., 1996; Serra et al., 2021).  
 
Table 1: Chemical composition range of some fodder tree 
legumes fed to dwarf sheep and goats 
Nutrients Leucaena Enterolobium Gliricidia 
Dry matter (%) 
92.93 ‒
94.56
 
88.82 ‒ 
93.77
 
89.54 ‒
95.32
 
Crude protein 
(%) 
19.60 ‒
26.79
 
16.20 ‒ 
23.42
 
18.52 ‒
24.73
 
Ether extract 
(%) 
2.04 ‒ 
6.57 
4.03 ‒ 
10.34 
2.77 ‒ 
7.02 
Neutral detergent 
fibre (%) 
44.67 ‒
58.70
 
40.42 ‒ 
59.00
 
45.89 ‒
52.65
 
Acid detergent 
fibre (%) 
33.55 ‒
41.20
 
28.45 ‒ 
38.25
 
29.95 ‒
35.78
 
Acid detergent 
lignin (%) 
10.95 ‒
14.67
 
13.78 ‒ 
14.92
 
9.75 ‒ 
13.50
 
Tannin (%) 
1.45 ‒ 
2.52 
1.24 ‒ 
2.11 
0.95 ‒ 
1.94 
Gross energy 
(MJ/kg dry matter) 
18.01 ‒
23.60 
19.21 ‒ 
23.07 
19.23 ‒
22.72 
Data summarized from: Devendra, 1982; Odeyinka et al., 2001; 
Oduguwa et al., 2008; Fadiyimu et al., 2012; Fasae and Omosun, 2013; 
Ekanem et al., 2023. 
 
FEED INTAKE OF FODDER TREE LEGUMES 
IN DWARF SHEEP AND GOATS  
 
The feed intake (% DM) of FTL by dwarf sheep and goats was 
considerably high with both species of animals consuming 
an average of 3 to 4 % of their body weight (Figure 1). The 
high crude protein (CP) content observed in FTL species has 
been an important factor that enables high feed 
consumption by these animals. These reportedly promote a 
favorable rumen environment ensuing enhanced 
fermentation of low-quality forages, thus increasing 
microbial protein synthesis, rate, and extent of digestion 
which prompted an increase in DM intakes (Bonsi et al., 1994; 
Abdulrazak et al., 1996; Jabbar et al.,1997; Fasae et al., 2011; Kang 
et al., 2015). 
 

Supplemental Role of Fodder Tree Legumes in Dwarf Sheep and Goats Feeding Systems – A Review 
 
 27 
 
 
 
Data summarized from: Smith et al., 1995; Odeyinka, 2001; Fasae et 
al., 2010; Oduguwa et al., 2013; Ekanem et al., 2022. 
 
Figure 1: Mean dry matter feed intake (g/day) of 
supplementary fodder tree legume diets by Dwarf sheep and 
goats 
 
Feeding FTL levels of less than 30% as supplemental diets 
to dwarf sheep and goats significantly improved dry matter 
intake and performance (Smith et al., 1995; Fasae et al., 2011; 
Ekanem et al., 2022). Low to moderate dietary tannin 
concentrations have been found to possess minimal bitter 
and astringent taste, thus increasing palatability, preference, 
and eventually voluntary feed intake in ruminants (Fasae 
and Omosun, 2013; Tseu et al., 2020). However, low DM intake 
observed in some FTL forages like Gliricidia, supports few 
studies that recognized its feeding value to an odour adduced 
to the volatile compounds released from its leaves surface 
which has been implicated in this initial reluctance of 
animals to eat Gliricidia (Odeyinka et al., 2001; Fasae et al., 
2010). Besides, wilting and a short period of adaptation have 
been found to overcome these palatability problems 
associated with Gliricidia forage, with no long-term 
detrimental effects on the animals, once adapted.  
 
NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY, NITROGEN 
UTILIZATION AND METHANE PRODUCTION 
BY DWARF SHEEP AND GOATS FED FODDER 
TREE LEGUMES SUPPLEMENTARY DIETS  
 
The mean values for nutrient digestibility (%), nitrogen 
retention, and methane production of FTL diets fed to Dwarf 
sheep and goats are presented in Table 2. The dry matter 
and crude protein digestibility values were reasonably high 
across animal species reportedly attributed to the high 
dietary protein content in FTL plants (Ikyume et al., 2018; 
Garba Bala and Rabiu Hassan, 2023). This assertion 
corroborates other studies that have shown the influence of 
increasing dietary protein levels from forage legumes to have 
improved the apparent nutrient digestibility of low-quality 
forages. Different outputs from research demonstrated a 
linear increase in CP digestibility with increasing levels of 
FTL leaf meal supplementation and established their 
advantages in the process of digestibility improvements 
(Tolera and Sundstøl, 2000; McDonald et al., 2002). 
 
