Seasonal variations in the nutritive value of fifteen multipurpose fodder tree species: A case study of north-western Himalayan mid-hills

Abstract

Multipurpose tree species are recognized as an important fodder source for livestock, but their potential remains untapped due to dearth of knowledge about their nutritive value. Therefore, 15 MPTs, i.e., Acacia catechu, Albizia chinensis, Bauhinia variegata, Celtis australis, Ficus roxburghii, Grewia optiva, Leucaena leucocephala, Melia composita, Morus serrata, Olea glandulifera, Ougienia oojeinensis, Pittosporum floribundum, Quercus glauca, Q. leucotrichophora and Salix tetrasperma were evaluated for nutritional characteristics, relative nutritive value index (RNVI), palatability index and farmers’ preference on a seasonal basis in north-western Himalayas mid-hills. Most of the nutritive and mineral content decreased as leaves matured with the exception of ether extract, calcium, copper, organic matter and carbohydrate content, while cell-wall constituents and anti-nutritional contents increased. Overall, M. serrata had the highest RNVI in spring and summer, while G. optiva during autumn and winter. Similarly, L. leucocephala had the highest palatability (97.86%), while M. composita (38.47%) had the lowest one. Additionally, G. optiva was the most favored MPT for livestock among farmers, while M. composita was the least ones. The outcome of the study will help policy makers, planners and farm managers in establishing large scale plantations of highly nutritious and palatable species, like G. optiva, L. leucocephala, B. variegata, and M. serrata for year-round supply of green leaves and as a supplement to low-quality feed.

Seasonal variation in biomass yield and quality of Tithonia diversifolia at different cutting heights

“…It has been reported that one of the limiting factors for forage production is the low rainfall season (Navale et al 2022), which is consistent with the results of this research. On the other hand, studies carried out on G. ulmifolia and L. leucocephala in tropical forage banks did not show a negative effect on forage yield during the dry season (Casanova-Lugo et al 2014).…”

“…However, the lack of evidence on appropriate cutting or harvest heights can cause a progressive decrease in forage production due to the reduction in the number of stem buds that limit the regrowth of new leaves (Letty et al 2021). Likewise, it causes the depletion of plant reserves, because they mobilise reserve carbohydrates to rebuild photosynthetic tissue after harvest, grazing or seasonal loss of foliage (Navale et al 2022). Therefore, knowing the optimal harvest height of T. diversifolia is essential for the sustainable management of this important forage plant in animal production systems in the tropics (Ruiz et al 2017, Letty et al 2021.…”

“…This implies that the easily digestible (labile) fractions of the carbohydrates were higher during the rainy season favouring the digestibility of the forage. During the rainy season, there was a greater mobilisation of resources in the plant due to the greater availability of water for growth and development (Navale et al 2022). The above favoured the quality of the forage with an increase in CP and OM and lower concentrations of NDF, ADF and ash.…”

Nutritive Status of Maytenus heterophylla and Acacia nilotica Leaves Cultivated in Winter from Two Varied Landscapes

“…However, Singh et al (2010; reported that the nutritive values (chemical components) of high altitudinal browse trees were higher than those from the low altitude. Some of the factors that may be responsible for this variation in findings may be due to the season of harvesting of the plants (Navale et al, 2022) and geographical structure, i.e., elevation/topography/altitude (Shah et al, 2019;Elbasiouny et al, 2022). Other possible factors that may cause variation between browse plants grown on low landscapes and high landscapes include daylight, type of soil, precipitation, organic matter contents and temperature among others (Shah et al, 2019).…”

Bioactivity of Wild and Cultivated Legumes: Phytochemical Content and Antioxidant Properties

“…The above-mentioned reservations, combined with public concerns about the safety and quality features of the produced foodstuffs and animals’ welfare [ 5 ], have highlighted the nutritional health of livestock at the forefront of the European Union’s legislative framework [ 6 ]. This functional necessity is influenced by multiple parameters, such as food availability, feed nutritional quality, consumption, digestibility, and feed metabolism [ 7 ]. However, the observed recent disruption of global supply chains has put under question—or significant risk—these vital parameters for the achievement of sustainable production [ 8 ].…”