Lantana camara: Poisonous Species and a Potential Browse Species for Goats in Southern Africa—A Review

Among the possible impacts of plant invaders on South African biodiversity, water supplies, and rangeland production, Lantana camara is ranked the highest in terms of its environmental impact. Globally, L. camara is regarded as one of the most ecologically and economically destructive invasive alien plants. The spread of L. camara affects the environment and threatens livestock productivity due to its toxicity to animals (especial cattle and sheep) in most semi-arid areas of South Africa. Lantana camara is known to have high concentrations of nutrients that are beneficial to livestock, but most previous research has concentrated on its toxicity. To enrich our knowledge on its nutritive value, further research has to evaluate its dietary impact on the growth and health of different ruminant livestock species, particularly goats. This review evaluates L. camara as a potential browse species for goats in southern Africa, and its adverse effects on goats and other ruminant livestock are also presented. The review describes L. camara and its distribution globally, its poisonous effect to livestock, and potential use as an alternative forage to browsing animals such as goats, which have proved resistant to its harmful traits. The high crude protein content, low fibre and adequate macro-minerals for small ruminants makes L. camara a good ruminant protein supplement in semi-arid areas. In addition to other biological control strategies, the prospects of using goats as a biological management tool is discussed. The research will contribute to the understanding of the control measures of L. camara while improving the productivity of small stock, especially goats. This means that a balanced understanding of its nutritional value as a source of protein and its negative impact on the environment should be considered in developing mitigation strategies to arrest its spread. We, therefore, recommend the use of goats in the control of L. camara; however, further studies are needed to limit its toxic effects, and thus improve its value.

Seasonal dynamics on nutritive value, chemical estimates and in vitro dry matter degradability of some woody species found in rangelands of South Africa

Unlocking browse species in semi-arid regions can be a key to improving the livestock productivity. The research was conducted to assess the browse species variation in chemical composition and in vitro dry matter degradability as influenced by seasonal (summer and winter) changes. Leaves from ten randomly selected browsable trees from sixteen species (Vachellia karroo, Senegalia nigrescens, Vachellia nilotica, Balanites maughamii, Berchemia discolor, Berchemia zeyheri, Bridelia mollis, Combretum collinum, Combretum imberbe, Dalbergia melanoxylon, Dichrostachys cinerea, Grewia monticola, Grewia occidentalis, Melia azedarach, Ormocarpum kirkii and Ziziphus mucronata) were harvested before defoliation from the site in two seasons (summer and winter) and dried at room temperature and then ground for analysis. Two-way analysis was used to analyse chemical composition and in vitro ruminal dry matter degradability. Melia azedarach (343.7 g/kg DM) had the highest (p < 0.0001) CP content in summer. In winter, B. maughamii (210.3 g/kg DM) had the highest (p < 0.05) crude protein content. Combretum collinum (2.90 Mcal/kg) had a highest (p < 0.0001) metabolizable energy value in summer. Bridelia mollis, B. maughamii, B. discolor, C. collinum, C. imberbe, O. kirkii, S. nigrescens, V. nilotica, G. occidentalis and B. zeyheri had the same (p > 0.0001) dry matter degradability (DMD) 48 values across two seasons. In both seasons, most of these browse species have the potential to supplement low quality natural grasses because they go beyond the minimum requirement of protein and have coherent amounts of fibre concentration. There is a need to assess the bioactive compounds found in these browse species for the amelioration and also to maximize browsing of these species.

Nutrients Profile of 52 Browse Species Found in Semi-Arid Areas of South Africa for Livestock Production: Effect of Harvesting Site

The use of these browse plant species as feed supplements to livestock is restricted due to a lack of knowledge about their nutritional status. This study was conducted to evaluate the nutritive value of woody browse species found in a semi-arid, as influenced by harvesting, site (Limpopo and North West Province). Limpopo had a Glenrosa, Mispah and Lithosols (GM-L) soil type and North West sites had an Aeolian Kalahari sand, Clovelly and Hutton (AKS-CH) soil type. Fresh leaves from fifty-two trees (five trees per species) were randomly selected and harvested from the site by hand-picking. Limpopo had forty-five browse species and North West had twenty-one browse species, respectively. The samples were air dried at room temperature and ground for laboratory analysis (nutritive value). The data were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (for those species that were not common in both sites) and two-way factorial (for those species that were common in both sites) in a completely randomized design. In the GM-L soil type, M. azedarach (223.2 g/kg DM) had the highest (p < 0.05) crude protein content (CP), whereas in the AKS-CH soil type, V. hebeclada (189.2 g/kg DM) had the highest (p < 0.05) CP content. Within each species, V. nilotica. Subsp. Krasssiana had the highest (p < 0.05) dry matter digestibility (725.4 g/kg DM), non-fibrous carbohydrates (607.3 g/kg DM), digestible energy (3.375 Mcal/kg) and metabolizable energy (2.771) content when compared to all the other browse species in both GM-L and AKS-CH soils. Melia azedarach in GM-L had the highest (p < 0.05) values in most amino acids’ parameters measured when compared to the same species in AKS-CH. Though the harvesting site had an effect on the nutritive value, all species, irrespective of the harvesting site, had sufficient CP to be used as a supplement to livestock exposed to the low-quality roughages. The results from this study will be useful for farmers and researchers through the provision of relevant information on how to improve livestock production. There is a need to run in vivo trials to determine the best species suitable for livestock sustainability.

