Skip to main content
Erschienen in: Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 1/2017

Open Access 01.12.2017 | Research

Ethnobotanical studies of fodder grass resources for ruminant animals, based on the traditional knowledge of indigenous communities in Central Punjab Pakistan

verfasst von: Nidaa Harun, Abdul Shakoor Chaudhry, Shabnum Shaheen, Kifayat Ullah, Farah Khan

Erschienen in: Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine | Ausgabe 1/2017

Abstract

Background

Traditional knowledge of indigenous plants is pivotal in developing strategies to feed livestock sustainably in low input systems. Likewise, in Pakistan the indigenous people of Central Punjab have been using their regional grasses as a ruminant fodder for centuries. This study evaluated the indigenous traditional knowledge to ascertain the value of various fodder grasses to optimise their use to feed livestock in Central Punjab.

Methods

The snowball technique was employed to identify key informants who had relevant knowledge about different grasses in the study area. Semi-structured questionnaires, face-to-face interviews and site visits were used for describing the fodder grasses. The data were then analysed by using relative frequency citation and pairwise comparison methods to determine the order of priority among the listed fodder grasses. Furthermore, SPSS 22 software was used for descriptive statistics and interpretation of associations among studied parameters. Microsoft Excel was used to present data as % values and graphs.

Results

Overall, 53 grasses were described with ethnobotanical information regarding their uses for fodder, ethnoveterinary and other purposes. All these grasses belonged to the family Poaceae where the subfamily Panicoideae had the maximum number of 30 grasses. We categorized these grasses into high (A), medium (B) and low priority (C) groups where the group A grasses were reported as not only the most abundant but also the most palatable forages to all ruminants. Their higher demand was reflected by the feeding systems of both ad libitum grazing and feeding after cutting and mixing with other feeds. The study also revealed 37 previously unreported ethnoveterinary uses of these grasses.

Conclusions

The results have reinforced the value of conserving ethnobotanical knowledge, being poorly documented previously, in developing strategies to feed livestock. It indicated the preferred fodder grasses as well as the possible reasons of their preference. The reported data need to be validated for nutritional and health benefits. This information could help the smallholder farmers in association with regional governments to propagate suitable fodder grasses for their use in sustainable livestock feeding to produce safe and healthy food for indigenous communities.
Abkürzungen
A
Abundant
Bu
Buffalo
C
Common
Ca
Cattle
F
Frequent
FC
Focal person count
FG
Free grazing
Go
Goat
MF
Mixed with feed
N
total number of informants
NR
Not Reported
O
Occasional
PC
Pairwise comparison
R
Rare
RA
Relative abundance
RFC
Relative frequency citation
Sh
Sheep
SPSS
Statistical Package for the Social Sciences

Background

The agriculture and livestock industry are playing a predominant role in Pakistan’s economy. Around 43.5% individuals are linked with this industry with its 21% contribution in Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In this sector the most protuberant role has been made by the Punjab province in comparison to all other provinces of Pakistan [1].
Geographically Punjab is subdivided into south, north, west and central regions [2]. Amongst all the regions of Punjab the Central region is primarily involved in the production of milk and meat from ruminants. Although this area is blessed with diversified fodders (trees, shrubs, herbs and grasses), grasses are conventionally the most common and reliable fodder source for ruminant animals. The indigenous people prefer to use grass as a fodder because grasses are observed to be more palatable than shrubby fodders by ruminant animals [36]. Moreover the grasses have massive growth abilities around different seasons and these are conveniently more accessible. Therefore, this study aimed to provide comprehensive information on the traditionally used fodder grasses of Central Punjab Pakistan.
Indigenous communities which have been involved in livestock handling possess a significant knowledge about potential forage resources [7]. Many countries (e.g. India, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Mexico, China and Uganda) around the world understand the worth of this traditional knowledge and therefore they had documented this classic data about fodder plants from various ethnic groups [710]. Even in Pakistan multiple ethnobotanical studies have been carried out in different cities of Central Punjab but the previous studies were more focussed on the ethnomedicinal values rather than the fodder significance of indigenous plants. Additionally, these studies seemed to be mostly engaged with fodder trees, herbs or shrubs and not with grasses [1115]. However grasses are one of most promising fodder resources of this region. While a few ethnobotanical studies involving grasses were conducted in some regions of Pakistan, their main focus was to evaluate the significance of those grasses for human health [16]. Inadequate records about the traditionally used fodder grasses of this region indicated the vulnerability of particular traditional knowledge to being vanished and overlooked Therefore it is crucial to manuscript this traditional knowledge about the preference for fodder grasses by the rural communities of Central Punjab, Pakistan.
This ethno botanical survey based study not only aimed to describe many traditionally used fodder grasses but also to set out an order of priority on the basis of their usage for different ruminant animals. The study also evaluated the relative abundance, medicinal worth, delectableness, and feeding systems of these grasses for ruminants.

Methods

Study area

The southern boundary of River Jhelum down to River Sutlej surrounds the planes of Central Punjab. This region is comprised of 19 districts which are grouped into 3 agro-ecological zones. Among these 3 zones 6 representative cities i.e. Kasur, Faisalabad, Vehari (Northern irrigated zone), Sargodha (Sandy deserts zone), Gujrat, and Narowaal (Barani zone) were selected. As the northern irrigated zone is the largest zone, maximum numbers of 3 targeted areas were selected from it. These areas are not only the main producers of ruminant milk and meat but also these are distantly apart from each other which helped the collection of diversified ethnobotanical data from this region. In these districts, the remote rural areas were actually targeted due to their reliance on conventional fodder grasses as a feed for raising their ruminant animals (Fig. 1).

Ethnobotanical survey and data collection

The primary goal of this survey was to collect ethnobotanical information about fodder grasses from local ruminant caretakers. Before collecting the data, formal ethical permission was obtained from the chairperson of local government and individual informants of selected study areas. The data were collected between the months of March 2014 to February 2015 from remote and less developed villages of targeted cities. A total of 137 informants were chosen by employing snowball sampling technique. The informants included male and female village leaders, shepherds, ruminant caretakers who worked in indigenous farms and some senior domestic animal caretakers in each of the selected areas (Table 1). Group discussions and individual ethnobotanical semi-structured interviewing techniques were used for data collection [17, 18]. The questionnaires were constructed in English. However, for ease in communicating with the local people during interviews and group discussions their indigenous language (different dialects of Punjabi) was used and the answers were translated back to English. The questionnaire included the following questions: (1) Which fodder grasses are most likely to be fed to their ruminant animals? (2) What is the palatability of their chosen grasses? (3) Which part did the animals consume? (4) What are their feeding mode, were they free grazing alone or supplemented or offered as cut grass mixed with other feeds? (5) Do the listed fodder grasses have any ethno veterinary use? (6) What are their other indigenous uses apart from the fodder and ethno veterinary uses?
Table 1
Demography of informants of this study area
Type of Informants
Young aged
Middle aged
Seniors
Total
25–35 years
36–50 years
51–65 years
Local shepherds (Female)
2
5
0
7
Local shepherds (Male)
13
23
7
43
Farmed Ruminant care takers (Female)
2
4
3
9
Farmed Ruminant care takers ((Male)
9
11
3
23
Domestic Ruminant care takers (Female)
11
15
8
34
Domestic Ruminant care takers (Male)
6
12
3
21
Total informants
43
70
24
137

