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Chemical composition and in vitro dry matter digestibility of parasitic plants reflect that of indigenous browse trees

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2017

O. R. Madibela ,
M. Letso ,
B. Makoba  and
O. Seitshiro
O. R. Madibela
Affiliation:
Sebele Station, Department of Agricultural Research, P/bag 0033, Gaborone, Botswana Department of Animal Science and Production, Botswana College of Agric, P/bag 0027, Gaborone, Botswana
M. Letso
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science and Production, Botswana College of Agric, P/bag 0027, Gaborone, Botswana
B. Makoba
Affiliation:
Sebele Station, Department of Agricultural Research, P/bag 0033, Gaborone, Botswana
O. Seitshiro
Affiliation:
Sebele Station, Department of Agricultural Research, P/bag 0033, Gaborone, Botswana
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Extract

Mistletoes are common parasitic plants that attach on branches of Acacia species, Boscia albitrunca, Ziziphus mucronata and other trees of semi-arid Botswana. These plants form an interesting alternative and additional feed resource, which could increase both mineral and protein intake of ruminants. Previous studies (Madibela et al., 2000, 2002) have shown that these parasitic plants have high crude protein and mineral levels than what is expected of natural grasses. The hypothesis is that the higher the nutritive value of host browse trees the higher it is in the parasitic plants.

Type
Feed Characterisation
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science , Volume 2003 , 2003 , pp. 173
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2003

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References

Madibela, O. R., Boitumelo, W. S. and Letso, M. (2000) Chemical composition and in vitro dry matter digestibility of four parasitic plants (Tapinanthus lugardii, Erianthenum ngamicum, Viscum rotundifolium and Viscum verrucosum) in Botswana. Animal Feed Science and Technology 84: 97–106 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Madibela, O. R., Letso, M., Boitumelo, W. S., Masedi, M. and Alton, K. (2002). Chemical composition of four parasitic plants harvested over a period of 6 months from two sites in Botswana. Animal Feed Science and Technology 95: 159–1.CrossRefGoogle Scholar