Role of plant defense in the utilization of native browse in southern Ethiopia

Browse is an important forage in pastoral systems, especially during dry seasons, because it is high in nitrogen and digestibility. However, browse palatability may be reduced by possible plant defenses such as tannins and physical attributes. Chemical and physical properties of 20 browse species we...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Woodward, A., Coppock, D. Layne
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Springer 1995
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/28146
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author Woodward, A.
Coppock, D. Layne
author_browse Coppock, D. Layne
Woodward, A.
author_facet Woodward, A.
Coppock, D. Layne
author_sort Woodward, A.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Browse is an important forage in pastoral systems, especially during dry seasons, because it is high in nitrogen and digestibility. However, browse palatability may be reduced by possible plant defenses such as tannins and physical attributes. Chemical and physical properties of 20 browse species were correlated with the feeding preference of camels, sheep and goats during wet and dry seasons in a densely wooded, semi-arid savanna. Preference was assessed by comparing relative use with abundance of browse species. Chemical components included nitrogen, available nitrogen, acid-detergent fibre, in vitro digestibility, total tannins, and condensed tannins. Physical defenses included thorns, hooks, spines, and leaf surface properties. Animal preference was negatively related to chemical and physical defense factors, positively related to N content, and unrelated to fibre and digestibility with results depending on animal species and season. Understanding the physical and chemical factors which influence browse selectivity aids in identifying promising forage resources.
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publishDate 1995
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spelling CGSpace281462024-04-25T06:01:20Z Role of plant defense in the utilization of native browse in southern Ethiopia Woodward, A. Coppock, D. Layne browse plants pastoralism borana chemical composition feeding behaviour seasons proanthocyanidin acacia Browse is an important forage in pastoral systems, especially during dry seasons, because it is high in nitrogen and digestibility. However, browse palatability may be reduced by possible plant defenses such as tannins and physical attributes. Chemical and physical properties of 20 browse species were correlated with the feeding preference of camels, sheep and goats during wet and dry seasons in a densely wooded, semi-arid savanna. Preference was assessed by comparing relative use with abundance of browse species. Chemical components included nitrogen, available nitrogen, acid-detergent fibre, in vitro digestibility, total tannins, and condensed tannins. Physical defenses included thorns, hooks, spines, and leaf surface properties. Animal preference was negatively related to chemical and physical defense factors, positively related to N content, and unrelated to fibre and digestibility with results depending on animal species and season. Understanding the physical and chemical factors which influence browse selectivity aids in identifying promising forage resources. 1995-11 2013-05-06T07:00:00Z 2013-05-06T07:00:00Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/28146 en Limited Access Springer Agroforestry Systems;32(2): 147-161
spellingShingle browse plants
pastoralism
borana
chemical composition
feeding behaviour
seasons
proanthocyanidin
acacia
Woodward, A.
Coppock, D. Layne
Role of plant defense in the utilization of native browse in southern Ethiopia
title Role of plant defense in the utilization of native browse in southern Ethiopia
title_full Role of plant defense in the utilization of native browse in southern Ethiopia
title_fullStr Role of plant defense in the utilization of native browse in southern Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed Role of plant defense in the utilization of native browse in southern Ethiopia
title_short Role of plant defense in the utilization of native browse in southern Ethiopia
title_sort role of plant defense in the utilization of native browse in southern ethiopia
topic browse plants
pastoralism
borana
chemical composition
feeding behaviour
seasons
proanthocyanidin
acacia
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/28146
work_keys_str_mv AT woodwarda roleofplantdefenseintheutilizationofnativebrowseinsouthernethiopia
AT coppockdlayne roleofplantdefenseintheutilizationofnativebrowseinsouthernethiopia