Trees and shrubs as sources of fodder in Australia

Abstract

Abstract. Experience with browse plants in Australia is briefly reviewed in terms of their forage value to animals, their economic value to the landholder and their ecological contribution to landscape stability. Of the cultivated species only two have achieved any degree of commercial acceptance (Leucaena leucocephala and Chamaecytisus palmensis). Both of these are of sufficiently high forage value to be used as the sole source of feed during seasonal periods of nutritional shortage. Both are also leguminous shrubs that establish readily from seed. It is suggested that a limitation in their present use is the reliance on stands of single species which leaves these grazing systems vulnerable to disease and insects. Grazing systems so far developed for high production and persistence of cultivated species involve short periods of intense grazing followed by long periods of recovery. Similar management may be necessary in the arid and semi-arid rangelands where palatable browse species are in decline.

Agroforestry: Fertilizer Trees

“…In the more intensively managed areas in Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico, parts of Central America, and the Caribbean, trees such as leucaena are planted in pasture or protein banks (Argel et al, 1998). In Western Australia, 450 000 ha of tagasaste is grown in widespaced alleys or dense plantations to both provide fodder and reduce salinity by lowering the water table (Lefroy et al, 1992). In Indonesia alone leucaena occurs in 479 000 ha of pasture land (Shelton et al, 2005).…”

Evaluation of Nutritional Composition of Plant Species of Soone Valley in Punjab, Pakistan

“…Cattle grazing on legumes gave more milk as compared to non-legumes grazers (Sarwar et al, 1996). Lefroy et al (1992) documents the importance of trees, shrubs, and herbs for their nutrition capacity for browsing and grazing animals, especially in areas of poor quality pastures for longer period of time. The availability, accessibility, and value of ingested dry matter constitute the feeding value of forage.…”

Field infestation of Faidherbia (Acacia) albida (Del.) A. Chew. pods by stored product Coleoptera in the Nigerian savanna and effect of infestation on nutrient quality

“…Many trees and shrubs in the arid and semi-arid lands of Africa and the Middle East remain green during the long dry season when most fodder plants are unproductive and are thus useful as supplementary sources of fodder for livestock (Bohra, 1980;Felker, 1981;Seligman et al, 1989;Lefroy et al, 1992). Leguminous trees, in particular, are potential sources of fodder (Topps, 1992;Jindal et al, 2000), as they maintain a relatively high crude protein content throughout the year (Degen et al, 2000).…”