Fodder quality of in Bhutanese Environments

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AUTHOR: Kelzang Wangchuk , Karma Dorji ,Ugyen Lhendup and Tsering Gyeltsen

ABSTRACT

Ficus auriculat, a species of fig tree is widely used to augment winter fodder shortage in subtropical environments. Very limited studies were carried out to establish its nutritional qualities in Bhutanese environments. A study was conducted in 2004 with the objectives to quantify nutritional qualities and evaluate the effect of elevation and rainfall. 15 random samples were collected from 15 different sites under subtropical environment. Samples were collected from homogeneous trees in winter. Representative samples were analyzed for crude protein, acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and dry matter digestibility.

The nutritional properties were diverse and varied between sites. The nutritional quality was superior for trees at higher elevations and vice versa for the trees at lower elevations. It is concluded that there is diverse nutritional quality amongst populations of Ficus auriculata along environmental gradient.

KEYWORDS:

Ficus auriculata, nutritional quality, CP, NDF, ADF, elevation, rainfall.

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