Breeders’ knowledge on cattle fodder species preference in rangelands of Benin

Ouachinou, Jéronime Marie-Ange Sènami; Dassou, Gbèwonmèdéa Hospice; Azihou, Akomian Fortuné; Adomou, Aristide Cossi; Yédomonhan, Hounnankpon

doi:10.1186/s13002-018-0264-1

Cited by 19 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Despite debated [ 8 , 13 ], this method has been frequently used and tested in several geographic contexts, e.g., in Amazonian Ecuador [ 8 , 13 ], in Belize [ 14 ], in Kashmir, India [ 15 ], in Hawai’i, USA [ 11 ], in Pakistan [ 16 ], in Mexico [ 4 ], in South Africa [ 9 , 17 ] and in Italy [ 18 ]. Nonetheless, such hypothesis-driven ethnobotanical studies are scant particularly in plant-rich countries with broad traditional medicinal knowledge like Nepal [ 6 , 19 – 23 ]. Recent studies still focus on medicinal plant diversity, their use patterns and conservation issues [ 24 – 26 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Selection of medicinal plants for traditional medicines in Nepal

Kutal

Kunwar

Adhikari

et al. 2021

J Ethnobiology Ethnomedicine

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Background There are handful hypothesis-driven ethnobotanical studies in Nepal. In this study, we tested the non-random medicinal plant selection hypothesis using national- and community-level datasets through three different types of regression: linear model with raw data, linear model with log-transformed data and negative binomial model. Methods For each of these model, we identified over-utilized families as those with highest positive Studentized residuals and underutilized families with highest negative Studentized residuals. The national-level data were collected from online databases and available literature while the community-level data were collected from Baitadi and Darchula districts. Results Both dataset showed larger variance (national dataset mean 6.51 < variance 156.31, community dataset mean 1.16 < variance 2.38). All three types of regression were important to determine the medicinal plant species selection and use differences among the total plant families, although negative binomial regression was most useful. The negative binomial showed a positive nonlinear relationship between total plant family size and number of medicinal species per family for the national dataset (β1 = 0.0160 ± 0.0009, Z1 = 16.59, p < 0.00001, AIC1 = 1181), and with similar slope and stronger performance for the community dataset (β2 = 0.1747 ± 0.0199, Z2 = 8.76, p < 0.00001, AIC2 = 270.78). Moraceae and Euphorbiaceae were found over-utilized while Rosaceae, Cyperaceae and Caryophyllaceae were recorded as underutilized. Conclusions As our datasets showed larger variance, negative binomial regression was found the most useful for testing non-random medicinal plant selection hypothesis. The predictions made by non-random selection of medicinal plants hypothesis holds true for community-level studies. The identification of over-utilized families is the first step toward sustainable conservation of plant resources and it provides a baseline for pharmacological research that might be leading to drug discovery.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Selection of medicinal plants for traditional medicines in Nepal

Kutal

Kunwar

Adhikari

et al. 2021

J Ethnobiology Ethnomedicine

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“…The diversity of traditional forage plant resources used by indigenous people is related to the life forms, quantity, and parts of wild plant species, and traditional knowledge about feeding forms, gathering season, and preparation ( Vogl et al., 2016 ; Harun et al., 2017 ; Ouachinou et al., 2018 ; Ma et al., 2019 ; Shaheen et al., 2020 ). Pigs are omnivorous animals; their demand for forage plants is different from that of other ruminants.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An ethnobotanical study of forage plants in Zhuxi County in the Qinba mountainous area of central China