Fodder grass sampling and authentication

For the identification and collection of fodder grass samples, several site visits were made with some knowledgeable indigenous people. They helped the surveyor in identification and collection of particular fodder grass from its habitat. The details of each specimen i.e. date of collection; habitat, local names and flowering periods were also recorded during each site visit.
After their collection, each fodder grass sample was identified by comparing their morphological characters with already available grass specimens in the herbariums of Lahore College for Women University, Lahore and the Quaid i Azam University, Islamabad. Along these two herbaria, online available plant databases like flora of Pakistan (http://​www.​efloras.​org/​index.​aspx), flora of India (https://​sites.​google.​com/​site/​efloraofindia/​) and some other grass flora identification keys [19, 20] were also consulted for their identification and authentication. Afterward the voucher numbers were allotted to all specimens, which were then submitted to the Botany Herbarium of Lahore College for Women University (LCWU).

Estimation of relative abundance

The most commonly used method of visual assessment was employed for measuring the relative abundance of ethnobotanically enlisted grass species in study area [21]. In this method number of plots randomly selected in study area and the presence of each listed species were counted and recorded. Afterwards percentage relative abundance was calculated by using the following formula;
$$ \mathrm{Relative}\ \mathrm{abundance}\ \mathrm{of}\ \mathrm{species}=\frac{\mathrm{Total}\ \mathrm{percentage}\ \mathrm{Cover}\ \mathrm{of}\ \mathrm{species}\ \mathrm{in}\ \mathrm{all}\ \mathrm{plots}}{\mathrm{Number}\ \mathrm{of}\ \mathrm{plots}\ \mathrm{estimated}}\times 100 $$
The species were then grouped into different categories i.e. Abundant, Common, Frequent, Occasional and Rare (ACFOR) by using relevant scales of abundance (Table 2).
Table 2
Abundance categories and scale of reported grasses
Abundance scale
Abundance categories
Coverage of grass species
+
Rare (R)
<5%
1
Occasional (O)
5–20%
2
Frequent (F)
20–50%
3
Common (C)
50–90%
4
Abundant (A)
90–100%

Data analysis

All the recorded data values were tabulated by using Microsoft excel 2013. Two data analysis methods i.e., Relative Frequency of Citation and Pairwise comparison method were applied to find out the priority order of their grass utilization as described below:
a)
Relative frequency of citation (RFC)
 
This tool helped us to set up the priority order among the listed fodder grasses. Its value depended upon the numbers of respondents that had mentioned a particular grass species as a good fodder indicating its significance. The RFC was estimated by using the following eq. [22].
$$ \mathrm{RFC}=\mathrm{FC}/\mathrm{N}\left(0<\mathrm{RFC}<1\right) $$
where
FC = number of respondents who stated that particular grass species as a good fodder, N = total number of respondents included in study
b)
Pairwise comparison method (PC)
 
In combination to RFC another data analysis tool called PC method was also employed to establish a priority order among listed fodder grasses [23]. In this method a comparative matchup chart (Table 3) was constructed between different fodder grasses and then each informant was asked to vote their preferable fodder grass among those. Each species got 1 point if the respondents preferred it over the other fodder grass. The half point was allotted to each of them if they were ranked equal by the respondents. Finally, all points were added for each grass species to predict their priority order of utilization.
c)
Cluster analysis & descriptive Statistics
 
Table 3
Template of comparative matchup chart used for pairwise comparison for different grasses
Fodder grasses
Species A
Species B
Species C
Species D
Species E
Total votes
Rank
Species A
…………
      
Species B
 
……………
     
Species C
  
………….
    
Species D
   
………….
   
Species E
    
…………
  
For making groups of high and low priority fodder grasses, Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (Squared Euclidean distance method) in the SPSS 22 software was applied to the RFC values. Moreover, descriptive statistical analysis (frequency and cross tabulation) was also employed to find out the association between different parameters of the survey.
d)
Graphical illustrations
 
Microsoft Excel was used to convert selected data items into different types of graphical illustrations.

Results and discussions

Demography of study area

The informants of this study were divided into 3 major age groups i.e. 25–35 years, 36–50 years and 51–65 years. The maximum number of informants was local shepherds (41%) because they were the key users of these fodder grasses. It was also observed that in this category most informants were males (84%) and the rest were females (16%). Similarly, in farms there were more men (72%) than women (28%). The less number of females as shepherds and farmers showed the cultural pattern of the study area where females were not expected to work in an outdoor environment in this region. Therefore, much higher (60%) number of females was recorded for the category of domestic animal caretakers (Table 1). Regarding their education level, most respondents had completed either 5 years of primary (70%) or 8 years of middle (21%) level education and a few with no education (7%) alongside 2% with incomplete education (Fig. 2). The animal care takers working in farms were different from the domestic animal care takers in terms of their education. Most of those had 8 years of education with additional training in animal handling and hygiene control measures. It was interesting to note that almost all the informers who were relying on wild grasses as a fodder for their animals, were financially not very sound. Therefore, one of the possible reason for them to utilize these grasses, could be that these grasses were a cost free fodder resource for them to use as a feed for their ruminant animals.

