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Forage Palatability of Broussonetia Papyrifera an Invasive Species in Ghana: Relative Preference and Palatability by Sheep and Goats Obour, R

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Forage Palatability of Broussonetia Papyrifera an Invasive Species in Ghana: Relative Preference and Palatability by Sheep and Goats Obour, R JENRM, Vol. 2, No. 2, 63-70, 2015 Research Article Forage palatability of Broussonetia papyrifera an invasive species in Ghana: Relative preference and palatability by sheep and goats Obour, R. 1*,Oppong, S. K. 2,Abebrese, I. K. 3 Abstract Broussonetia papyrifera is an exotic tree widely grown for paper production. Due to its prolific regeneration it has invaded forest canopy gaps and degraded farmlands and has now become an invasive species in Ghana. In enhancing its value for use the plant was evaluated as potential forage for grazing animals vis-à-vis other two existing forage plants: Ficus exasperata and Leucaena leucocephala.The study assessed the palatability and preference of Broussonetia papyrifera using sheep and goats for the wet and dry seasons.The species were assessed in indoor pen feeding trials using eight-unit (3×3 m) pens with the cafeteria method. The amount of forage offered was 100g (fresh material) in all instances for each species and for ten minutes. Adesign based on 3×2×2 factorial in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used to test the differences in palatability between the three forage species.Results revealed that palatability was higher (P<0.05) in Leucaena leucocephala compared with Ficus exasperata and Broussonetia papyrifera for sheep and goats across seasons. The trend shown might be the result of the effects of familiarity with the Leucaena leucocephala since animals tend to select plants that are familiar than newly introduced and unfamiliar plants. The study also revealed high level of condensed tannin (CT) in Broussonetia papyrifera which might have interfered with forage intake by the animals.There were no significant differences in palatability of Broussonetia papyrifera for goat in both dry and wet season interactions and Ficus exasperata for goat in both dry and wet season interactions (P>0.05).The study concluded that Broussonetia papyrifera could be a potential feed for both sheep and goats across seasons.The research recommended that livestock farmers should incorporate Broussonetia papyrifera feed into their programmes for both sheep and goats and should be introduced to animals from infancy so that it may become a familiar feed for them. Keywords Invasive species—Broussonetia papyrifer—Leucaena leucocephala—Ficus exasperata—Palatability—Preference 1,3School of Natural Resources, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani Ghana 2Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. *Corresponding author: [email protected] Contents 4.3 Palatability of forage species by sheep and goats across the seasons . 67 1 INTRODUCTION 63 5 CONCLUSION 68 2 MATERIAL AND METHODS 64 6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 68 2.1 Study area and Sample collection . 64 References 68 2.2 Data Collection and Statistical Analysis . 64 2.3 Experimental treatments, procedure and design . 64 1. INTRODUCTION 2.4 Experimental design . 65 Broussonetia papyrifera (paper mulberry) is an exotic 2.5 Data analysis . 65 tree species of the moraceae family native of the Indo- 3 RESULTS 65 Malayan region, China, Japan and the pacific region. It is 3.1 Forage palatability of goats and sheep across the seasons 66 widely grown for paper production in its native home [1]. Broussonetia papyrifera was introduced into Ghana by the 3.2 Effect of species, animals and seasons on forage palatability 66 Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG) in 1969 to form part of an experimental programme to identify 4 DISCUSSION 66 species for the local production of industrial cellulose [2]. 4.1 effect of secondary metabolites on selection and palatability However, due to its prolific regeneration pattern it got of forages . 66 out of hand and invaded large canopy gaps and degraded 4.2 Preference for forage species by sheep and goats across the farmlands in and outside the two forest reserves that it seasons . 67 was introduced. 246 Journal of Energy and Natural Resource Management (JENRM) JENRM, Vol. 2, No. 2, 63-70, 2015 Forage palatability of Broussonetia papyrifera an invasive species in Ghana: Relative preference and palatability by sheep Research Article and goats — 64/70 Recently, however, it is being argued that means of rainy season occurs from April to the end of July, while enhancing the value of Broussonetia papyrifera for use the period from September to late October is the minor Forage palatability of Broussonetia papyrifera an must be exploited rather than eradication. Farmers in season [12]. The soils of the area are made up of ferric the invaded areas in Ghana use the bark as one of the acrisols [13]. invasive species in Ghana: Relative preference and reliable materials for tying goods while the wood serves Forages for the experiment; Broussonetia papyrifera, as a highly inflammable low density fuel