Identification and Nutritional Evaluation of Potential Indigenous Browse Species in Guba Lafto District, North Wollo, Ethiopia

The study was carried out in Guba lafto district, North Wollo zone of Amhara regional states of Ethiopia with the objective of identifying and nutritional evaluation of potential indigenous browse species. For the study the district was stratified in to three based on the altitude (low land, mid-high land and high land). Knowledgeable farmers of the three agro-ecologies were consulted to identify and describe major browse species of the areas. Foliage samples were collected and analyzed for their biomass yield and nutritional contents. Upon the study, 21 major browses were identified, of which 14 species were trees and 7 species were shrubs. Among identified species Acacia seyal, Acacia brevispica, Acacia asak, Oleaeuropea, Ziziphus mauritiana, Dodonia viscosa were the most dominant species of the district. The average nutrient composition of browse species was not significantly different among the three agro-ecologies (p>0.05). But, there were significant differences among species of the same agro ecologies. Dodonia viscosa, Acacia asak, Grewia bicolor, Combretem molle, Dracentastewdneri, Ziziphus mourtiana, Cordia africana, Acacia previspica, Croton machrostachyus, Salix subserrata, Helichrysumcitrispinum, Croton dichgamus and Maesalanceolata) had a greater CP content than the average CP content 20.40% reported in present study. Ash value ranged from 5.2-12.63%. Higher NDF content was observed in browses of low lands and mid-high lands (Grewia bicolor, 72% and Cordia africana 60.8%) respectively. Generally higher crude protein, low Ash, low NDF, low ADF and low ADL content was observed from highland. Lower CP, high NDF, high ADF and high ADL content was recorded from low land and midhighland areas. The study result also indicated that the browse species identified could be used as protein supplement for dry seasons and therefore, detailed study on raising the species and further animal feeding experiment is required for better justification of their importance.