Fodder values of seabuckthorn (Hippophae L.) – A multipurpose agroforestry tree of cold desert Himalayas

Abstract

The present study was carried out on fodder values (crude protein, fat, NDF and ash) of leaves of male plants of Hippophae rhamnoides ssp. turkestanica growing at five different sites (2,572-3,320 m asl) and H. salicifolia at one site (3,215 m) in Lahaul valley of district Lahaul-Spiti, a dry temperate region of Himachal Himalayas. In July, crude protein (CP) content in the leaves of five different biotypes of H. rhamnoides plants varied from 17.5 to 20.5%, which were significantly (P<0.05) lower than in the leaves of H. salicifolia (21.6%). Fat (EE) content also varied from 3.5-4.8% in H. rhamnoides to 4.6% in H. salicifolia. In September, while there was no definite pattern for CP values, in general EE values increased. NDF values varied from 27.1-31.6% in the leaves of H. rhamnoides to 26.2% in H. salicifolia in July. The ash content also varied from 5.3-8.1% in H. rhamnoides to 5.1% in H. salicifolia. In general, the NDF contents decreased considerably in September, whereas the ash contents increased. Values for total phenolics and tannins of seabuckthorn are higher than the Festuca gigantea (neeru grass), a high altitude grass of the region. Seabuckthorn leaves are quite rich in Cu (5.6 ×10-6) and Zn (27.4 × 10-6), which are in the range of other fodder tree and shrub species and Fe (642 × 10-6), which is higher than other species. Nutritional value of seabuckthorn leaves was found quite high as compared with other fodder tree and shrub species of the region, hence this multipurpose tree is a useful source of fodder for milk producing animals.