Yield and Chemical Composition of Major Fodder Tree Species in Nepal

Livestock farming system in the hills and mountain of Nepal is based on the use of fodder tree foliage in animal diets. Fodder tree leaves are the major source of ruminant feed, usually fed as a supplement to crop by products or green grasses, during the winter seasons from December to May. The ranking of available fodder trees, production level, available season, and its palatability has not been assessed which has been presented in this book. Among more than 500 fodder trees species, top 10 fodder trees have been assessed and ranged considering the seasonal availability, productivity, preference of the animal and level of polyphenolichs. The top ranking three fodder tree species (1) Artocarpus lakoocha , (2) Litsea polyanthus and (3) Ficus lacor are selected and ranged among 10 fodder tree species which are good in biomass production, safe for ruminant feeding with less content, within the safe range in polyphenolics content. The aim to publish this book is to bring morphological, production, and nutritional information of selected top ranked fodder tree species species that can be used by academicians, researchers, students, and farmer to manage livestock feeding during winter.