Journal of animal-science-research

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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Identification and Nutritional Evaluation of Potential Indigenous Browse Species in Guba Lafto District, North Wollo, Ethiopia

  Mohammed Ali1      Kassahun Gurmessa2*      Ayantu Mekonnin2   

1Bonga University, Bonga, Ethiopia
2Wollega University, Nekemte, Ethiopia

*Corresponding author: Kassahun Gurmessa, Wollega University, Nekemte, Ethiopia, Tel: +2519218371; E-mail: Kassahun.hu@gmail.com


Abstract

The study was carried out in Guba lafto district, North Wollo zone of Amhara regional states of Ethiopia with the objective of identifying and nutritional evaluation of potential indigenous browse species. For the study the district was stratified in to three based on the altitude (low land, mid-high land and high land). Knowledgeable farmers of the three agro-ecologies were consulted to identify and describe major browse species of the areas. Foliage samples were collected and analyzed for their biomass yield and nutritional contents. Upon the study, 21 major browses were identified, of which 14 species were trees and 7 species were shrubs. Among identified species Acacia seyal, Acacia brevispica, Acacia asak, Oleaeuropea, Ziziphus mauritiana, Dodonia viscosa were the most dominant species of the district. The average nutrient composition of browse species was not significantly different among the three agro-ecologies (p>0.05). But, there were significant differences among species of the same agro ecologies. Dodonia viscosa, Acacia asak, Grewia bicolor, Combretem molle, Dracentastewdneri, Ziziphus mourtiana, Cordia africana, Acacia previspica, Croton machrostachyus, Salix subserrata, Helichrysumcitrispinum, Croton dichgamus and Maesalanceolata) had a greater CP content than the average CP content 20.40% reported in present study. Ash value ranged from 5.2-12.63%. Higher NDF content was observed in browses of low lands and mid-high lands (Grewia bicolor, 72% and Cordia africana 60.8%) respectively. Generally higher crude protein, low Ash, low NDF, low ADF and low ADL content was observed from highland. Lower CP, high NDF, high ADF and high ADL content was recorded from low land and midhighland areas. The study result also indicated that the browse species identified could be used as protein supplement for dry seasons and therefore, detailed study on raising the species and further animal feeding experiment is required for better justification of their importance.

Keywords

Browse species; Guba lafto; Identification; Nutritional value; Indigenous


Introduction

In Ethiopia agriculture is the most important economic activity; accounting for about 50% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country engaging more than 80% the population [1] and the sector generates 90% of export earnings [2]. Livestock which is an integral part of the agriculture contributes about 47% of agricultural economy [3]. This sub-sector adds significantly to the national food security and nutritional balance, provides raw materials such as milk and meat for the agro-processing industry, foreign exchange from the export of hides and skins, farm-yard manure, and draught oxen power for crop production.

Livestock in Ethiopia, as in many other parts of the world, is grazed on natural grass-based communal pastures, in land use systems that include forests, woodlands and swamps, and fallow lands. Many of the pasturelands located in these land use systems are declining in area because of conversion of land to crop agriculture and settlements [4-7]. Feeding of livestock in natural systems is therefore becoming a challenge and is partly limiting growth in the livestock sub-sector. Seasonal availability of quality feed, high costs of supplementary concentrates and little knowledge about plantation of improved browse feed species also limits livestock productivity. The most contribution of browse species as animal feed is that it serves as a source of crude protein as well as ability of being green for longer time during the dry season [6,8]. Therefore, study on identification of indigenous browse plants feed types and their nutritive value, their spacial and temporal distribution is very important for sustainable feeding of livestock.

The first step in this direction is to generate information that will assist in making management decisions for pasture improvement leading to improved production from cattle. Such information includes knowledge of which species are currently exploited as fodder. Therefore, the present study was designed with the objective of identifying and evaluation of the nutritive value of potential indigenous Browse species of the district.

Material and Methods
Description of the study area

The Study was conducted in Guba lafto District, North Wollo zone of Amhara Regional state of Ethiopia. It is located at 9.11°, 14.59° North latitude and 36.31°, 39.81° East longitude and at distance of 520 km from Addis Ababa the capital city of Ethiopia. The District is bordered on the North Giddan District, North West by Meket district, North east by Kobbo district, South East by Habru district and in the West by Delanta and Wadila district. The district consists of 34 rural kebeles (The lowest administrative unit of Ethiopia) and 2 special urban administrative kebeles making a total of 36 kebeles.

Topography of the Woreda is made up of chain of mountains, hills, valleys and altitude ranging from 1379- 3809 meter above sea level (m.a.s.l), exposed for sever natural resource degradation mainly soil erosion and deforestation. Agriculture is predominant activity of livelihood characterized by both crop and livestock production [9].

