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Trees and shrubs as sources of fodder in Australia

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journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-26, 10:28 authored by Edward LefroyEdward Lefroy, Dann, PR, Wildin, JH, Wesley-Smith, RN, McGowan, AA
Experience with browse plants in Australia is briefly reviewed in terms of their forage value to animals, their economic value to the landholder and their ecological contribution to landscape stability. Of the cultivated species only two have achieved any degree of commercial acceptance (Leucaena leucocephala and Chamaecytisus palmensis). Both of these are of sufficiently high forage value to be used as the sole source of feed during seasonal periods of nutritional shortage. Both are also leguminous shrubs that establish readily from seed. It is suggested that a limitation in their present use is the reliance on stands of single species which leaves these grazing systems vulnerable to disease and insects. Grazing systems so far developed for high production and persistence of cultivated species involve short periods of intense grazing followed by long periods of recovery. Similar management may be necessary in the arid and semi-arid rangelands where palatable browse species are in decline.

History

Publication title

Agroforestry Systems

Volume

20

Article number

1-2'

Number

1-2'

Pagination

117-139

ISSN

0167-4366

Publication status

  • Published

Rights statement

The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com

Repository Status

  • Open

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