TRADITIONAL TREE AND SHRUB FODDERS FOR LIVESTOCK FARMING IN SRI LANKA

A vast array of natural trees and shrubs are traditionally being used by livestock farmersdetermining the usefulness of them through their experience are traditionally using shrubs.These plants may be represented in writings over thousands years ago as fodder trees in Sri-Lankan traditional livestock farming systems. These range from short structure shrubs throughlarge trees which can grow to a height of 30m.Botanically they come under several plantfamilies and basically categorized 15 leguminous and non leguminous tree fodders and bothcategories are equally Important as foragesPremier reviews of the natural fodder trees and shrubs have been carried out in Sri Lanka byseveral investigators under several institutions. 'Those studies were mainly composed to regionalsurveys, laboratory analysis on the composition and adverse factors and simple feedingexperiments.Studies revealed that the most of tree and shrub leaves are rich in CP, Ca, Mg, and average in Pand S, low in Na and trace in Cu and Zn. The average Crude Protein (CP), Neutral DetergentFiber (NDF), Acid Detergent Fiber (ACF), Lignin, Cellulose and Total ash vary from 9.0 to28.1%,33.3 to 54.0%, 18.37 to 50.08%, 4.7 to 22.0%, 11.5to 24.8 and 4.6 to 14.7 respectively.There is a high variation in DCP (5.5 to 19.8%) and TDN (36.3 to 83.4%). In most of thespecies, In-vitro Organic matter Digestibility (IVOMD) value is between 45 to 55% while fewspecies show a value more than 55%,and less than 45% .In a nitrogen balance study, all the treefodder tested was able to maintain a positive nitrogen balance. Some natural tree fodder containsanti quality substances. Tannins are most popular substances, which occur in some tree leaves.Farmers currently overcome this problem by feeding mixtures of fodders, feeding in later stagersthat tannins are low in content and wilting or sun dryingLittle effort had been made to study and obtain information including production andconsumption under the natural habitats and their feeding limitations. Therefore increasedattention needs to given those as a team approach with all relevant institution