Data collection

Selection of the study areas and sampling: Stratified random sampling was employed to select respondent households following kebeles (the smallest administrative unit of Ethiopia) and agro-ecology (highland, mid highland and low land) as unit of strata. For each agro ecology 2 kebeles were selected of which 30 households with a total of 240 were selected randomly. We used semi-structured interviews, guided questionnaires, and direct observations to collect the data on general household characteristics of the District. For the study and identification of indigenous browse plants three types of grazing land types; bushed grassland, at least two years fallowed grass land and river banks were included. Then we employed an ethno botanical approach to document traditional knowledge associated with identification and use of indigenous multipurpose browse species (IMBS) by the local community of the District [6,10,11]. Accordingly, those plants listed as important for livestock feed were considered for assessment of their distribution in different grazing sites and for chemical analysis. Nine plots, each 10 m × 10 m and 50 m apart, arranged along a transect line was used to score the frequency of occurrence of the browse plants in each grazing site for each Kebele. The frequency of occurrence of each plant was determined by considering the number of plots in which it was recorded, as a percentage of the total plots in the respective grazing site. Foliage samples of the listed species were taken, then pressed by plant presser and preserved until sent for scientific identification at Addis Ababa University.

Determination of chemical composition

For chemical analysis fresh leaves and twigs of each browse species weighing about 300 g was collected and then oven-dried. The oven dried samples were ground in a Willey Mill to pass through 1mm sieve for the determination of chemical composition. Feed samples were analyzed for DM and ash using the method of [12]. Nitrogen was determined using the micro Kjeldehl method. Crude Protein (CP) was calculated as N × 6.25. Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF), Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF) and Acid Detergent Lignin (ADL) Contents were analyzed according to Van Soest PJ [13].

Data analysis

The data were organized, summarized and analyzed using the SAS statistical package (SAS, 2001) [14]. For data involving frequencies, descriptive statistics were employed; whereas quantitative variables were analyzed using analysis of variance procedures and when the F-test showed significant differences, the Turkey test was used to separate group means.

Results
Livestock and constraints

The present study revealed three types of economic activities of the district. These were; Crop livestock production, only Livestock production and only crop production. Large number of surveyed households of the three agro-ecologies are engaged in crop livestock production which actually highest in highland areas, whereas, the largest livestock production was observed in lowland area (Figure 1). From participant observations and informal conversations we determined that cattle and other ruminant livestock are reared essentially, for economic reasons, i.e., to earn income from the sale of meat, dairy products, and hides and Skins, and the sale of live animals. Most of households keep oxen for their draught power. Livestock also feature highly in the cultural and social life of the Guba lafto district. Ruminant animals are killed during cultural rituals and local festivities such as weddings, and burials.

Figure 1: Economic activities of households of Guba lafto district.

Major livestock production constraints are presented in figure 2. In the study district, livestock feed shortage was the major problem, especially in dry season. Among the constraints of livestock, feed shortage accounts about 61.7% in low land, 55% mid-highland and 48.3% high land areas. The study showed that the problem of feed shortage is followed by water shortage, animal diseases and predators in the district.

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Figure 2: Constraints of livestock production in Guba lafto district.

Identified indigenous multipurpose browse Species

Identified browse species: The list of indigenous multipurpose indigenous browse species identified with their vernacular and scientific names are indicated in table 1. Twenty one indigenous browse species were identified from the three agro-ecologies of the study district of which eleven were found in lowland, nine in mid altitude and seven were identified in highland areas of the district. Most of browse plants identified from low land and mid-high land areas were shrub type while, more tree species were observed in the high land.

  Scientific name   Local name (Amharic)   Family name Presence
High land Mid altitude Low land
Acaciaseyal Wacho Fabaceae  
Acaciaasak Seben Fabaceae    
Combretum molle Aballo Combretaceae    
Oleaeuropea Weira Oleaceae    
Dodoniaviscosa Kitkita Sapinadaceae  
Carissa edulis Agam Apocynaceae  
Ziziphusmauritiana Kurkura Rhomnaceae  
Dracaena steudneri Moata Febaceae    
Grewia bicolor Sefa (Awrarisse) Tiliaceae    
Euclearacemosa Dedeho Ebenaceae    
Allophylus abyssinicus Tikur Embis Sapindaceae    
Cordia Africana Wanza Boraginaceae    
Acaciabrevispica Kentafa Fabaceae    
Allophylus abyssinicus Tikur Embis Sapindaceae    
Ehretiacymosa Wulagga Boraginaceae    
Rhusglutinosa AkakimaEmbis (Talembus) Anacardiaceae  
Hagenia abyssinica Kosso Rosaceae    
Salix subserata Ahaya(Rigga) Salicoceae    
Helichrysum citrispinum Nechilo Asteraceae    
Croton dichogamus Fiyelefeji Euphorbiaceae    
Croton macrostachyus Bisana Euphorbiaceae    
Maesa lanceolata Kelewo Myrisinaceae    