Table 2: Mean nutrient digestibility, nitrogen retention, and 
methane production of fodder tree legumes supplementary 
diets fed to Dwarf sheep and goats 
Nutrients Sheep Goats 
Dry matter digestibility (%) 74.92 73.40 
Crude protein digestibility (%) 77.48 75.68 
Neutral detergent fibre 
digestibility (%) 
62.69 64.32 
Nitrogen retention (%) 71.81 69.68 
Methane (g CH4 kg/DMI) 20.12 19.72 
Data summarized from: Osakwe and Steingass, 2006; Fasae et al., 
2010; Oyedele et al., 2016; Ikyume et al., 2018. 
 
Moreover, the influence of moderate concentrations of 
dietary tannins was described to improve the digestive 
utilization of feed mainly due to a reduction in protein 
degradation in the rumen and a subsequent increase in 
amino acid flow to the small intestine (Frutos et al., 2004; 
Wen et al., 2020; Besharati et al., 2022), with effects reflected 
in animal performance. Cabral Filho et al. (2013) investigated 
three levels of tannin in the diet of sheep and reported a 
different DM digestibility between high- and low-tannin 
plants. The low tannin content diet had a higher CP 
digestibility, and there were no significant differences 
between the medium tannin content and high tannin 
content diets.  
The positive nitrogen retention values demonstrated 
that the FTL-supplemented diets were well utilized and 
efficiently used as fermentable nitrogen sources for 
microbial growth in the rumen. Nitrogen balance has been 
described as a good indicator of the protein value of a diet 
when the amino acid supply is balanced with the energy 
supply (Babayemi and Bamikole, 2006). McSweeney et al. 
(2001) reviewed the effects of decreasing dietary tannin to 
have increased nitrogen digestibility and excretory nitrogen 
in sheep faeces.  
Feeding FTL as supplementary diets to dwarf sheep and 
goats shows its capability in methane mitigation. The 
quantity and rate of fermentability of tannin contained FTL 
diets were reported to affect ruminal pH, volatile fatty acids 
production, incorporation and stimulation of the ruminal 
ammonia nitrogen into microbial protein for adequate 
utilization in the rumen of sheep and goats (Osakwe and 
Steingass, 2006; Olafadehan et al., 2016). Tannins have ample 
biological activity in ruminal fermentation processes as they 
somehow affect the growth rate of the rumen microbial 
population to irritate changes that induce mitigation of 
enteric methane emissions in ruminants. They support the 
manipulation of rumen fermentation and induce a 
reduction in methane synthesis in the rumen (Jafari et al., 
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
Leucaena Gliricidia Enterolobium
Feed ntake (g/day)
Fodder tree legumes
Sheep
Goat

Supplemental Role of Fodder Tree Legumes in Dwarf Sheep and Goats Feeding Systems – A Review 
28 
 
2019), directly or indirectly by either impeding methanogens 
or protozoal population and nitrogen-producing microbes. 
with several possible hypotheses to describe the 
mechanisms of action of tannins on enteric methane 
mitigation (Newbold et al., 1997; Jayanegara et al., 2015; 
Naumann et al., 2017; Adejoro, 2019). Tenzin Tseten (2022) 
acknowledged that feed manipulation remains the most 
cost-effective approach, attaining a substantial 60% 
reduction in methane by meticulously opting for the type or 
quality of forage and optimizing the concentrate-to-forage 
ratio in feed. A review by Eckard et al. (2010) noted a 13‒16% 
methane reduction per kg DM intake with tannin-
containing forages across a number of studies. Reduced 
methane emissions from ruminants fed on legume-based 
forage diets tend to have less negative environmental 
impact on biodiversity, nitrogen losses to water, as well as 
greenhouse gas emissions (Phelan et al., 2015). Economically, 
apart from its environmental benefits, FTL used as feed 
supplements has the primary advantage of improving 
farmers' income by reducing protein costs and improving 
the efficiency of productive ruminants.  
 
