Diversity and nutritional values of leaves of trees and shrubs used as supplements for goats in the sub-humid areas of Benin (West Africa)

Koura, Bossima Ivan; Yassegoungbe, Fifame Panine; Afatondji, Cossi Ulriche; Cândido, Magno José Duarte; Guimarães, Vinícius Pereira; Dossa, Luc Hippolyte

doi:10.1007/s11250-021-02559-9

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Indeed, Musco et al [ 52 ] did not state the stage of maturity of the studied forages; their forages may have been less mature, resulting in higher protein levels. The difference in the sampling area, forage type, genotype, soil, and management conditions are also known to influence the nutritional value of forage species [ 8 , 16 , 57 ]. However, the nutritional contents found in our forage are similar to the findings of Michiels et al [ 58 ] in other subhumid areas in dry seasons.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The poor nutritional value, low crude protein, and high NDF in Poaceae suggested the need for protein supplementation to meet the nutrient requirements of ruminants, in particular during the dry season. Fodder trees are known to be used in various tropical environments for protein supply to animals [ 57 , 67 ], but they are less available. The intensification process ongoing in urban dairy farms in the Sahelian areas [ 68 ] with stall-fed animals supplemented by using agro-processing byproducts and concentrates would be an issue in peri-urban coastal dairy farms.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nutritional Value of Climate-Resilient Forage Species Sustaining Peri-Urban Dairy Cow Production in the Coastal Grasslands of Benin (West Africa)

Koura

Vastolo

Kiatti

et al. 2022

Animals

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Along the coast of West Africa, grazing ruminants rely on perennial forage species remaining in uncultivated plots, roadsides, and marshlands during the dry season. To assess the quality of these forages, thirteen drought-tolerant plants were harvested at the mature stage, and the samples were evaluated for chemical composition, in vitro fermentation characteristics, and metabolizable energy (ME) content. They are ten drought-tolerant grasses, including: Andropogon virginicus, Brachiaria deflexa, Cenchorus biflorus, Dactyloctenium aegyptium, Eragrostis tremula, Leptochloa caerulescens, Loudetia aroundinacea, Paspalum notatum, Paspalum vaginatum, Pennisetum purpureum, two perennial herbs, Chamaecrista rotundifolia, Zornia latifolia, and one multipurpose tree, Elaeis guineensis. Legume species had the highest nutritional value (highest crude protein and ME, and lowest neutral detergent fiber) of the species studied. In terms of the in vitro data, the gas produced after 120 h of incubation ranged from 149 mL/g in E. tremula to 185 mL/g in Paspalum. Z. latifoliaa and had the fastest rate of fermentation, producing half of the total gas in 19.5 h, whereas E. tremula required 49.9 h (p < 0.01). The production of branched-chain fatty acids (isobutyrate and isovalerate) was greatest for E. guineensis and the lowest in both Paspalum species (p < 0.01). The study suggests the need for the protein supplementation of the animals to ensure maximum forage utilization and to satisfy the nutrient requirements of ruminant livestock.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutritional Value of Climate-Resilient Forage Species Sustaining Peri-Urban Dairy Cow Production in the Coastal Grasslands of Benin (West Africa)

Koura

Vastolo

Kiatti

et al. 2022

Animals

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“…A challenge in ruminant production is meeting the forage requirements for livestock, especially in the context of specific climate conditions and land use changes. In recent decades, global environmental changes have severely affected traditional pastoral strategies in sub-Saharan Africa [1][2][3]. These changes affected pastoralist livelihoods due to a lower financial income from decreased animal productivity [4,5] and pastoralist resilience strategies because of the impacts on feed resources [2,[6][7][8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forage Preference, Voluntary Intake, and In Vivo Digestibility of Six Tropical Tree Leaves by Sheep in Semi-Arid Areas in Benin Republic (West Africa)