Table 1: Identified browse trees /bushes of the district.
✓ =Show the presence of the plant

Distribution of identified browse species across types of grazing lands

The frequency of occurrence of each plant species in different agro ecologies and three types of grazing lands of the study areas are presented in tables 2-4. The result indicate that the distribution of each species vary according to the type of grazing land and agro ecology. In highland Helichrysum citrispinum is the most frequently observed species on grazing area (12 individual/10 m2) and the list recorded (1 plant/10 m2) was Salix subserata from grazing land. On average ten Acacia seyal trees per 10 m2 were observed in grazing lands of low land areas and on average 9 Carissa edulisin per m2 were observed around river bank areas of mid altitude. However Salix subs errata was the least frequently found species (Table 2).

Browse species RB/10m2 AHS/10m2 GA/10m2 Total
Acaciaseyal 2 2 4 8
Acaciaasak 2 - 3 5
Combretum molle - - 3 3
Oleaeuropea 1 2 2 5
Dodoniaviscosa - - 4 4
Carissa edulis 3 - 6 9
Ziziphusmauritiana 1 3 3 7
Dracaena steudneri - - 4 4
Grewia bicolor - - 2 2
Euclearacemosa 3 - 3 6
Allophylus abyssinicus - - 2 2

Table 2: Distribution of browse species in grazing land type of lowland/10m2.
RB=River Banks; AHS=Around Home Stead; GA=Grazing Area; m2= meter square

Browse species RB/10m2 AHS/10m2 GA/10m2 Total
Dodoniaviscosa - 2 4 6
Carissa edulis 2 - 5 7
Ziziphusmauritiana - 3 3 6
Cordia Africana - 2 - 2
Acaciaseyal 3 2 3 8
Acaciabrevispica - 2 - 2
Allophylus abyssinicus 1 - 2 3
Ehretiacymosa - 3 1 4
Rhusglutinosa - 1 1 2

Table 3: Distribution of browse species in grazing land type of mid-high land/10m2
RB=River Banks; AHH=Around Home Stead; GA=Grazing Area; m2=meter square

Browse species RB/10m2 AHS/10m2 GA/10m2 Total
Hagenia abyssinica - 2 - 2
Salix subserata - - 1 1
Rhusglutinosa - 1 3 4
Helichrysumcitrispinum - 5 7 12
Croton dichogamus 2 - 6 8
Croton macrostachyus 1 3 1 5
Maesalanceolata - 3 - 3

Table 4: Distribution of browse species in grazing land type of highland/10m2.
RB=River Banks; AHH=Around Home Stead; GA=Grazing Area; m2=meter square

Chemical composition of identified browse feed resources

The average CP, Ash, NDF, ADF and ADL contents of identified indigenous browse species is presented in below tables 5-7. The comparison among the species found in each agro ecologies didn’t have shown impressive (P>0.05) differences in nutrient but, the differences were significant (P<0.05) among the species.

Browse species DM (%) Ash (%) CP (%) NDF (%) ADF (%) ADL (%)
Allophylus abyssinicus 94 7.44c 14.92h 40de 29.78f 6.66f
Dodoniaviscosa 95 6.31ef 19.15e 38.79e 27.36g 5.71g
Ziziphusmauritiana 96 9.37a 16.97g 35.55f 25j 5.55h
Euclearacemosa 96 6.25f 7.61k 56.31b 45.83b 11.23b
Acaciaseyal 95 7.36c 27.3b 33.47g 23.15k 5.57h
Carissa edulis 95 8.42b 9.85i 56.72b 44.21c 11.15b
Oleaeuropea 96 5.2g 8.84j 41.46d 31.25e 7.54d
Acaciaasak 94 6.38de 28.18a 46.36c 36.17d 7.68c
Grewia bicolor 93 6.45d 20.35d 72.47a 60.21a 17.58a
Combretum molle 95 6.31ef 18.26f 35.36f 25.26i 5.71g
Dracaena steudneri 96 9.37a 24.19c 38.46e 27.0h 6.82e
Mean 95 ± 0.4 7.17 ± 0.7 17.78 ± 0.7 45 ± 3.4 34.11 ± 3.1 8.29 ± 0.95
Significance NS *** *** *** *** ***

