Madre De Agua or Trichanthera Plant

Trichanthera is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the acanthus family containing the single species Trichanthera gigantea, which is known by many common names, including madre de agua, suiban, cenicero, tuno, naranjillo, and palo de agua. It is native to Central America and northern South America. It has also been introduced to other tropical regions such as Vietnam, Cambodia, and the Philippines.

This plant is a shrub or tree growing up to 5 meters tall, though a 15-meter specimen was reported once. It often produces aerial roots. The oval or oblong leaves are up to 26 centimeters long by 14 wide and are borne on short petioles. The flower is maroon with a yellow throat. It is bell-shaped and the throat measures up to 2.5 centimeters long. The plant blooms in the afternoon and the flowers fall away during the night. The flowers are pollinated by bats. The bat Glossophaga soricina has been seen at the flowers of this species.

This plant has many uses for humans. It is cultivated as an animal fodder and fed to ducks, pigs, and rabbits. It has veterinary uses in Colombia, where it has been used to treat horse colic and retained placenta in cows. It has uses in human medicine, including as a supplement to increase lactation in nursing mothers. It is used as a living fence and a shade tree.

'Madre de Agua' or Trichantera Gigantea as Feed Supplement

Trichantera gigantea, a fodder tree, also known as Nacedero or Madre de Agua. It was introduced into the country some years ago from Latin America (Columbia and Venezuela) and adapts well in local tropical conditions. It can be planted to a wide range of soil types and elevations up to 1800 meters above sea level. It can be planted at low density at 6,700 cuttings per hectare. It grows well easily between plantation crops and produces 40-60 tons per hectare.

WHAT IS THE NUTRIENT CONTENT OF TRICHANTERA GIGANTEA?

The leaves of trichantera is a potential source of protein, varying from 18-22 in dry matter form and apparently most of this protein are true protein and has a good amino acid balance (Rosales, et.al, 1989). It has 2.8% Crude Fat, 13.4% Crude Fiber,19.7% Ash, and 37.0% NFE.

HOW IS TRICHANTERA GIGANTEAN PROPAGATED?

Propagation may be done through cuttings. The cuttings measuring 6-8 inches with 2 nodes are ideal as planting materials. Cuttings can be grown in a plastic bag ( 10 inches x 6 inches) and allowed to grow in three (3) months before it can be transplanted to the field. However, it can be directly planted to the prepared field.

HOW IS IT FED TO PIGS?

Young leaves can be offered to the pigs in fresh form. It can also be processed into leaf meal and use of ingredients in mash.

HOW MUCH CAN BE FED TO PIGS AS PARTIAL REPLACEMENT FOR COMMERCIAL FEEDS?

Trichantera leaves can replace about 20-30% of the commercial diet of growing-finishing pigs. Six (6) kilograms of fresh leaves consumed by pigs per day is equivalent to 1 kg of mixed feeds saved.

CAN IT BE GIVEN TO OTHER ANIMALS ASIDE FROM PIGS?

Yes. It can be mixed to poultry diets (ducks, hens, quails, rabbits, and even to large (cattle and carabaos) and small ruminants (sheep and goats) feeds.

WHAT ARE THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS WHICH CAN BE OBTAINED FROM SUBSTITUTING TRICHANTERA LEAVES TO COMMERCIAL RATION?

Partial replacement of mixed feeds with Trichantera gigantea give almost the same results in terms of weight gain, meat quality and income with those pigs given sole mixed feeds.

De-Wormers Plants for Chicken

Medicinal plants aren’t limited to human use. Medicinal plants can benefit your chickens too. The following three plants are natural de-wormers for your free-ranging chickens:

Garlic can be a preventive for worms and is considered an organic de-wormer for chickens.

Garlic, allium sativium, is a perennial that grows from bulbs. Place crushed garlic pieces in your chickens' waterer for a weeks time. Also acts as insect repellent.

Don't feed garlic directly to your hens, because their eggs will take on a garlic flavor. Remember to put a few cloves of crushed garlic in their water for worming, using moderation. 

Nasturtium is a very common old-fashioned garden plant that has many redeeming qualities.

Nasturtium, nasturtium majus, comes in both annuals and perrenials. Zones vary by species. 

Bright, sunny, slightly spicy edible flowers are perfect to add to salads and for chickens to eat, This is a great herb for chickens, combining antiseptic, antibiotic, and insect repellent qualities. Its seeds also have a natural de-worming attribute for chickens. 

Nettle often gets a bad rap because of its stinging properties when handled, but is a great dynamic accumulator, a natural chicken laying stimulant, and a good preventive for worms

Nettle, urtica species, can be harvested and dried, boiled in water and steeped like a tea. Let mixture cool entirely and add to your chickens' laying mass. 

Pumpkins and other squash/melons - There are varying opinions on this subject and not much study has been done, but raw ground pumpkin seeds are thought to be a natural de-wormer, not only for chickens and ducks but for sheep and goats as well. Twice a year, spring and fall, it is suggested that you feed your girls ground raw pumpkin seeds free-choice for a week.

The pumpkin seeds (as well as the seeds of other members of the cucurbitaceae family such as winter, summer, zucchini and crookneck squash, gourds, cucumbers, cantaloupe and watermelon) are coated with a substance called cucurbitacin that paralyzes the worms.  The larger fruits and vegetables contain higher levels of cucurbitacin, while the smaller cucumber contains far less. 

Since pumpkins are plentiful and inexpensive in the fall, that is what I use for my fall worming. You can merely cut a fresh pumpkin in half and feed it to your chickens, but I take it one step further and make them a Pumpkin Soup. I add some yogurt and molasses to cause a bit of diarrhea and help flush the paralyzed worms out of the chickens' systems.  Dandelion greens also serve as a natural diuretic and are included in most natural livestock de-wormer 'recipes', plus the chickens and ducks love them!