Bamboo Leaves As Alternative Feed Resource For Livestock And Poultry: A Systematic Review

Abstract

The availability of high-quality feed resources remains a major constraint in livestock and poultry production, limiting productivity across both intensive and smallholder systems. Bamboo (Poaceae) leaves have emerged as a promising alternative due to their year-round availability, compositional variability, and functional bioactive properties. This systematic review evaluates the nutritional composition, phytochemical profile, extraction of bioactive compounds, and the effects of bamboo leaf supplementation on feed intake, growth performance, and health in livestock and poultry, following PRISMA guidelines for studies published between 1990 and 2024. Bamboo leaves exhibit substantial variation in composition, with crude protein ranging from 2.2 to 24.7% and crude fibre from 7.0 to 46.0%. Fibre fractions include neutral detergent fibre (36.9–79.3%), acid detergent fibre (28.6–55.1%), and acid detergent lignin (0.05–15.2%), alongside ether extract (0.9–15.3%) and carbohydrate content (19.7–55.8%), indicating moderate energy contribution. They also provide essential minerals and vi tamins, including vitamin E. In addition to their nutritive value, bamboo leaves are rich in bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, eugenol, cedrol, and phytol, which contribute to their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The recovery of these compounds is influenced by extraction techniques, with Soxhlet extraction using methanol consistently yielding higher phytochemical concentrations. Feeding studies consis tently demonstrate that bamboo leaf supplementation improves feed intake, growth performance, and feed ef ficiency in poultry systems, largely due to enhanced gut function, antioxidant capacity, and metabolic efficiency. In contrast, responses in ruminants are more variable, depending on species, fibre composition, and the presence of anti-nutritional factors, which influence digestibility and overall productivity. In dairy cattle, supplementation has been associated with improved milk yield and quality, particularly under heat stress conditions. However, variability in nutrient composition, anti-nutritional factors, and species-specific responses highlights the need for further research. Standardised analytical approaches and advanced tools such as genomics and metabolomics are required to optimise the utilisation of bamboo as a sustainable and functional feed resource for livestock and poultry.