Gninkplékpo,

Koura,

Lesse

et al. 2024

Sustainability

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Livestock supplementation with forage trees is becoming a sustainable alternative to traditional grazing on the open pastures during the dry season in Benin. However, little is known about the feeding preferences of sheep and the digestibility of such native tree/shrub fodder. Such knowledge could improve their use on smallholder farms. Multiple-choice feeding preference tests were conducted on six tree fodders (Annona senegalensis, Blighia sapida, Cassia sieberiana, Gmelina arborea, Khaya senegalensis, and Mangifera indica) to determine the best choice to feed the local rams and ewe Djallonke sheep. The cafeteria test involved four rams and four ewes. In addition, an in vivo trial using metabolic cages was conducted to evaluate the voluntary intake of dried woody leaves and the dry matter digestibility of diets containing these dried leaves. Preferences varied significantly (p ≤ 0.05) according to the woody species. Based on relative intake values, sheep preferred, in decreasing order, the leaves of M. indica, B. sapida, K. senegalensis, G. arborea, A. senegalensis, and C. sieberiana. The apparent digestibility of dry matter was highest (p ≤ 0.01) in the G. arborea diet (86.8%); all diets presented a value higher than 70%. This study provided helpful information about better resource utilization to improve animal productivity. Further study could evaluate the growth performance of sheep supplemented with tree fodder.

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“…To address the adverse effects of CC in drylands of Benin, smallholder dairy farmers have developed feeding strategies integrating tree or shrub species to feed cattle during feed shortage. In fact, ligneous fodder represents an appreciable source of supplementary food used in ruminant feed in the dry season (Koura et al, 2021). In Benin, trees grow sometimes spontaneously in naturally or are planted and generally maintained.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of the silvopastoral system on milk production and reproductive performance of dairy cows and its contribution to adaptation to a changing climate in the drylands of Benin (West-Africa)

Assani Seidou,

Offoumon,

Sanni Worogo

et al. 2023

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

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Knowledge about dairy cows raised in small-scale agroforestry systems in dryland areas is of paramount importance to inform policy and decision making in the dairy production sector in the current context of climate change. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of integrated farming systems on daily milk yield and demographic traits of dairy cows in drylands. A study conducted on 447 dairy cows was carried out to compare their milk yield and demographic parameters under different small-scale agroforestry systems in drylands of Benin: traditional silvopasture (TSS); Improved silvopasture (ISS); Small Integrated Agrosilvopasture (SIAS) and Large Integrated Agrosilvopasture (LIAS). The type of cattle farms had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on daily milk yield and demographic traits. Dairy cattle from ISS farms had the highest daily milk yield regardless of the type of dairy cow breed. Demographic traits of herds were significantly (p < 0.05) influenced by the type of dairy cattle farms. The proportion of lactating cows was higher (p < 0.05) in herds of ISS (48.4%) followed by those in TSS and LIAS (36.1 and 25.0% respectively) while SIAS was the lowest in (14.4%). The pre-weaning mortality rate was higher (p < 0.05) in TSS and LIAS farms (18.3 and 17.6 % respectively) compared to SIAS and ISS farms (5.20 and 4.60 % respectively). The fertility rate was higher (p < 0.05) in ISS and SIAS farms (92.3 and 89.6% respectively) compared to TSS and LIAS farms (68.3 and 74.2% respectively). The weaning productivity was higher (p < 0.05) in ISS and SIAS (88.6 and 85.8 % respectively) than in TSS and LIAS farms (66.1 and 67.6 % respectively). This study showed that ISS farms are characterized by higher milk yield and demographic parameters. ISS systems can then be promoted in smallholder cattle farming to improve milk production and reproductive performance of dairy cows in drylands.

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Diversity and nutritional values of leaves of trees and shrubs used as supplements for goats in the sub-humid areas of Benin (West Africa)

Cited by 7 publications

References 47 publications

Nutritional Value of Climate-Resilient Forage Species Sustaining Peri-Urban Dairy Cow Production in the Coastal Grasslands of Benin (West Africa)

Nutritional Value of Climate-Resilient Forage Species Sustaining Peri-Urban Dairy Cow Production in the Coastal Grasslands of Benin (West Africa)

Forage Preference, Voluntary Intake, and In Vivo Digestibility of Six Tropical Tree Leaves by Sheep in Semi-Arid Areas in Benin Republic (West Africa)

The effect of the silvopastoral system on milk production and reproductive performance of dairy cows and its contribution to adaptation to a changing climate in the drylands of Benin (West-Africa)

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