Taxonomic diversity of fodder grasses

This study revealed that ruminants of Central Punjab Pakistan were fed on a diversified range of wild grasses. As expected, the grass types and their availability did vary between and within the 3 agro-ecological zones of Central Punjab. However, no distinction for this variation was made between these zones when assessing the data for this comprehensive report on 53 ethnobotanical fodder grasses of Central Punjab, Pakistan (Table 4). It appeared during the taxonomic identification process that all of these documented fodder grass species were members of the family Poaceae which is well known for its fodder significance. The value of Poaceae family as fodders is recognised by various ethnobotanical studies from various regions such as those in Africa, India China and even in the lesser Himalayan and Thal dessert of Pakistan [7, 2428] These ethno botanically listed species belonged to 39 genera which had links with 8 different tribes and 5 subfamilies i.e. Aristidoideae (Aristideae), Arundinoideae (Arundineae), Panicoideae (Paniceae, Andropogoneae), Chloridoideae (Eragrostideae, Chlorideae) and Pooideae (Aveneae, Bromea). Among these subfamilies, Panicoideae was ranked as the top with 30 fodder members and subfamily Aristidoideae attained the least position because it had only 1 member grass being was used as a fodder (Fig. 3). Similar fodder value of subfamily Panicoideae has been well supported by the literature [29].
Table 4
Ethnobotanical descriptions, uses, abundance; focal persons count (FC) and relative frequency citation (RFC) of 53 fodder grasses
Subfamily
Voucher no.
Binomial name
Local name
Palatable to
Fodder part
Feeding method
Ethno veterinary uses
Other uses
RA
FC(n)
RFC
Pooideae
LCWU-0360
Agrostis gigantea Roth.
Lamba gaah
Ca, Sh
Leaves
FG, MF
used against allergic reactions
NR
C
85
0.62
LCWU-0385
Avena sativa L.
Jai
Ca, Bu, Sh, Go
Aerial
FG, MF
Detoxifier
Part of human food
F
51
0.372
LCWU-0364
Bromus japonicus Thunb.
Joukai
Go, Sh
Aerial
FG, MF
Treat constipation
Crop cover during harsh winters
C
82
0.599
LCWU-0386
Dactylis glomerata L.
Gadu
Go, Sh
Leaves
FG
Diuretic
NR
O
33
0.241
LCWU-0387
Lolium temulentum Linn.
Cockle
Sh, Go
Leaves
FG
Nervous disorders
NR
O
33
0.241
LCWU-0377
Phalaris minor Retz.
Dumbi sitti
Sh, Go
Aerial
FG
Extract helpful to cure animal cough
keep mouse at bay from wheat storage areas
A
76
0.555
LCWU-0389
Poa annua L.
Poa
Ca
Whole
FG
Remove debris from wounded area
NR
F
51
0.372
LCWU-0388
Poa infirma Kunth.
Wakh
Ca, Go
Whole
FG
NR
NR
F
49
0.358
LCWU-0391
Polypogon monspeliensis (L.) Desf.
Malhar
Sh, Go
Aerial
FG
Infusions used to normalize the increased heart palpitations
NR
F
47
0.343
Arundinoideae
LCWU-0361
Arundo donax L
Nara bans, Nal
Ca, Bu
Leaves
FG, MF
Diuretic, Antiseptic
Dried plant parts used as fuel and shelters. Stems also used to make flutes
A
74
0.54
LCWU-0390
Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud.
Dila
Ca, Sh
Leaves
MF
Digestive disorders
Used in construction of adobe houses. The mature and dried stems also used in making of musical instruments.
O
31
0.226
Aristidoideae
LCWU-0391
Aristida adscensionis Linn.
Lumb Gaah
Ca, Sh
Aerial
FG
Controls itching
Revegetation, stabilizes sand dunes
F
43
0.314
Chloridoideae
LCWU-039
Acrachne racemosa (Heyne ex Roth) Ohwi
Chinki
Ca
Whole
FG
NR
Grain used by people in food scarcity
O
29
0.212
LCWU-0369
Cynodon dactylon (Linn.) Pers.
Khabbal, Tala, Chaber
Ca, Bu, Sh, Go
Whole
FG, MF
Paste of leaves controls dysentery and anti-inflammatory to wounded areas of animal’s body
NR
A
95
0.693
LCWU-0370
Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) Wild.
Koora, Madanah
Ca, Sh
Whole
FG
Used to reduce after birth abdominal pains
NR
A
78
0.569
LCWU-0371
Desmostachya bipinnata (L.) Stapf
Kusa, Dab
Ca, Bu
Aerial
FG, MF
Digestive disorders, Dysentery
Used as roof covers and in making of brooms
A
76
0.555
LCWU-0373
Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.
Chezi
Ca
Aerial
FG, MF
Cure digestive disorders
Used in making ropes and mats
A
91
0.664
LCWU-0392
Enneapogon persicus Boiss.
Jiu
Ca
Whole
FG
NR
NR
F
46
0.336
LCWU-0395
Eragrostis japonica (Thunb.) Trin.
Panghas
Ca, Bu, Sh, Go
Whole
FG, MF
NR
NR
F
48
0.35
LCWU-0374
Eragrostis minor Host.
Choti ghas
Ca, Bu, Sh, Go
Whole
FG, MF
Digestive disorders
seeds used as food in food scarcity times
A
90
0.657
LCWU-0393
Eragrostis pilosa (L.) P. Beauv.
Nika sanwak
Ca, Bu, Sh, Go,
Whole
FG
Help to cure contusion
NR
O
52
0.38
LCWU-0398
Leptochloa panicea (Retz.) Ohwi
Paja
Ca
Whole
FG
NR
Basketry material
R
33
0.241
LCWU-0399
Tetrapogon villosus Desf.
Sager
Ca
Aerial
FG
NR
NR
R
39
0.285
Panicoideae
LCWU-0400
Apluda mutica L.
Tachuli
Ca
Aerial
FG
Disinfectant, Digestive disorders
used for thatching with combination of other grass materials
R
30
0.219
LCWU-0362
Bothriochloa bladhii (Retz.) S.T. Blake
Palvan
Ca, Bu, Sh, Go
Aerial
FG, MF
Improves digestion
helps in re vegetation
A
91
0.664
LCWU-0363
Brachiaria ramosa (Linn.) Stapf
Sawari, Jhanda
Ca
Whole
FG
Leaves work as antiseptic
NR
F
51
0.372
LCWU-0396
Brachiaria reptans (Linn.) Gardner & Hubbard
Hausa
Ca
Whole
FG
Leaves juice helps to cure anaemia, also used as laxatives
Sometime seeds used as food
C
84
0.613
LCWU-0397
Cenchrus biflorus Roxb.
Bhurat
Ca, Bu
Aerial
FG
Diuretic
NR
F
52
0.38
LCWU-0365
Cenchrus ciliaris L.
Dhaman
Ca, Bu
Aerial
FG, MF
Diuretic
NR
A
88
0.642
LCWU-0366
Cenchrus pennisetiformis Steud.
Bara Dhaman
Ca, Bu
Whole
FG
NR
Herbicidal
C
80
0.584
LCWU-0401
Cenchrus setiger Vahl.
Kala dhaman
Ca
Aerial
FG
Antiseptic
NR
R
35
0.255
LCWU-0367
Chrysopogon aucheri (Boiss.) Stapf
Khar, Chorkanda
Ca, Bu, Sh, Go
Aerial
FG, MF
Digestive disorders
NR
A
78
0.569
LCWU-0368
Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty
Vetiver, Khuss
Ca
Leaves
FG, MF
Antiseptic, anti-inflammatory
Used in rehabilitation of land, also for making barriers around territories
A
78
0.569
LCWU-0402
Cymbopogon jwarancusa (Jones.) Schult
Khavi, Kathori
Ca, Bu, Sh, Go
Whole
FG
Diuretic and improve fertility in bull
Extract used as mosquito repellent
O
28
0.204
LCWU-0372
Dichanthium annulatum (Forssk.) Stapf
Palwan, Murgha
Ca, Bu, Sh, Go
Whole
FG, MF
Digestive disorders
Considered herbicidal
A
91
0.664
LCWU-0403
Digitaria ciliaris (Retz.) Koeler
Shamokha
Sh, Go
Whole
FG
NR
NR
O
50
0.365
LCWU-0407
Digitaria longiflora (Retz.) Pers.
Deeta
Sh, Go
Whole
FG
NR
NR
O
45
0.328
LCWU-0408
Echinochloa colona (L.) Link
Jungli chowol
Ca, Bu, Sh, Go
Whole
FG
Digestive disorders
Stems are used for weaving mats and sometime used as food.
F
52
0.38
LCWU-0404
Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv.
Sanwak
Ca
Whole
FG
Digestive disorders
Seldom used for reclamation of alkaline soils
O
48
0.35
LCWU-0375
Heteropogon contortus (L.) P Beauv. Ex. Roem & Schult.
Pili, Butto jara
Ca
Aerial
FG, MF
Digestive disorders
handicrafts and thatching
C
73
0.533
LCWU-0376
Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeuschel
Siru
Ca, Bu, Sh, Go
Whole
FG
Fumigant for Piles
biological pesticide
A
83
0.606
LCWU-0405
Ottochloa compressa (Forssk.) Hilu
Chimbar, Phalwan
Ca
Aerial
FG
NR
NR
R
35
0.255
LCWU-0406
Panicum antidotale Retz.
Gharam
Ca
Whole
FG
Disinfectant
NR
O
61
0.445
LCWU-0409
Paspalidium distichum L.
Knot grass
Ca
Whole
FG
NR
NR
O
53
0.387
LCWU-0501
Pennisetum orientale Rich.
Haathi ghaa
Ca
Whole
FG
Oral infections
NR
O
60
0.438
LCWU-0378
Saccharum bengalense Retz.
Kana, Sarkand A
Ca, Bu, Sh, Go
Leaves
FG, MF
Leaves used to treat oral problems of ruminants
Dried plants used as fuel, thatching and making of writing pens
C
78
0.569
LCWU-0379
Saccharum spontaneum L
Kaa
Ca
Leaves
MF, FG
Root help to relieve in inflammation and urinary problems
Used as paper pulp as well as in making of ropes, baskets and brooms.
C
76
0.555
LCWU-0381
Setaria pumila (Poir) Roem. & Schult.
Ban kangni
Ca
Aerial
FG, MF
Oral infections
Used to tie knot bundles of grain together
A
85
0.62
LCWU-0500
Setaria verticillata (L.) P. Beauv.
Barchittas
Sh, Go
Leaves
FG
Flatulence problem
Used in making of baskets
O
27
0.197
LCWU-0380
Setaria viridis (L.) P. Beauv.
Kangni
Ca, Bu, Sh, Go
Whole
FG, MF
Seeds used to treat bruises and also effective as diuretic.
NR
A
91
0.664
LCWU-0382
Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench
Jowar
Ca, Bu, Sh, Go
Aerial
FG, MF
Help to cure wounds, anaemia and constipation
Part of human food and also used to make sweet syrups
C
78
0.569
LCWU-0383
Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.
Baru
Ca, Bu, Sh, Go
Aerial
FG, MF
Decotion of root used to reduce the swelling of mammary glands
As fuel
A
86
0.628
LCWU-0384
Zea mays L.
Makai
Ca, Bu, Sh, Go
Leaves
FG, MF
Treat sores and skin problems
Kernel and oil used as food for humans
A
87
0.635
NR Not Reported, FG Free grazing, MF Mixed with feed, Ca Cattle, Bu Buffalo, Sh Sheep, Go Goat, RA Relative abundance, A Abundant, C Common, F Frequent, O Occasional, R Rare

