Diversity and leaf dry matter yield of Woody forage species in the pastures of South Ari District, Southern Ethiopia

The study was conducted with the objective of assessing fodder tree and shrub species and their foliage yield potentials in private and communal grazing lands across different agroecological environments of South Ari district. A household survey involving 196 respondents was used to identify fodder tree and shrub species and their preferences by livestock species. To evaluate species composition and leaf dry matter yield, a total of thirty-six belt transects (40 m × 40 m for trees and 20 m × 20 m for shrubs) were established. A total of 18 fodder trees and 9 shrubs were identified in the study area, accounting for 79.0% trees and 21.0% shrubs. Among these, 42.1% were categorized as highly desirable, 36.8% as desirable, and 21.1% as less desirable. Vernonia amygdalina, Ficus ovata, Dracaena steudneri, and Terminalia laxiflora were the most frequently occurring and widely utilized fodder tree species. Livestock utilized twigs, leaves, fruits, and pods of these species as edible parts. The mean (± S.E.) leaf biomass yields of fodder trees and shrubs were 13.82 ± 0.613 kg/tree and 2.97 ± 0.464 kg/shrub, respectively. Future work should focus on nutritional evaluation and controlled livestock feeding trials to determine the actual feed value and contribution of these species to livestock productivity.