Yang

Luo

Gan³

et al. 2021

Plant Diversity

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In the Qinba mountainous area of Central China, pig farming has a significant impact on the growth of the rural economy and has substantially increased farmer incomes. Traditional knowledge plays an important role in the selection of forage plant species for pig farming by local people. This study aimed to identify the forage plants used for pig feeding and to catalog indigenous knowledge regarding their use. During 2016 and 2017, ethnobotanical surveys and inventories were conducted in Zhuxi County, Hubei Province, China. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, key informant reports, free listings, guided field walks, and participatory observations with 77 households in 16 villages in 13 towns/townships. The obtained data were analyzed using a relative frequency citation (RFC) index. Overall, 145 wild forage plants from 91 genera and 31 families were recorded. The most cited families were Asteraceae, Polygonaceae, Urticaceae, Amaranthaceae, Fabaceae, Cruciferae, Caryophyllaceae, and Lamiaceae. Whole plants (75.9%) and tender leaves (12.4%) were the most frequently used parts of the plants. Most of the forage plants were herbaceous (88.9%). Almost all forage plants could be collected throughout the year (62.7%). Raw and cooked were the two main preparation methods. The most frequently cited species were Taraxacum mongolicum , Bidens pilosa , Sonchus oleraceus , Pilea verrucosa , and Pilea pumila var. obtusifolia . A total of 14 species were identified as the top forage plants in Zhuxi County based on their RFC values (RFC value greater than 0.5). Local people possess rich traditional knowledge about the utilization and management of forage plants for pig feeding. However, the maintenance of this traditional knowledge may be seriously threatened by changes in pig feeding modes and the lack of successors. Appropriate strategies and action plans have been suggested for the conservation of traditional knowledge associated with biodiversity and the sustainable use of forage species resources. These include 1) taking targeted measures to protect forage resources and associated traditional knowledge; 2) strengthening research on the forage plants with the highest RFC values for nutritional value, digestibility, other functions, and ecological status; and 3) enhancing the identification of poisonous forage plants.

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“…Answers like this are common wherever you meet herders in the world. They know how much and when certain species are ‘desired’ by their livestock (Dabasso, Oba, & Roba, 2012; Molnár, 2017; Ouachinou, Dassou, Azihou, Adomou, & Yédomonhan, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Africa sustainable livelihood and pasture degradation are the focus of studies of herders (e.g. Dabasso et al., 2012; Ouachinou et al, 2018; Schlecht, Hiernaux, Kadaouré, Hülsebusch, & Mahler, 2006; Tamou et al., 2018). These studies usually do not discuss biodiversity conservation in detail.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge co‐production with traditional herders on cattle grazing behaviour for better management of species‐rich grasslands

Molnár

Kelemen

Kun

et al. 2020

Journal of Applied Ecology

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The research gap between rangeland/livestock science and conservation biology/vegetation ecology has led to a lack of evidence needed for grazing‐related conservation management. Connecting scientific understanding with traditional ecological knowledge of local livestock keepers could help bridge this research and knowledge gap. We studied the grazing behaviour (plant selection and avoidance) of beef cattle (c. 33,000 bites) on species‐rich lowland pastures in Central Europe and traditional herding practices. We also did >450 outdoor interviews with traditional herders about livestock behaviour, herders' decisions to modify grazing behaviour and effects of modified grazing on pasture vegetation. We found that cattle grazing on species‐rich pastures displayed at least 10 different behavioural elements as they encountered 117 forage species from highly desired to rejected. The small discrimination error suggests that cattle recognize all listed plants ‘by species’. We also found that herders had broad knowledge of grazing desire and they consciously aimed to modify desire by slowing, stopping or redirecting the herd. Modifications were aimed at increasing grazing intensity in less‐desired patches and decreasing grazing selectivity in heterogenous swards. Synthesis and applications. The traditional herd management practices presented here have significant conservation benefits, such as avoiding under‐ and overgrazing, and targeted removal of pasture weeds, litter and encroaching bushes, tall competitive plants and invasive species. We argue that knowledge co‐production with traditional herders who belong to another knowledge system could help connect isolated scientific disciplines especially if ecologists and rangeland scientists work closely with traditional herders, co‐designing research projects and working together in data collection, analysis and interpretation. Stronger links between these disciplines could help develop evidence‐based, specific conservation management practices while herders could contribute with their practical experiences and with real‐world testing of new management techniques.

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Breeders’ knowledge on cattle fodder species preference in rangelands of Benin

Cited by 19 publications

References 25 publications

Selection of medicinal plants for traditional medicines in Nepal

Selection of medicinal plants for traditional medicines in Nepal

An ethnobotanical study of forage plants in Zhuxi County in the Qinba mountainous area of central China

Knowledge co‐production with traditional herders on cattle grazing behaviour for better management of species‐rich grasslands

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