Table 5: Chemical composition of browse plants in low land areas of Guba lafto district.
DM=Dry Matter; CP= Crud Protein; NDF=Neutral Detergent Fiber; ADF=Acid Detergent Fiber; ADL=Acid Detergent Lignin; %=Percent; ***=significant at ≤0.001; NS=Not Significant

Browse species DM (%) Ash (%) CP (%) NDF (%) ADF (%) ADL (%)
A l l o p h y l u s  
abyssinicus
96 11.45b 10.4g 36.67e 25e 5.55e
Dodoniaviscosa 96 5.2f 17.43e 31.24g 22.91g 5.58e
Ziziphusmauritiana 95 7.36c 28.55b 27.12h 18.94i 3.41g
Acaciaseyal 94 6.38d 22.87c 40.36d 31.91d 7.78d
Cordia Africana 96 12.5a 30.0a 60.08a 47.91a 12.36a
Carissa edulis 97 6.18e 8.75h 54.32b 41.23b 10.31b
Rhusglutinosa 97 6.18e 17.0e 33.45f 22.68h 4.47f
Ehretiasymosa 95 12.63a 16.7f 31.27g 23.15f 4.47f
Acaciabrevispica 94 7.44c 19.8d 52.24c 40.42c 8.92c
Mean 95.6 ± 0.4 8.37 ± 0.8 19.06
± 0.1
40.75 ± 0.02 30.46 6.98 ± 1.1
Significance NS *** *** *** *** ***

Table 6: Chemical composition of browse plants in mid- high land areas of Guba lafto district.
DM=Dry Matter; CP= Crud Protein; NDF=Neutral Detergent Fiber; ADF=Acid Detergent Fiber; ADL=Acid Detergent Lignin; %=Percent, ***=significant at ≤0.001; NS=Not Significant

Browse species DM (%) Ash (%) CP (%) NDF (%) ADF (%) ADL (%)
Crotonmachrostachyus 93 9.67b 37.83a 40.31b 30.1b 6.72b
Salix subserata 94 7.44d 22.78e 53.46a 42.55a 10a
Helichrysumcitrispinum 95 9.47c 25.48d 30.25d 21.0de 4.47c
Hageniaabbyssinica 91 5.49f 17.37f 35.41c 24.17cde 5.57c
Croton dichogamus 91 5.49f 29.1c 29.73d 19.78e 3.41d
Maesalanceolata 93 11.82a 33.89b 38.57b 27.95bcd 5.47c
Rhusglutinosa 93 6.45e 17.19g 38.86b 27.95bc 5.46c
Mean 92.7 ± 0.9 7.98 ± 0.6 26.23 ±0.1 38.08 ± 0.4 27.64 ± 0.9 5.87 ± 1.2
Significance NS *** *** *** *** ***

Table 7: Chemical composition of browse plants in high land areas of Guba lafto district.
DM=Dry Matter; CP= Crud Protein; NDF=Neutral Deteregent Fiber; ADF=Acid Detergent Fiber; ADL=Acid Detergent Lignin; %=Percent; ***=significant at P ≤ 0.001

The CP content of the browse species ranged from 7.6% in Euclearacemosa to 37.8 in Croton machrostachyus. The overall average fiber NDF, ADF and ADL contents of selected indigenous browse species in different agro ecologies is presented in tables 5-8. The average NDF, ADF and ADL contents of identified indigenous browse species were comparable (P>0.05) along agro-ecologies but, wider (P<0.05) differences were recorded among the species.

Altitude DM (%) Ash (%) CP (%) NDF (%) AD F (%) ADL (%)
Lowland 95 ± 0.4 7.17 ± 0.68 17.78 ± 0.7 45 ± 3.4 34.11 ± 3.1 8.29 ± 0.95
Mid-high land 95.6 ± 0.4 8.37 ± 0.76 19.06 ± 2.5 40.75 ± 3.7 30.5 ± 3.4 6.98 ± 1.1
Highland 92.7 ± 0.9 7.98 ± 0.59 26.23 ±.1 38.08 ± 04 27.64 ± 0.9 5.87 ± 1.2
Mean 94.63 7.78 20.40 41.79 31.22 7.23
Significance NS NS NS NS NS NS

Table 8: Average Chemical composition of browse species along altitude.
DM=Dry Matter; CP= Crud Protein; NDF=Neutral Detergent Fiber; ADF=Acid Detergent Fiber; ADL=Acid Detergent Lignin; %=Percent; NS=Not Significant

However numerical difference was observed in Euclea racemosa in low land. This could be due to higher temperature of low land and time of harvest of sample as it was taken at dry season.

