Yield and nutritive value of Anti-Taurus Mountain rangeland shrubs in Turkey

Abstract

Shrubs provide the bulk of feed for goats in the Mediterranean agropastoral farming systems, yet quantitative data on productivity and nutritive value of highland shrubs species that is needed to develop rangeland management strategies are limited. Edible fodder (EF) yield and concentrations of CP, ADF, NDF and IVOMD in the EF of shrubs were evaluated at Saksak and Candir in Yayladagi County of Antakya on the Anti-Taurus Mountains in Turkey. Significant variations in EF yield (8-4003 kg DM ha-1), CP (5.9-23.1%), ADF (19.9-38.4%), NDF (30.9-54.2%) and IVOMD (22.7- 56.7%) were recorded among the shrubs at Saksak. Similarly, variations in EF yield (202-1523 kg DM ha-1), CP (5.9-13.2%), ADF (22.8-37.7%), NDF (38.3-53.6%) and IVOMD (29.3-51.4%) were significant among the shrubs at Candir. Based on digestible organic matter yield, the shrubs could be ranked as: Daphne sericea > Calycotome infesta > Styrax officinalis > Cistus salviaefolius > Rhamnus alaternus > Laurus nobilis > Juniperus oxycedrus > Quercus coccifera > Pistacia terebentis in Saksak; and Daphne sericea > Styrax officinalis > Cistus salviaefolius > Juniperus oxycedrus > Quercus coccifera > Pistacia terebentis in Candir. D. sericea, S. officinalis, C. salviaefolius and C. infesta showed greater potential for development of agroforestry technologies to increase rangeland productivity in the Anti-Taurus Mountains region and similar highland environments in other parts of the world. Further research on cheaper methods of establishment, defoliation options to optimize and sustain edible fodder and wood production, fodder quality in terms of outputs of livestock products may be needed.