Nutritional evaluation of fodder resources utilized in animal feeding in Spiti valley of Himalyan cold desert

Abstract

Spiti valley of Himachal Pradesh, is a typical cold desert with a diverse wildlife and vegetation. Local farmers in the Spiti region of HP predominantly raise yak, churu, sheep, and goat to suit their household nutrient needs; nonetheless, this region suffers from a severe scarcity of high-quality green fodder. The study was undertaken to in 2016-17 to assess the nutritional value of locally available fodder resources in the Spiti valley of HP. To investigate the different nutritional parameters, composite samples of fodder species were collected in the months of July and September 2016. The study's findings revealed that the nutritional characteristics of various fodder species differed significantly between different categories of samples. The dry matter content was found highest in Stipa jaquemontii (68.20) and lowest in Carex artofusca (24.83%), crude protein content was found highest in Pisum sativum (22.90%) and lowest in Hordeum vulgare (5.12%), ether extract content was found highest in Dracocephallum heterophyllum (5.55%) and lowest in Hordeum vulgare (1.08%), crude fibre content was found highest in Hordeum vulgare (35.40%) and lowest in Elymus semicostatus (14.20%), total ash content was found highest in Oxytropis microphyla (10.97%) and lowest in Pisum arvense (5.30%), acid insoluble ash content was found highest in Rumex nepalensis (4.56%) and lowest in Stipa jaquemontii (0.34%). Neutral detergent fibre was found highest in Hordeum vulgare (57.77%) and lowest in Cicermi crophyllum (33.93%). Acid detergent fibre was found to be highest in Dracocephallum heterophylum (39.05%) and lowest in Lactuca macrorhiza (20.60%).