Feed intake analysis and organ weights of growing west African dwarf goats fed some browse plants and a concentrate supplement diet

The study evaluated the feed intake and organ weights of sixteen growing West African dwarf bucks fed some browse species and a concentrate supplement diet. The goats were allotted into four (4) treatments of four goats each. The goats were fed leaves from Gmelina, (Gmelina aborea)) Tamarind, (Tamarindus, Neem (Azadirachta indica) and Teak leaves (Tectona grandis) at 200g/goat/day for Treatments 1, 2, 3and 4 respectively and a concentrate supplement diet at 100g per goat/day for a duration of fifty (50) days. Known volume of water was served, feed and water intake were monitored and recorded The experimental design was a completely randomized design ,data were analysed using a one way analysis of variance and least significant difference to separate the significant means using SPSS statistical package for windows 23 , 2015 version .Concentrate and browse samples were analysed using the methods of AOAC (2000) ,daily browse intake (134.22– 245.44g), total daily feed intake(225.53 – 339.87g), daily water intake(340.00– 420.00ml) and daily supplement intake values were all significantly (p>0.05) different across the treatment means . The water intake followed similar trend as the dry matter intake. All the organ weights were not significant (P<0.05), the weights were within normal ranges for goats. It was therefore concluded that Gmelina arborea was the most preferred by the goats in terms of intake, it also had the best array of nutrients. The four browse species were safe for the goats and were therefore recommended for goat feeding especially during the long dry season. Further research using other breeds and classes of goats as well as other species of ruminants such as sheep and cattle was also recommended.

Acacia angustissima (prairie acacia).

A. angustissima is a thornless shrub up to 4 m in height. This species is originally from Central America and tolerates a wide range of soils and climates, from high altitude pine-oak forests to extremely dry habitats in the lowlands of Mexico. A. angustissima is a deep-rooted nitrogen fixing pioneer, and is valuable in reducing soil erosion. It is a useful browse species, and may also be planted on acid soils. The species flowers prolifically and is a valuable honeybee plant. A. angustissima has shown great promise in recent alley cropping experiments in lowland Papua New Guinea (Brook, 1992), and may outperform more familiar species of Calliandra and Leucaena in biomass production. It performed best in a multipurpose tree evaluation in a range of sites in the same region from 20-1650 m in altitude (Brook et al., 1992). This species also showed promise in a range of trial sites in Zimbabwe, Ghana to Hawaii. Trials so far have been based on seed collected on an opportunistic basis, and further research is required on genetic improvement of the species throughout its range for international provenance trials. In some regions it may become an aggressive colonizer.

The Natural Forages of Northern Nigeria I. Nitrogen and Mineral composition of Grasses and Browse from the Northern Guinea Savanna and Standing Hays from the different Savanna Zones