Prioritizing fodder grasses on the basis of RFC and PC

The priority determined by the RFC value of 0.693 to 0.197 showed the variable eminence of grasses as a fodder at different sites of study area (Fig. 4). For the sake of data management and comprehensive analysis of listed fodder grasses, they were clustered into high (A), medium (B) and low (C) priority groups on the basis of RFC (Fig. 5). However, when the groups were closely observed it was found that many of the grasses had the same RFC value even within the same group. So the question about their actual priority level was resolved by applying PC method and those fodder grasses which had similar RFC were reorganised in their priority order (Table 5).
Table 5
Pairwise comparison for fodder grasses having similar RFC
Fodder grasses
Total gained % points
Rank
GROUP A (RFC =0.664)
Bothiochloa Bladhi
87.5
1st
Dicanthium annulatum
85.5
2nd
Setaria Viridis
84.5
3rd
Eleusine indica
84
4th
GROUP B (RFC =0.554)
Setaria pumila
87
1st
Agrostis gigantea
79
2nd
GROUP B (RFC = 0.518)
Dactyloctenium aegyptium
89.2
1st
Chrysopogon aucheri
88
2nd
Chrysopogon zizanioides
86
3rd
Saccharum bengalense
80
4th
Sorghum bicolor
79.6
5th
GROUP C (RFC = 0.474)
Phalaris minor
92.6
1st
Saccharum spontaneum
90.6
2nd
Desmostachya bipinnata
87.3
3rd
GROUP D (RFC = 0.379)
Echinochloa colona
59
1st
Cenchrus biflorus
55
2nd
Eragrostis pilosa
54
3rd
GROUP D (RFC = 0.372)
Brachiaria ramosa
36
1st
Avena sativa
35.3
2nd
Poa annua
34.6
3rd
GROUP D (RFC = 0.35)
Echinochloa crus-galli
31.3
1st
Eragrostis japonica
30
2nd
GROUP E (RFCs = 0.255)
Cenchrus setiger
27
1st
Ottochloa compressa
29
2nd
GROUP E (RFC = 0.24)
Dactylis glomerata
30
1st
Lolium temulentum
29.3
2nd
Leptochloa panicea
27.3
3rd
The RFC of group A (high priority) ranged from 0.693 to 0.533 and this group comprised of 25 grasses (Fig. 5). However, the group B (medium priority) ranged from 0.445–0.314 with 17 species and group C was extended from 0.285–0.197 RFC, with 11 species of fodder grasses (Figs. 5 and 6). The higher RFC of top most priority groups (A) depicted that these fodder grasses were probably more dominant in the study area and indigenous people had more familiarity with this group of grasses [30]. So it can be said that all those fodder grass species belonging to high priority group A (n = 25) were the most likely and most preferably utilized fodder grasses by the indigenous communities. These fodder grasses were preferred because of their availability, palatability, ability to satisfy animal hunger, ease in availability, positive effects on milk production and shelf life during a dry season (Fig. 7 a-d). Despite the fact that these fodder grasses were valued by local people as a ‘quality’ fodder, it is essentially required to assess the nutritional potential of these fodder grasses for the sustainability of healthy and efficient livestock industry.

