Nutritional composition of Eight forage plants From the flora of Côte d'Ivoire

Gastrointestinal parasitism remains a major constraint in livestock farming. It impacts animal health and welfare, as well as farm profitability. The widespread use of conventional antiparasitic drugs in pastures has led to the development of worm resistance, reducing their effectiveness. As a result, there is growing interest in using plants with natural antiparasitic properties. These plants are particularly valuable when they are naturally consumed by livestock-meaning they also serve as good forage. This study aims to assess the nutritional potential of selected forage plants from the Ivorian flora. Eight species were examined: Albizia adianthifolia, Albizia zygia, Afzelia africana, and Pterocarpus erinaceus from the Leguminosae family, and Morus mesozygia, Antiaris africana, Ficus exasperata, and Ficus lutea from the Moraceae family. Leaves from these plants were harvested and analyzed to measure the levels of compounds such as crude protein, crude fiber, and essential minerals. The results revealed that all studied species are excellent sources of forage. They contained between 16% and 30% protein in dry matter-levels that exceed the maintenance requirements for livestock. In addition, they were rich in calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, and iron. However, the zinc concentrations were found to be below the minimum threshold needed for optimal livestock maintenance. These tree forages are therefore highly promising for improving both animal nutrition and livestock health.