Discussion

The present study revealed feed shortage, water shortage, disease and predators as the major constraints of livestock production in Guba Lafto District. Among these feed shortages is said to be the first constraint especially during dry season in all agro-ecologies of the study areas. Similar problems of livestock production was reported in different agro-ecologies of the country [4-7] and elsewhere in other countries [15] who reported that feed shortages and nutrient deficiencies as more acute in dry seasons. The study also revealed water shortage is the second most important constraints of livestock which more severely observed in lowland. Similar results were reported in the country [16]. Generally feed shortage was the major constraint of households in the district followed by water shortage, animal diseases and predators. This is in agreement with other studies [17-19] also reported that, the low veterinary service performance in the lowlands is the outcome of the government-monopolized services. Government veterinary staffs are few in number and cannot cover such a vast area to adequately address the veterinary needs. Besides government staffs need adequate mobile facilities for which currently the government does not have the capacity to provide [19]. Twenty one indigenous browse species were identified from the three agroecologies of the study district of which eleven were found in lowland, nine in mid altitude and seven were identified in highland areas of the district. Most of browse plants identified from low land and mid-high land areas were shrub type while, more tree species were observed in the high land. The fairly high number of bushes and shrubs types reported in low and mid altitude, indicates that the use of IMBS is more common and the reason for more browse species of animals are kept. This scenario agrees with reported studies in other similar areas of the country [7,20]. Among identified browse species, Acacia seyal, Acacia brevispica, Acacia asak, Oleaeuropea, Ziziphus mauritiana, Dodonia viscosa were dominant. With the agreement to this, similar species of browses were identified in other parts of the lowland areas of the country [21-24]. Overall, the respondents reported that it was becoming hard to find fodder for ruminants because of reductions in grazing areas. Farmers attributed the decline in pastoral area to several causes: conversion of communal grazing lands to agricultural use, shortening of fallow periods or absence of fallowing, short and erratic rainfall, and weed and other noxious plant invasion. The allocation of more land to crop agriculture to increase agricultural production and the shortening of fallow periods by farmers has made animal herding difficult, because animals stray into crop fields to feed fibrous crop residues. The average CP, Ash, NDF, ADF and ADL contents of identified indigenous browse species didn’t have showed impressive (P>0.05) differences but, the differences were significant (P<0.05) among the species. This could be resulted due to several factors which are said to be the basic contributors towards the variation in nutritive value of forages which include species, plant part and stage of maturity [25-27]. Other surveys on fodder trees also observed and reported this heterogeneity in nutrient composition in Ethiopia and elsewhere in other countries [6,7,28]. The CP content of the browse species ranged from 7.6% in Euclearacemosa to 37.8 in Croton machrostachyus. According to Topps JH, [29] Raj CU, et al., [30] and Kazemi M, et al. [31], feeds containing greater than 19% CP are rated as having prime standard and those with CP values lower than 8% are considered to be of inferior quality. Browse species like Dodoniaviscosa, Acacia asak, Grewiabicolor, Combretem molle, Dracentastewdneri, Ziziphusmourtiana, Cordia africana, Acacia previspica, Croton machrostachyus, Salix subserrata, Helichrysumcitrispinum, Croton dichogamus and Maesalanceolata had a CP content greater than 18%, suggesting the possibility of considering their use as an alternative plant protein sources to improve the nutritive values of poor quality feeds in the study area.

Conclusion

Livestock production is the major economic activity of Guba Lafto District. To counter the long term impact of declining feed resources in the country and study area in particular indigenous multipurpose browse plants with higher CP and lower fiber contents recorded in Guba Lafto district could be used to improve the fibrous less nutritious feed resources of dry season.

Acknowledgement

We deeply thank and acknowledge the people of Guba Lafto district who generously shared their knowledge. The authors gratefully acknowledge the Wollega University and Ministry of Education for funding the research budget. Holeta Agricultural Research Center of Ethiopia is also duly acknowledged for providing laboratory facilities for the study


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Article Information

Article Type: RESEARCH ARTICLE

Citation: Ali M, Gurmessa K, Mekonnin A (2020) Identification and Nutritional Evaluation of Potential Indigenous Browse Species in Guba Lafto District, North Wollo, Ethiopia. J Anim Sci Res 4(3): dx.doi.org/10.16966/2576-6457.144

Copyright: © 2020 Ali M, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Publication history: 

  • Received date: 30 Mar, 2020

  • Accepted date: 12 Jul, 2020

  • Published date: 13 Aug, 2020
  •