Palatability, part used and feeding methods of listed fodder grasses

Palatability is the dietary characteristics which can elicit a specific response from an animal [31, 32]. Statistical analysis of palatability frequency analysis showed that all of these fodder grasses were most commonly palatable for cattle i.e. cumulatively 77% (Table 6). However, the cross tabulated results showed that grasses of group A were palatable to all categories of locally found ruminants i.e. cattle, buffalo, sheep and goat (Fig. 8). The high palatability of group A members for all types of ruminants indicated their more wide acceptance and significance as highly preferable fodders.
Table 6
Descriptive statistics: frequency analysis for palatability, parts used for eating and feeding methods and relative abundance of fodder grasses
Studied parameters
Frequency
Valid percent
Cumulative percent
 Cattle
19
35.8
35.8
 Cattle, Buffalo
5
9.4
45.3
 Cattle, Buffalo, Sheep, Goat
16
30.2
75.5
 Cattle, Goat
1
1.9
77.4
 Cattle, Sheep
4
7.5
84.9
 Goat, Sheep
2
3.8
88.7
 Sheep, Goat
6
11.3
100.0
 Total
53
100.0
 
Fodder part
 Aerial
19
35.8
35.8
 Leaves
10
18.9
54.7
 Whole
24
45.3
100.0
 Total
53
100.0
 
Feeding methods
 Free grazing
30
56.6
56.6
 Free grazing, mixed with feed
21
39.6
96.2
 mixed with feed
2
3.8
100.0
 Total
53
100.0
 
Relative abundance
 Abundant
17
32.1
32.1
 Common
8
15.1
47.2
 Frequent
10
18.9
66.0
 Occasional
13
24.5
90.6
 Rare
5
9.4
100.0
 Total
53
100.0
 
It appeared that most of these fodder grasses were used as a whole plant i.e. 45%, followed by the use of aerial parts 35.8% and leaves 18.9% (Table 6). The maximum reported percentage for the whole plant use was probably due to the fact that majority of these grasses were small in height, herbaceous in nature with non woody fibrous and shallow roots which were easily pulled out of soil by the animals. However cross tabulation between priority groups and fodder parts indicated that the group A grasses were mostly eaten by their aerial parts. This is because 9out of 25 grasses (i.e., Sorghum halepense, Desmostachya bipinnata, Sacchrum spontaneum, Saccharum bengalense, Chrysopogon zizanioides, Arundo donax, Sorghum bicolor, Agrostis gigantean, Zea mays) of this group were above the 200 cm or 400 cm in heights and these grew well in vigour and density that animal didn’t need to pull up the whole plant to satisfy its hunger (Fig. 9).
The current results revealed that overall all the ethno botanically listed grasses were most frequently fed to ruminant animals through ad libitum grazing (cumulatively 96.2%) (Table 6). Ruminants were probably comfortable with ad libitum grazing due to the fact that they have the natural capability to either avoid the ingestion or utilization of the ingested toxic plants [33, 34]. The provision of grass also plays a valuable role in the production of good quality meat from cattle. Indeed the beef from grass fed animals would be rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids with lower cholesterol content than the beef from animal fed high grain diet [35].It is interesting to report that the members of group A were fed by either grazing or cut and mixed with other type of feeds (Fig. 10). This can be attributed to the high demand and speedy regrowth of these high priority grasses of group A in different regions of this study.

Relative abundance of listed fodder grasses

The results of relative abundance showed that most of the listed fodder grasses were abundant in study area i.e. 32.1%, while least number of fodder grasses was found to be rare (9.4%) (Table 6). Also an interesting relevance was observed between abundance and priority levels (Fig. 11). The fodder grasses of group A were mostly observed as abundant (17) and common (8) however the medium priority level fodder grasses (B) were recorded as frequent (10) or occasional (7). The lower priority level fodder grasses (C) were customarily in the occasional (6) or rare (5) category. This revealed that the abundance of fodder grasses directly affects their priority of utilization. The grasses which were more abundant in this study area were more preferably used as compared to the others which were less abundant.

Ethno veterinary and other indigenous uses of listed fodder grasses

Since ancient times the human beings are using plant resources for medicinal purpose for not only themselves but also their livestock [36]. This use of plants for animal health care is termed as ethnoveterinary which was evolved alongside animal domestication [37] .The use of these indigenous plants to address multiple health issues of their livestock facilitated animal keepers to decrease the unaffordable cost of certain veterinary medicines [38]. This traditional ethnoveterinary practice is playing a compelling role in maintaining animal production around the globe where rural communities mainly rely on livestock for their livelihood [3945].
Among all ethno botanically listed fodder grasses, 43 grasses were found with ethno veterinary significance (Table 4). This data showed that local people not only feed their animals on these grasses but also use them to treat the mild health disorders of ruminant animals. Grasses like Bromus japonicus, Phragmites australis, Cynodon dactylon, Desmostachya bipinnata, Eleusine indica, Eragrostis minor were used to treat the multiple digestive disorders like dysentery, constipation and flatulence problems. However, some served as antiseptics e.g. Arundo donax, Brachiaria ramose, Sorghum bicolor, Panicum antidotale and Chrysopogon zizanioides. The reported ethnoveterinary uses of all grasses were compared with other published data from different regions of Pakistan. Some studies stated similar ethnoveterinary uses for Cynodon dactylon [46, 47] while few documented different ethnoveterinary usages of same grasses like Arundo donax, Saccharum spontaneum, Saccharum bengalense, Sorghum halepense and Zea mays [4751]. However rest of the fodder grasses never reported for their ethnoveterinary use either in Central Punjab or other regions of Pakistan.
Apart from their ethno veterinary value, 25 grasses were also reported for their other indigenous uses (Table 4). Like majority of them are utilized for thatching or making baskets and to cover the crops for protection from harsh weather such as cold winters (Bromus japonicus, Arundo donax, Phragmites australis, Desmostachya bipinnata, Apluda mutica and Heteropogon contortus). However, Phalaris minor and Cymbopogon jwarancusa were interestingly also used as mouse and mosquito repellents respectively.

Conclusion

This ethnobotanical study is the first of its kind which not only describes 53 naturally grown indigenous fodder grasses of Central Punjab Pakistan, but also provides an inventory which manuscript their local names, most commonly used parts for fodder, diversity in palatability and feeding systems, abundance category and unreported ethnoveterinary uses as well. In addition this research also established 3 fodder grass categories based upon their utilization value. The data analysis highlighted the possible motives behind the greater acceptability ratio of high priority fodder grasses i.e. diversity in their palatability for major ruminant species (cattle, buffalo, goat, sheep), abundant availability in the study area and versatile feeding methods (ad libitum grazing or cut, carry and mixed with other feeds). This data enriched study is not only significant for the conservation of ethnobotanical knowledge but also it may help in facilitating the sustainable livestock feeding for ruminants. Subsequently, the information may play a major role in improving the livelihood of smallholder farmers.
Although these high priority grasses have been used for fodder purpose for centuries by indigenous people, the recorded traditional data were never verified on experimental grounds. So there is a chance that drastic climatic changes in the past centuries would have also altered the soil properties which could ultimately affect the nutritional and medicinal value of these grasses. It is quite possible that actual nutritional as well as pharmacological facts and figures would show entirely a different picture about these conventionally used fodder grasses. Hence, a blend of traditional and scientific knowledge is essentially required to produce worthwhile selection criterion for these fodder grasses. Moreover, if some of these grasses show promising nutritional and pharmacological values then the relevant policy makers should take necessary steps for their enhanced but economical cultivation by providing much needed support to the traditional farmers of the study regions. We believe that further support for the small holder farmers who are working hard despite the challenging environment is needed in this region enriched with traditional knowledge. Otherwise, this natural biodiversity of beneficial grasses could be damaged due to over and unregulated grazing risking the achievement of food security in these and other similar neglected regions of great significance.

