Chemical composition and in vitro dry matter digestibility of parasitic plants reflect that of indigenous browse trees

Abstract

Mistletoes are common parasitic plants that attach on branches of Acacia species, Boscia albitrunca, Ziziphus mucronata and other trees of semi-arid Botswana. These plants form an interesting alternative and additional feed resource, which could increase both mineral and protein intake of ruminants. Previous studies (Madibela et al., 2000, 2002) have shown that these parasitic plants have high crude protein and mineral levels than what is expected of natural grasses. The hypothesis is that the higher the nutritive value of host browse trees the higher it is in the parasitic plants.