THE mineral status of nine native grass species and ten browse species from the Northern Guinea Savanna Vegetation was investigated together with the mineral Composition of standing hays from Daura and Kano areas of the Sudan Savanna, Bauchi ranch of the sub-Sudan, Samaru (Shika Kadama) of the Northern Guinea Savanna and Jos area of the Plateau vegetation, in Northern Nigeria. All forage types (grasses, browse and standing hays) which were sampled in April of 1975 were analysed for nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu). The grass species included: Andropogon gayanus, A. ascinodis, Brachiaria jubata, Cynodon dactylon, Hyparthelia dissoluta, Pancium phragmitoides, Setaria anceps, Sporobolus pyramidalis and Urelytram muricatum, while the browse consisted of Adenodolichos panicu latus, Annogeissus leocarpus, Briddelia ferruginea, Crossopteryx febrifug, Dichrostachys cenerea (glometata), Khaya senegalensis, Mimosa pigra, Parinari curatellifolis, Psorospermum guineense, and Pterocarpus erinaceus. Both grass and browse species were leafy materials from among those Species considered to be highly consumed by cattle. in general, the average values for Na, P, and Zn in the grasses, browse and standing hays were inadequate for the nutritional needs of cattle one standing hays from all locations contained suboptimum amounts of N, Ca, P, K, Mg, Na and The Cu content of all three forage types was adequate for cattle nutrition. The grass and browse species contained adequate amounts of N, K, Mg and Cu. The trace elements and Ca and Mg tended to be more concentrated in the browse species than in the grass species. The opposite was true of K. Grasses, browse and standing hays contained equal amounts of Na. Similarly, the grass and browse species contained identical amounts of P. Supplementation of mineral concentrates to include Na, P, K, Ca and Zn was suggested.

Estimation of availability and distribution of browse species and number of small ruminant animals among farmers in selected communities of Nsukka Area of Enugu State.

A study of browse plants in Nsukka rural communities was conducted between February and March 2005. Structured questionnaires were administered to farmers in four communities in Nsukka Local Government Area. Twenty (20) browse species belonging to 14 families were identified. All the sampled respondents kept sheep and/or goats and depend on the natural pasture as the main source of browse plants for the animals. Fifty five per cent (55.0%) of the farmers sampled practised stall feeding while 45.0% of the respondents left the farm animals to roam and graze, especially during the dry season after crop harvests. The mean stock number per farmer in this study was 4.9 for goats and 1.0 for sheep with the highest numbers being in the Eha-Alumona community. In Obukpa community, sheep did not feature significantly. Species in the families of Bignonaceae, Chrysobalinaceae, Fabaceae, and Moraceae, are common in all the communities. The family of Moraceae has the largest number of commonly utilized browse plants.

PLANT PHYTATES AND OXALATES AND THEIR EFFECTS ON NUTRIENT UTILIZATION BY GOATS

The leaves of 37 browse species usually fed to ruminants in Nigeria were analysed for their phytic acid, pleytin - P and oxalic. The study indicated average phytic acid of phytic acid, i.e the mixed Ca and Mg salts contents ranged from 65.05 to 350.64 mg/g-1 in 18.32 - 100 mg g- and 0.10 -3.5 mg 100 mg. The Herbs leaves had the highest concentration Phytic acid while shrubs had the highest oxalate content. The in vivo trial with dwarf goats showed that, when maintained on browse and cassava peels, goats consumed 3.37 ±0.30 to 24.00 ±1.06 mg kg 1734 of phytic acid and 0.06 20.02 to 0.51 10.02 g d'W kg * 0.734 of oxalic acid. The CP, Ca and P intakes and excretion were also monitored. These two toxicants were correlated with protein; DM intake, DM digestibility and body weight Browse phytates and oxalates did not quite impair the performance of ruminant animals (Oke, 1996). Calcium animals significantly. Following digestion, nutrients sent into the soil Include Ca, P, N, C, being the main site of Zn etc.

Multipurpose uses of forage species, estimation of availability and distribution of grass species, and effect of location on the crude fibre and ash contents of common browse species in Nsukka, Nigeria

A study of multipurpose browse and grass species from four rural communities of Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State was conducted between 2005 and 2006. Structured questionnaires were administered to farmers in the four communities. A total of 38 plant species belonging to 24 plant families were identified as multipurpose browse species. A greater number of the plant species are used for fuel wood (22 species), for fruits and leaves as vegetables (20 species) and for human and veterinary medicine (16 species). Twenty seven species of these browse plants from 2 communities were subjected to nutritional evaluation of their ash and crude fibre contents. The percentage crude fibre content of Icancina trichantha (73. 8%) was highest compared with the other browse species. Browse species from Edemani community gave significantly (P < 0.05) higher crude fibre contents than those from Obukpa community. Elaeis guineensis had significantly (P < 0.05) the highest ash content (23.5%). Plants from Edemani had higher ash content (11.4%) than those from Obukpa community (8.1%). Location and species interaction significantly (P < 0.05) affected the ash contents of the browse plants. A total of 6 plants were identified as multipurpose grass species. A greater number of the grass species are used for soil fertility enrichment (4 species), for lighting (2 species) and as roofing materials (2 species). The most frequently used grass species (with mean usage = 15%) across all sampled communities include: Andropogon gayanus and Anthephora ampulaceae. All the grass species identified are moderately available in the area of study.