Abstract
Tree leaves are important traditional fodder sources in many parts of the Himalaya, particularly during the dry winter season. Households interviewed in different regions of Bhutan used 1–13 different tree species for fodder, with Ficus auriculata standing out as the preferred and most widely used species across a range of conditions. It is preferred because of the wide range of adaptation, good nutritional qualities and palatability, and its good productivity. Ficus auriculata is also an important tree fodder in the Himalayan region of Nepal and India. Its fodder quality is far superior to paddy straw, the main winter fodder in the rice growing regions of the Himalayas. Parameters recorded in the literature for crude protein, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fiber are 9.5–17.3, 46.2–58.4 and 36.1–45.8%, respectively. Farmers consider it to be better than rice straw and the fodder from the tree fodder species Celtis tetrandra, Brassaiopsis hainla, Stereospermum suaveolens, Bauhinia purpurea and Litsea polyantha. Average annual fresh yield per tree was reported as 200, 120, 112, 108, 108 and 96 kg for F. auriculata, Artocarpus lakoocha, Gmelina arborea, F. cunia, Litsea monopetala and Stereospermum suaveolens, respectively. Considering the current importance of F. auriculata it is imperative to carry out research exploring its potential in evolving production systems and to quantify the opportunities of improving its nutritional quality and productivity through selection.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Amatya B.M. 1990. Fodder Trees and Their Lopping Cycle in Nepal. Janmabhoomi Press, Kathmandu, 86 pp.
Grierson A.J.C. and Long D.G. 1983. Flora of Bhutan Including a Record of Plants from Sikkim. Volume 1, Part 1th edn. Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, 186 pp.
Gyeltshen T., Penjor T., Wangdi R. and Roder W. 1997. Tree fodder in subtropical regions of Bhutan. In: Proceedings of the 2nd Annual National Livestock Research Workshop, Bathplathang, Bumthang. RNR-RC Jakar, Bhutan, pp. 60–68.
Joshi D.C. and Ludri R.S. 1966. The chemical composition and nutritive value of timla (Ficus roxburghii) and Kharik (Celtis tentreda) tree fodders. Indian Veterinary Journal 43: 833–837.
Karki M.B. and Gold M.A. 1992. Evaluation of growth performance of ten commonly grown fodder tree species in central and western Nepal. Banko-Janakari 3(4): 21–26.
Lefroy E.C., Dann P.R., Wildin J.H., Wesley-Smith R.N. and McGowan A.A. 1992. Tress and shrubs as sources of fodder in Australia. Agorforestry Systems 20: 117–139.
Olsen R.K., Schoeneberger M.M. and Aschmann S.G. 2000. An ecological foundation for temperate agroforestry. In: Garrett H.E., Rietveld W.J. and Fisher R.F. (eds), North American Agroforestry: An Integrated Science and Practice. ASA, Madison, Wisconsin, USA, pp. 31–61.
Panday K. 1982. Fodder Trees and Tree Fodder in Nepal. Sahayogi Prakashan, Tripureshawar, Kathmandu, Nepal, 107 pp.
Paudel K.C., Suwal M.R.S. and Adhikari B. 1997. Results of a Tree Fodder Elimination Trial at Community Managed Kharbari Land in the Low Hills of Western Nepal.Working-Paper-Lumle Agricultural Research Centre. No. 97- 64, 6 pp.
Pearson R.A. 1990. A note on live weight and intake and digestibility of food by draught cattle after supplementation of rice straw with the fodder tree Ficus auriculata. Animal Production 51: 635–638.
Roder W. 1985. Fodder tree use in Bhutan. In: White L.D. and Tiedeman J.A. (eds), Proceeding of the International Rangelands Resources Development Symposium., Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, pp. 33–41.
Roder W. 1992. Experiences with tree fodder's in temperate regions of Bhutan. Agroforestry Systems 17: 263–270.
Roder W. and Dorjee J. 1990. Research needs and priorities in the area of tree fodders. Tsenden 2: 45–48.
Roder W., Wangdi K., Gyamtsho P. and Dorji K. 2001. Feeding the Herds - Improving Fodder Resources in Bhutan. ICIMOD, Kathmandu, 124 pp.
Singh R.V. 1982. Fodder Trees of India. Oxford and IBH publishing CO, New Delhi, India, 663 pp.
Tamang D.B. 1987. Nutrient composition of feed resources in Bhutan Bulleting No's I and II. Bhutan Journal of Animal Husbandry 10: 20–33.
Thorne P.J., Subba D.B., Walker D.H., Thapa B., Wood C.D. and Sinclair F.L. 1999. The basis of indigenous knowledge of tree fodder quality and its implications for improving the use of tree fodder in developing countries. Animal Feed Science and Technology 81: 119–131.
Turnbull J.W. and de la Cruz R.E. 1990. Tree technologies with potential to contribute to sustainability in marginal uplands of Southeast Asia. In: Blair G. and Lefroy R. (eds), Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture on Marginal Uplands in Southeast Asia, ACIAR Proceedings No. 33. Canberra, Australia, pp. 107–113.
Walker D.H., Thorne P.J., Sinclair F.L., Thapa B., Wood C.D. and Subba D.B. 2000. A systems approach to comparing indigenous and scientific knowledge: Consistency and discriminatory power of indigenous and laboratory assessment of the nutritive value of tree fodder. Agricultural Systems 62: 87–103.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Roder, W., Rinzin & Gyeltshen, T. Ficus auriculata — its relative importance in Bhutan, farmers' preference and fodder quality. Agroforestry Systems 57, 11–17 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022940009857
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022940009857