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge Dr. Mushtaq Ahmed and Dr. Muhammad Zafar, Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid I Azam University Islamabad for authorizing us to use their herbarium.
Nidaa Harun also thanks Higher Education Commission of Pakistan for travel funding to cover the part costs of processing the data and writing the manuscript alongside Abdul Shakoor Chaudhry at Newcastle University, UK.

Funding

No external funding resources were available for this particular study. All project costs were managed by either personally or resources of LCWU Pakistan.

Availability of data and materials

Voucher specimens were submitted to the Herbarium of LCWU Pakistan for forthcoming uses (Table 1).
Ethical approval was taken from the chairpersons of local government of all study areas of Central Punjab, Pakistan to visit the specific site and collect fodder grass samples. Also we obtained permission from each informant before conducting the interview. However, all the participants were anonymised and so their personal details are not disclosed in this paper.
Not applicable.

Competing interests

Authors undoubtedly declared that they have no competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Open AccessThis article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://​creativecommons.​org/​licenses/​by/​4.​0/​), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://​creativecommons.​org/​publicdomain/​zero/​1.​0/​) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.
Literatur
2.
Zurück zum Zitat Wilder A. The Pakistani Voter, Electoral Politics and Voting Behaviour in the Punjab. Karachi: Oxford University Press; 1999. p. 190. Wilder A. The Pakistani Voter, Electoral Politics and Voting Behaviour in the Punjab. Karachi: Oxford University Press; 1999. p. 190.
3.
Zurück zum Zitat Wilson AD, Leigh JH, Hindley NL, Mulham WE. Comparison of the diets of goats and sheep on a Easuarina cristata -Heterodendrram oleifolium woodland community in Western New South Wales. Austr J Ex Agric Anim Husb. 1995;15:45–53.CrossRef Wilson AD, Leigh JH, Hindley NL, Mulham WE. Comparison of the diets of goats and sheep on a Easuarina cristata -Heterodendrram oleifolium woodland community in Western New South Wales. Austr J Ex Agric Anim Husb. 1995;15:45–53.CrossRef
4.
Zurück zum Zitat Huston JE. Symposium. Dairy goats. Forage utilization and nutrient requirements of the goats. J Dairy Sci. 1978;61:988–93.CrossRef Huston JE. Symposium. Dairy goats. Forage utilization and nutrient requirements of the goats. J Dairy Sci. 1978;61:988–93.CrossRef
5.
Zurück zum Zitat Grunwaldt EG, Pedrani AR, Vich AI. Goat grazing in arid piedmont of Argentina. Small Ruminant Res. 1994;13:211–6.CrossRef Grunwaldt EG, Pedrani AR, Vich AI. Goat grazing in arid piedmont of Argentina. Small Ruminant Res. 1994;13:211–6.CrossRef
6.
Zurück zum Zitat Khan II. Biodiversity depletion with respect to Human and livestock population in Indian Desert. In: Proc. Rangelands. In a sustainable biosphere. (Ed.): N.E. West. 5th International Congress 1995, Salt Lake City Utah. 1996; pp. 286–287. Khan II. Biodiversity depletion with respect to Human and livestock population in Indian Desert. In: Proc. Rangelands. In a sustainable biosphere. (Ed.): N.E. West. 5th International Congress 1995, Salt Lake City Utah. 1996; pp. 286–287.
7.
Zurück zum Zitat Geng Y, Hu G, Ranjitkar S, Wang Y, Bu D, Pei S, Xu J. Prioritizing fodder species based on traditional knowledge: a case study of mithun (Bos frontalis) in Dulongjiang area, Yunnan Province, Southwest China. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2017;13(1):24–38.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Geng Y, Hu G, Ranjitkar S, Wang Y, Bu D, Pei S, Xu J. Prioritizing fodder species based on traditional knowledge: a case study of mithun (Bos frontalis) in Dulongjiang area, Yunnan Province, Southwest China. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2017;13(1):24–38.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
8.
Zurück zum Zitat Nunes AT, Lucena RFP. dos Santos MVF, Albuquerque UP. Local knowledge about fodder plants in the semi-arid region of Northeastern Brazil. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2015;11(1):12–23.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Nunes AT, Lucena RFP. dos Santos MVF, Albuquerque UP. Local knowledge about fodder plants in the semi-arid region of Northeastern Brazil. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2015;11(1):12–23.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
9.
Zurück zum Zitat Okoli IC, Ebere CS, Uchegbu MC, Udah CA, Ibeawuchi II. A survey of the diversity of plants utilized for small ruminant feeding in south-eastern Nigeria. Agric Ecosyst Environ. 2003;96(1):147–54.CrossRef Okoli IC, Ebere CS, Uchegbu MC, Udah CA, Ibeawuchi II. A survey of the diversity of plants utilized for small ruminant feeding in south-eastern Nigeria. Agric Ecosyst Environ. 2003;96(1):147–54.CrossRef
10.
Zurück zum Zitat Nahed J, Villafuerte L, Grande D, Pérez-Gil F, Alemán T, Carmona J. Fodder shrub and tree species in the Highlands of southern Mexico. Anim Feed Sci Tech. 1997;68(3–4):213–23.CrossRef Nahed J, Villafuerte L, Grande D, Pérez-Gil F, Alemán T, Carmona J. Fodder shrub and tree species in the Highlands of southern Mexico. Anim Feed Sci Tech. 1997;68(3–4):213–23.CrossRef
12.
Zurück zum Zitat Zahoor M, Yousaf Z, Aqsa T, Haroon M, Saleh N, Aftab A, Ramazan H. An ethnopharmacological evaluation of Navapind and Shahpur Virkanin district Sheikupura, Pakistan for their herbal medicines. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2017;13(1):27–52.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Zahoor M, Yousaf Z, Aqsa T, Haroon M, Saleh N, Aftab A, Ramazan H. An ethnopharmacological evaluation of Navapind and Shahpur Virkanin district Sheikupura, Pakistan for their herbal medicines. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2017;13(1):27–52.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
14.
Zurück zum Zitat Singh A, Nautiyal MC, Kunwar RM, Bussmann RW. Ethnomedicinal plants used by local inhabitants of Jakholi block, Rudraprayag district, western Himalaya, India. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2017;13(1):49–77.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Singh A, Nautiyal MC, Kunwar RM, Bussmann RW. Ethnomedicinal plants used by local inhabitants of Jakholi block, Rudraprayag district, western Himalaya, India. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2017;13(1):49–77.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