FODDER TREE LEGUMES' SUPPLEMENTARY 
EFFECT ON WEIGHT GAIN OF DWARF 
SHEEP AND GOATS 
 
The trend in weight change of dwarf sheep and goats fed 
supplementary diets of FTL is depicted in Figure 2. The 
responses of these animals to the high dietary CP levels from 
FTL could have initiated the trend for greater weight gain 
which is consistent with several studies that have proved the 
advantageous effects of FTL in improving weight gain in 
various breeds of sheep and goats (Srivastavam and Sharma, 
1998; Helal et al., 2018, Dana et al., 2000). FTL are rapidly 
degradable, initiating higher fractional outflow rates of 
particulate matter from the rumen, so assisting in meeting 
the requirements of rumen microorganisms for efficient 
degradation of low-quality roughages (Adu et al., 1990). These 
further boosts the production of protein by ruminal 
microbes and the efficiency of microbial nitrogen 
production, providing a productive balanced diet that 
improves animal weight gain (Mupangwa et al., 2000). 
Moreso, better weight gains of dwarf sheep and goats were 
 
also attributed to their beneficial responses to moderate 
dietary tannin in enhancing their performance by 
augmenting urea recycling and activating microbial 
efficiency. This further protects plant protein from excessive 
degradation in the rumen (Norton and Poppi, 1995; Hidosa, 
2016) by providing the host animal with a significant source 
of additional protein for absorption and utilization with an 
improvement in weight gain. 
 
 
 
Data summarized from: Smith et al., 1995; Odeyinka, 2001; Fasae et 
al., 2011; Oduguwa et al., 2013; Ikyume, 2018. LLF – Leucaena 
leucocephala, GSF – Gliricidia sepium, ECF – Enterolobium 
cyclocarpum 
 
Figure 2: Mean weight gain (g/day) of Dwarf sheep and goats 
fed supplementary fodder tree legumes 
 
HAEMATOLOGICAL AND SERUM 
BIOCHEMICAL OF DWARF SHEEP AND 
GOATS FED FODDER TREE LEGUME 
SUPPLEMENTED DIETS 
 
Haematological and biochemical parameters of Dwarf sheep 
and goats fed FTL-supplemented diets (Figure 3) showed 
values within the permissible range for healthy animals 
(Daramola et al., 2005; Carlos et al., 2015), which point to the 
non-adverse effects of these diets on the animals. These 
blood variables have often been suggested when evaluating 
the effects of a diet on animal performance in the short to 
medium term (Pambu-Gollah et al., 2000). They signify an 
integrated index of the adequacy of nutrient supply and give 
an immediate indication of the nutritional status of an 
animal at that point in time. They are also used to monitor 
the health and immunity status as well as an index of 
transportation stress in ruminants (Ambore, 2009; 
Mohammed et al., 2016).  
In the reviewed studies, the experimental animals did 
not show any major clinical signs of ill health or toxicity 
credited to the moderate inclusion levels of FTL as 
supplementary diets. The PCV values show no dehydration 
or anemia deficiency in the animals, while the red blood cell 
and hemoglobin indices indicated the absence of 
haemolytic anaemia and the oxygen-carrying capacity of 
the blood, respectively (Daramola et al., 2005). The glucose 
concentrations suggest that the FTL supplementary diets 
were sufficient to maintain blood glucose homeostasis in the 
animals. Mean normal WBC counts showed that the 
concentration of FTL in the diets was below the level that 
could cause adverse effects. Though, indigenous goats possess 
a protective system that provides a rapid potent defense 
against infectious agents (Belewu and Ojo-Alokomaro, 2007). 
 
0
20
40
60
LLF GSF ECF
Weight gain (g/day)
Fodder tree legumes
Sheep
Goats

Supplemental Role of Fodder Tree Legumes in Dwarf Sheep and Goats Feeding Systems – A Review 
 
 29 
 
 
 
 
Data summarized from: Ukanwoko and Ironkwe, 2012; Mohammed et al., 2016; Odusanya et al., 2017. 
 
Figure 3: Mean haematological and serum biochemical parameters of dwarf sheep and goats fed fodder tree legume supplemented 
diets 
 
FORAGE TREE LEGUMES AND THEIR 
ANTHELMINTHIC EFFECTS ON DWARF 
SHEEP AND GOATS 
 
The mechanisms involved in gastrointestinal parasites’ 
response to the diets containing FTL fed to dwarf sheep and 
goats demonstrate the potential of the tannin-rich FTL as a 
bioactive substance that has been proven to play an 
important role in animal health, especially as an 
anthelminthic in reducing the level of gastrointestinal 
nematodes in animals (Fasae and Omosun, 2013). For 
decades, plants containing bioactive compounds have been 
employed in worm control, which is still in practice today. 
Some in vivo and in vitro studies have made known that 
bioactive plants containing diverse types of secondary 
metabolites, such as condensed tannins are a capable option 
for nematode control in livestock production systems 
(Garcia-Bustos, 2019; Rodríguez-Hernández, 2023). 
The reduction in faecal egg count across studies 
confirms the efficacy of tannins in FTL to improve animals’ 
ability to control the biology of parasite worm populations, 
as well as their ability to tolerate the detrimental 
pathophysiological effects of nematode infections (Hoste et 
al., 2005). The positive effect of tannins on animal resilience 
has similarly been underlined in different animal species. 
The consumption of certain tannin-contained plants has 
host-mediated effects that influence animal biology and 
improve the immune response to decrease larval migration 
and development, thereby directly reducing abomasal and 
intestinal infections (Athanasiadou et al., 2000; Valderrábano 
et al., 2010). Van Houtert et al. (1995) equally observed that the 
 
