Rubber seed cake (Hevea brasiliensis)

Synonyms: Ficus cordata, Ficus decora Common names: Rubber, Para rubber

Rubber tree is a large spreading evergreen tree native to north-east India, the eastern Himalayas, and south-east Asia. The tree can yield milky white latex, which has been used to make rubber. The young rubber leaves are poisonous to most animals, causing profuse sweating, paralysis and ultimately death. The potential availability of rubber-seed cake is 0.15 million tones annually in India (Banerjee, 2000). A  good  quality  rubber  seed cake contains  about 35% CP and 55% TDN.

Deleterious factor

Rubber seed cake contains hydrocyanic acid but its level is too low (0.009% or 9 mg/100g) to produce any toxic  symptoms.  Roasting, toasting and water soaking can be followed for detoxification of rubber seed cake.

Inclusion

Rubber seed cake can be  incorporated  up  to  30 and 25%, respectively, in the concentrate mixture of crossbred calves (daily gain 500 g) and milch cattle (daily yield 7-9 kg), (Punj, 1988).