wood. There are Ficus exasperata and Leucaena leucocephala, were col- palatability by sheep and goats claims by some farmers of good food crop yield on soils lected from the Tano South District in the Brong Ahafo under Broussonetia stands. The leaves of the species are Region. The area lies between latitudes 7o00 and 7o25 Obour, R. 1*,Oppong, S. K. 2,Abebrese, I. K. 3 also used by farmers in the invaded areas to feed livestock, north and between longitudes 1o45 and 2o15 west. It especially during the dry season [3]. [4] (1988) in a study lies in the Dry Semi- deciduous Forest Zone (DSDFZ) of in China observed high protein content and good efficiency Abstract Ghana with the semi-equatorial climatic type which expe- of nitrogen utilization in Broussonetia papyrifera when Broussonetia papyrifera is an exotic tree widely grown for paper production. Due to its prolific regeneration it has invaded forest riences double maximum rainfall pattern, from April to canopy gaps and degraded farmlands and has now become an invasive species in Ghana. In enhancing its value for use the plant fed to Formosa Sika deer. However, this results, which is July and from September to October [14]. The mean an- was evaluated as potential forage for grazing animals vis-à-vis other two existing forage plants: Ficus exasperata and Leucaena animal-specific does not represent the general situation. nual rainfall is 1304.3mm. The dry season occurs between leucocephala.The study assessed the palatability and preference of Broussonetia papyrifera using sheep and goats for the wet and The feeding value of a forage is a function of both intake the months of November and March. Mean monthly tem- dry seasons.The species were assessed in indoor pen feeding trials using eight-unit (3×3 m) pens with the cafeteria method. and nutritive value [5], and intake can be influenced by peratures range between 22oC (August) and 30oC (March) The amount of forage offered was 100g (fresh material) in all instances for each species and for ten minutes. Adesign based forage palatability [6]. Since variations in nutritive value [12]. The soil of the area consists of forest ochrosols and on 3×2×2 factorial in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used to test the differences in palatability between of a species when planted outside its geographical range the rubrisol-ochrosol intergrades. They are alkaline and the three forage species.Results revealed that palatability was higher (P<0.05) in Leucaena leucocephala compared with Ficus is possible, there is the need to carry out thorough studies are more richly supplied with nutrients. exasperata and Broussonetia papyrifera for sheep and goats across seasons. The trend shown might be the result of the effects on Broussonetia papyrifera in Ghana to unearth its forage of familiarity with the Leucaena leucocephala since animals tend to select plants that are familiar than newly introduced and potential. 2.2 Data Collection and Statistical Analysis unfamiliar plants. The study also revealed high level of condensed tannin (CT) in Broussonetia papyrifera which might have The taxonomy [7], reproduction [8], physical and me- 2.2.1 Selection of investigated plant material interfered with forage intake by the animals.There were no significant differences in palatability of Broussonetia papyrifera for chanical properties [9] and uses [10] of Broussonetia pa- goat in both dry and wet season interactions and Ficus exasperata for goat in both dry and wet season interactions (P>0.05).The The investigated species were selected based on the fact study concluded that Broussonetia papyrifera could be a potential feed for both sheep and goats across seasons.The research pyrifera have been well documented. Studies done in that Broussonetia papyrifera, an invasive and non-leguminous recommended that livestock farmers should incorporate Broussonetia papyrifera feed into their programmes for both sheep and Ghana on the species by [11] include the seedling growth plant, has never been investigated for its forage potential, goats and should be introduced to animals from infancy so that it may become a familiar feed for them. response to light and drought, fruiting and viability pat- although there are reports that certain livestock feed on it terns, seed dispersal mechanisms, preferred micro sites, Keywords in the invaded areas. Ficus exasperata is also a common competitive ability in association with some indigenous Invasive species—Broussonetia papyrifer—Leucaena leucocephala—Ficus exasperata—Palatability—Preference and widespread non-leguminous forage species which is forest tree species, natural regeneration and its recov- available throughout the seasons. It is also judged by 1,3School of Natural Resources, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani Ghana ery after fire. The nutritive value and palatability of the livestock farmers, who have fairly accurate knowledge of 2 Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and species have, however, not been investigated, thus making plants eaten by their livestock, to be palatable to goats Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
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