Keynote paper presented at the International Leucaena Conference, 1‒3 November 2018, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

1. Leucaena in Paraguay
Albrecht Glatzle1, Antero Cabrera2, Norman Klassen1
1Iniciativa para la Investigación y Transferencia de Tecnología Agraria Sostenible
(INTTAS), Filadelfia; 2Universidad Nacioinal de Asunción (UNA)
albrecht.glatzle@gmail.com
Although introduced into Paraguay long ago, Leucaena leucocephala had been considered
a weed up to the turn of the millennium due of mimosine toxicity causing loss of hair,
reduced herbage intake, inflated thyroids and body weight loss.
The introduction of the mimosine degrading bacteria Synergistes jonesii by its Australian
discoverer Dr. Raymond Jones represented the turnaround point for acceptance of leucaena.
Bodyweight gain of steers with and without the
ruminal bacteria Synergistes jonesii
Data from two independent trials in 2002 and 2003 (Estancia Río Verde)
kg PV / mes 24,6 22,7 34,3 22,7
-10
0
10
20
30
2 4 6 8
kgLW/month/hd.
Months after entrance into leucaena pasture
without Synergistes with Synergistes
Meanwhile, an
estimated 800 farms
were provided with
the mimosine
degrading bacteria in
the transmitted
rumen fluid.
Leucaena is excellent
forage, even in winter
when grass is dry. It
is usually being sown
in double rows into
Gatton Panic
pasture.
Problems with
rodents, leaf cutting
ants and termites are
the main reason why
the total leucaena
area remained only
at about 10.000 ha.