The fodder grass resources for ruminants: A indigenous treasure of local communities of Thal desert Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Indigenous people have been using their regional grasses for rearing their 11 animals for centuries. The present study is the first recorded traditional knowledge of 12 grasses and feeding system for livestock from the Thal desert in Pakistan. Snowball 13 method was used to identify key informants. Information was collected from 232 14 informants from six districts of Thal Desert through semi-structural questionnaire and site 15 visits. The data was analyzed through Smith's salience index and Composite Salience 16 using ANTHROPAC package in R software. On the whole 61 grasses were recorded 17 from the study area and most of the species belongs to the Poaceae family (52 species).18 Based on palatability grasses were categorized into three major groups i.e. (A) High 19 priority, (B) Medium priority and (C) Low priority. Species in Group A, abundantly 20 present in the study area, highly palatable forage for all ruminants. 232(141M +91W) 21 local informants were interviewed. Informants were grouped into three major age 22 categories: 20-35 (48 informants), 36-50 (116 informants) and 51-67 years (68 23 informants). ANTHROPAC frequency analysis conformed the Smith's salience index 24 and Composite Salience; Cynodon dactylon was the favorite species (6.46 SI, 0.6460 CS) 25 followed by Cymbopogon jwarancusa (5.133 SI, 0.5133 CS) and Sorghum sp. was the 26 third most salient species (5.121 SI, 0.5121 CS). Grasses were mostly available during 27 the season of August and October and had also ethnoveterinary importance. This 28 document about the traditional feeding of livestock from Thal Desert can strengthen the 29 value of conserving our traditional knowledge, which was poorly documented before. 30 Keywords: Fodder, Thal Desert, livestock, pairwise comparison, ANTHROPAC 31 Introduction 2 32 In rural areas of Pakistan, agro-pastoral activities play a crucial role in the development 33 of the local economy, accounting for more than half of the total agricultural income and 34 10.6% of the national GDP [1]. These activities are particularly important in the economy 35 of the country's desert regions where land cultivation is difficult and livestock is the main 36 and often unique survival strategy and income source for the local communities. 37 Moreover, milk and meat production may counteract the impact of climatic 38 unpredictability on fluctuations in food availability, especially in areas facing frequent 39 crop shortages. According to data reported by Farooq et al. [2], in Pakistan 8.1% of 40 buffaloes, 13.5% of cattle, 15.3% of sheep and 14.4% of goats are raised in desert 41 districts. However, husbandry in these areas is often an uncertain and low-paid activity; 42 shortage of fodder as a result of severe climatic conditions, high rate of diseases, limited 43 availability of veterinary services and poor access to animal vaccination are important 44 constraints limiting the local livestock productivity [2]. The sustainable production of 45 livestock under harsh climatic conditions needs efficient strategies for impro...

Morphology, Cytology and Ethnobotany of Three Pimpinella L. Species (Apiaceae) from the North-western Himalayas, India

“…Cytomixis and chromatin stickiness are well proposed to be consequential from genetic factors [27] or natural factors in addition to genomic-environmental line [28], and seems to be reliably appropriate to the presently investigated taxa. "The incidence of multipolar cells and meiotic irregularities in anaphase severance of chromosomes may be the reasonable mechanisms for the configuration of large-sized pollen grains and low pollen fertility in these meiotically abnormal populations as has been reported previously in quite a lot of angiosperms" [29]. The hypoand hyperploid PMCs are produced due to cytomixis [27] ( Fadaei et al 2010) when accompanied with other meiotic abnormalities and might direct to uneven microsporogenesis substantial in the creation of variable-sized pollen grains perhaps with the aneuploid condition [27,28,29].…”

“…"The incidence of multipolar cells and meiotic irregularities in anaphase severance of chromosomes may be the reasonable mechanisms for the configuration of large-sized pollen grains and low pollen fertility in these meiotically abnormal populations as has been reported previously in quite a lot of angiosperms" [29]. The hypoand hyperploid PMCs are produced due to cytomixis [27] ( Fadaei et al 2010) when accompanied with other meiotic abnormalities and might direct to uneven microsporogenesis substantial in the creation of variable-sized pollen grains perhaps with the aneuploid condition [27,28,29]. The occurrence of the flawed inconsistency of chromosome numbers but enormous variety in meiotic behavior at the intraspecific level of presently worked out three species demanding the necessitate for the broad cytological exploration at population basis on members of Pimpinella from different areas of north-western Himalayas.…”

Feed Plants, Ethnoveterinary Medicine, and Biocultural Values: Insights on the Luchuan Pig from Hakka Communities in China

“…In numerous indigenous regions around the world, the utilization of natural resources is embedded within local traditional knowledge and culture. Traditional knowledge serves as a valuable source of information concerning local wild forage resources, their nutritional characteristics, as well as veterinary and plant resources [25]. It can signi cantly contribute to the development of novel and sustainable approaches to natural resource management [26,27].…”