increase in protein availability to the host through protein 
supplementation via forage during the course of a parasitic 
infestation could lead to a reduction in the number of 
nematodes in sheep due to the improvement of their 
immunity to parasites. 
Parasitism imposes a considerable nutritional 
disadvantage on ruminants, and therefore controlling the 
parasite burden will indirectly assist the nutritional status 
of animals. The potential of FTL having a combined 
beneficial action as regards nutritional and antiparasitic 
could further support the issues of increased societal 
demands to reduce the use of chemical compounds in 
livestock production, thereby enhancing sustainable 
agriculture systems. 
 
CONCLUSION  
 
The review illustrates the valuable role of FTL in Dwarf sheep 
and goat production systems through their unique 
contributions as a high-quality supplementary protein 
source in improving animal productivity in terms of 
promoting weight gain, enhancing feed digestibility, 
anthelminthic as well as in methane mitigation, especially 
during the critical dry season period. The capacity of Dwarf 
sheep and goats to utilize and produce valuable food 
products from low-value feedstuffs will help retain their 
niches and the optimization of the productivity of these 
animals. This would hence improve the economic, 
nutritional, and social status of the resource-poor 
smallholder farmers with the potential to benefit the wider 
society through improved ecosystem services and reduced 
negative environmental impacts.  
 
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
PCV (%) RBC (x 1012/L) Hb (g/L) WBC (x 109/L) TP (g/dl) Globulin
(g/dl)
Albumin
(g/dl)
Glucose
(Mg/dl)
Mean values
Haematological and serum biochemical parameters
Sheep Goats

Supplemental Role of Fodder Tree Legumes in Dwarf Sheep and Goats Feeding Systems – A Review 
30 
 
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Vloga krmnih stročnic kot dopolnilnega krmila pri 
krmljenju pritlikavih ovc in koz – pregled 
 
 
IZVLEČEK 
 
Članek obravnava pregled literature na temo potenciala krmnih stročnic kot obetavne in prehranske strategije za 
zmanjšanje problema nezadostne oskrbe s krmo v proizvodnih sistemih zahodnoafriških pritlikavih ovac in koz, zlasti 
v sušnem obdobju. Za bolj trajnostne kmetijske sisteme, vključno s širjenjem uporabe lokalno pridelane razpoložljive 
krme, predstavljajo krmne stročnice predvsem vrste Leucaena leucocephala, Gliricidia sepium in Enterolobium 
cyclocarpum zanimivo strategijo za zagotavljanje dušika v prehrani in izboljšanje prebavljivosti krme, za povečanje 
telesne mase in zadrževanje dušika, s čimer se poveča produktivnost pritlikavih ovac in koz. Vsebujejo tudi biološko 
aktivne spojine, ki pomagajo pri upočasnitvi okužb s parazitskimi ogorčicami v prebavnem traktu in zmanjšujejo 
emisije črevesnega metana pri teh živalih. Vsebnost surovih beljakovin se je v različnih vrstah krmnih stročnic gibala 
med 16,20 do 26,79 %, vsebnost taninov pa med 0,95 do 2,92 %. Pri pritlikavih ovcah, ki so jih dokrmljevali s krmnimi 
stročnicami, se je glede na objavljene raziskave prirast telesne mase povprečno povečal za 43,23 do 48,59 g/dan, pri 
pritlikavih kozah pa za 32,46 do 40,87 g/dan. Analizirane hematološke in serumske biokemične spremenljivke so bile 
v dovoljenem območju za zdrave živali in so pokazale ustrezno oskrbo s hranili iz različnih vrst krmnih stročnic in 
izboljšanje produktivnosti živali. Na osnovi pregledane literature lahko zaključimo, da imajo krmne stročnice odlično 
hranilno vrednost ter predstavljajo pomemben prehranski potencial za trajnostne sisteme krmljenja pritlikavih ovc 
in koz. 
 
Ključne besede: ovce, koze, uspešnost, drevesne metuljnice, tanini, anthelmintik, blažitev izpustov metana