15.
Zurück zum Zitat Malik ZA, Bhat JA, Ballabha R, Bussmann RW, Bhatt AB. Ethnomedicinal plants traditionally used in health care practices by inhabitants of Western Himalaya. J Ethnopharmcol. 2015;172:133–44.CrossRef Malik ZA, Bhat JA, Ballabha R, Bussmann RW, Bhatt AB. Ethnomedicinal plants traditionally used in health care practices by inhabitants of Western Himalaya. J Ethnopharmcol. 2015;172:133–44.CrossRef
16.
Zurück zum Zitat Ahmad F, Khan MA, Ahmad M, Zafar M, Mahmood T, Jabeen A, Marwat SK. Ethnomedicinal uses of grasses in the Salt Range Region of Northern Pakistan. J Med Plants Res. 2010;4(5):362–9. Ahmad F, Khan MA, Ahmad M, Zafar M, Mahmood T, Jabeen A, Marwat SK. Ethnomedicinal uses of grasses in the Salt Range Region of Northern Pakistan. J Med Plants Res. 2010;4(5):362–9.
17.
Zurück zum Zitat Martin GJ. In: Walters M, editor. Ethnobotany: A Methods Manual. London: Champan and Hall; 1995.CrossRef Martin GJ. In: Walters M, editor. Ethnobotany: A Methods Manual. London: Champan and Hall; 1995.CrossRef
18.
Zurück zum Zitat Cotton CM. Ethnobotany: Principles and Applications Chichester. New York: John Wiley and Sons Ltd; 1996. Cotton CM. Ethnobotany: Principles and Applications Chichester. New York: John Wiley and Sons Ltd; 1996.
19.
Zurück zum Zitat Kellogg EA. Poaceae. The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants, Kubtizki K, editior. Springer, New York; 2014. Kellogg EA. Poaceae. The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants, Kubtizki K, editior. Springer, New York; 2014.
21.
Zurück zum Zitat Kent M, description CPV, analysis d. A practical approach. London: Belhaven Press; 1992. p. 363. Kent M, description CPV, analysis d. A practical approach. London: Belhaven Press; 1992. p. 363.
22.
Zurück zum Zitat Vitalini S, Iriti M, Puricelli C, Ciuchi D, Segale A, Fico G. Traditional knowledge on medicinal and food plants used in ValSan Giacomo (Sondrio, Italy) an alpine ethnobotanical study. J Ethnopharmacol. 2013;145:517–29.CrossRefPubMed Vitalini S, Iriti M, Puricelli C, Ciuchi D, Segale A, Fico G. Traditional knowledge on medicinal and food plants used in ValSan Giacomo (Sondrio, Italy) an alpine ethnobotanical study. J Ethnopharmacol. 2013;145:517–29.CrossRefPubMed
23.
Zurück zum Zitat Martin GJ. Ethnobotany-A methods manual. Sterling, VA: Earthscan, London; 2004. Martin GJ. Ethnobotany-A methods manual. Sterling, VA: Earthscan, London; 2004.
24.
Zurück zum Zitat Zizka A, Thiombiano A, Dressler S, Nacoulma BM, Ouédraogo A, Ouédraogo I, Ouédraogo O, Zizka G, Hahn K, Schmidt M. Traditional plant use in Burkina Faso (West Africa): a national-scale analysis with focus on traditional medicine. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2015;11(1):9–18.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Zizka A, Thiombiano A, Dressler S, Nacoulma BM, Ouédraogo A, Ouédraogo I, Ouédraogo O, Zizka G, Hahn K, Schmidt M. Traditional plant use in Burkina Faso (West Africa): a national-scale analysis with focus on traditional medicine. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2015;11(1):9–18.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
25.
Zurück zum Zitat Bahru T, Asfaw Z, Demissew S. Ethnobotanical study of forage/fodder plant species in and around the semi-arid Awash National Park, Ethiopia. J For Res. 2014;25(2):445–54.CrossRef Bahru T, Asfaw Z, Demissew S. Ethnobotanical study of forage/fodder plant species in and around the semi-arid Awash National Park, Ethiopia. J For Res. 2014;25(2):445–54.CrossRef
26.
Zurück zum Zitat Singh V, Gaur RD, Bohra BA. survey of fodder plants in mid-altitude Himalayan rangelands of Uttarakhand, India. J Mt Sci. 2008;5(3):265–78.CrossRef Singh V, Gaur RD, Bohra BA. survey of fodder plants in mid-altitude Himalayan rangelands of Uttarakhand, India. J Mt Sci. 2008;5(3):265–78.CrossRef
27.
Zurück zum Zitat Abbasi AM, Khan MA, Ahmad M, Zafar M. Medicinal plant biodiversity of lesser Himalayas-Pakistan. Springer Science & Business. Media. 2011; Abbasi AM, Khan MA, Ahmad M, Zafar M. Medicinal plant biodiversity of lesser Himalayas-Pakistan. Springer Science & Business. Media. 2011;
28.
Zurück zum Zitat Chaudhari SK, Arshad M, Ahmed E, Mustafa G, Fatima S, Akhtar S, Amjad MS. Ethnobotanical evaluation of grasses from Thal Desert, Pakistan. Arch Sci. 2013;66(5):248–55. Chaudhari SK, Arshad M, Ahmed E, Mustafa G, Fatima S, Akhtar S, Amjad MS. Ethnobotanical evaluation of grasses from Thal Desert, Pakistan. Arch Sci. 2013;66(5):248–55.
29.
Zurück zum Zitat Gaur H, Pankaj S. Forage crops and grasses. In: Handbook of Agriculture; 2009. p. 1357. Gaur H, Pankaj S. Forage crops and grasses. In: Handbook of Agriculture; 2009. p. 1357.
30.
Zurück zum Zitat Amjad MS, Faisal QM, Ahmad I, Khan SU, Chaudhari SK, Malik NZ, Khan AM. Descriptive study of plant resources in the context of the ethnomedicinal relevance of indigenous flora: A case study from Toli Peer National Park, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. PLoS One. 2017;12(2):1–31.CrossRef Amjad MS, Faisal QM, Ahmad I, Khan SU, Chaudhari SK, Malik NZ, Khan AM. Descriptive study of plant resources in the context of the ethnomedicinal relevance of indigenous flora: A case study from Toli Peer National Park, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. PLoS One. 2017;12(2):1–31.CrossRef
31.
Zurück zum Zitat Gherardi SG, Black JL. Effect of palatability on voluntary feed intake by sheep. 1. Identification of chemicals that alter the palatability of a forage. Aust J Agric Res. 1991;42:571–84.CrossRef Gherardi SG, Black JL. Effect of palatability on voluntary feed intake by sheep. 1. Identification of chemicals that alter the palatability of a forage. Aust J Agric Res. 1991;42:571–84.CrossRef
32.
Zurück zum Zitat Church DC. The Ruminant animals. In: Digestive physiology and nutrition. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press; 1993. Church DC. The Ruminant animals. In: Digestive physiology and nutrition. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press; 1993.
33.
Zurück zum Zitat Provenza FD, Villalba JJ, Dziba L, Atwood SB, Banner RE. Linking herbivore experience, varied diets, and plant biochemical diversity. Small Rumin Res. 2003;49(3):257–74.CrossRef Provenza FD, Villalba JJ, Dziba L, Atwood SB, Banner RE. Linking herbivore experience, varied diets, and plant biochemical diversity. Small Rumin Res. 2003;49(3):257–74.CrossRef
34.
Zurück zum Zitat Rogosic J. The role of secondary compounds in foraging on Mediterranean rangelands. In: Bouche R, Derkimba A, Casabianca F, editors. New trends for innovation in the Mediterranean animal production. Netherland: Wageningen Academic Publishers; 2012. Rogosic J. The role of secondary compounds in foraging on Mediterranean rangelands. In: Bouche R, Derkimba A, Casabianca F, editors. New trends for innovation in the Mediterranean animal production. Netherland: Wageningen Academic Publishers; 2012.
35.
Zurück zum Zitat Garcia PT, Pensela NA, Sancho AM, Latimori NJ, Kloster AM, Amigone MA, Casal JJ. Beef lipids in relation to animal breed and nutrition in Argentina. Meat Sci. 2008;79:500–8.CrossRefPubMed Garcia PT, Pensela NA, Sancho AM, Latimori NJ, Kloster AM, Amigone MA, Casal JJ. Beef lipids in relation to animal breed and nutrition in Argentina. Meat Sci. 2008;79:500–8.CrossRefPubMed
37.
Zurück zum Zitat Moreki JC. Documentation of ethnoveterinary practices used in family poultry in Botswana. Vet World. 2013;6(1):18–21.CrossRef Moreki JC. Documentation of ethnoveterinary practices used in family poultry in Botswana. Vet World. 2013;6(1):18–21.CrossRef
39.
Zurück zum Zitat Pieroni A, Rexhepi B, Nedelcheva A, Hajdari A, Mustafa B, Kolosova V, et al. One century later: the folk botanical knowledge of the last remaining Albanians of the upper Reka Valley, Mount Korab, Western Macedonia. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2013;9:22–40.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Pieroni A, Rexhepi B, Nedelcheva A, Hajdari A, Mustafa B, Kolosova V, et al. One century later: the folk botanical knowledge of the last remaining Albanians of the upper Reka Valley, Mount Korab, Western Macedonia. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2013;9:22–40.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
40.
Zurück zum Zitat Pieroni A. Local plant resources in the ethnobotany of Theth, a village in the Northern Albanian Alps. Genet Resour Crop Evol. 2008;55:1197–214.CrossRef Pieroni A. Local plant resources in the ethnobotany of Theth, a village in the Northern Albanian Alps. Genet Resour Crop Evol. 2008;55:1197–214.CrossRef
41.
Zurück zum Zitat Leporatti ML, Impieri M. Ethnobotanical notes about some uses of medicinal plants in Alto Tirreno Cosentino area Calabria, Southern Italy. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2007;3:34–9.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Leporatti ML, Impieri M. Ethnobotanical notes about some uses of medicinal plants in Alto Tirreno Cosentino area Calabria, Southern Italy. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2007;3:34–9.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
43.
Zurück zum Zitat Guarrera PM, Lucchese F, Medori S. Ethnophytotherapeutical research in the high Molise region Central-Southern Italy. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2008;4:7–17.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Guarrera PM, Lucchese F, Medori S. Ethnophytotherapeutical research in the high Molise region Central-Southern Italy. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2008;4:7–17.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
44.
Zurück zum Zitat Montesano B, Negro D, Sarli G, Sarli AD, Laghetti G, Hammer K. Notes about the uses of plants by one of the last healers in the Basilicata Region South Italy. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2012;8:15–24.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Montesano B, Negro D, Sarli G, Sarli AD, Laghetti G, Hammer K. Notes about the uses of plants by one of the last healers in the Basilicata Region South Italy. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2012;8:15–24.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
45.
Zurück zum Zitat Di Sanzo P, De Martino L, Mancini E, De Feo V. Medicinal and useful plants in the tradition of Rotonda, Pollino National Park, Southern Italy. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2013;9:19–22.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Di Sanzo P, De Martino L, Mancini E, De Feo V. Medicinal and useful plants in the tradition of Rotonda, Pollino National Park, Southern Italy. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2013;9:19–22.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
46.
Zurück zum Zitat Abbasi AM, Khan SM, Ahmad M, Khan MA, Quave CL, Pieroni A. Botanical ethnoveterinary therapies in three districts of the Lesser Himalayas of Pakistan. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2013;9(1):84–104.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Abbasi AM, Khan SM, Ahmad M, Khan MA, Quave CL, Pieroni A. Botanical ethnoveterinary therapies in three districts of the Lesser Himalayas of Pakistan. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2013;9(1):84–104.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
50.
Zurück zum Zitat Khan MA, Ullah A, Rashid A. Ethnoveterinary medicinal plants practices in district Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan. Pak J Bot. 2015;47(SI):105–14. Khan MA, Ullah A, Rashid A. Ethnoveterinary medicinal plants practices in district Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan. Pak J Bot. 2015;47(SI):105–14.
51.
Zurück zum Zitat Khan MICM, Hanif W. Ethnoveterinary medicinal uses of plants from Samahni valley Dist. Bhimber, (Azad Kashmir) Pakistan. Asian J Plant Sci. 2006;5(2):390–6.CrossRef Khan MICM, Hanif W. Ethnoveterinary medicinal uses of plants from Samahni valley Dist. Bhimber, (Azad Kashmir) Pakistan. Asian J Plant Sci. 2006;5(2):390–6.CrossRef
Metadaten
Titel
Ethnobotanical studies of fodder grass resources for ruminant animals, based on the traditional knowledge of indigenous communities in Central Punjab Pakistan
verfasst von
Nidaa Harun
Abdul Shakoor Chaudhry
Shabnum Shaheen
Kifayat Ullah
Farah Khan
Publikationsdatum
01.12.2017
Verlag
BioMed Central
Erschienen in
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine / Ausgabe 1/2017
Elektronische ISSN: 1746-4269
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-017-0184-5

Weitere Artikel der Ausgabe 1/2017

Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 1/2017 Zur Ausgabe