Ficus auriculata: its relative importance in Bhutan, farmers' preference and fodder quality

Abstract

Tree leaves are important traditional fodder sources in many parts of the Himalaya, particularly during the dry winter season. Households interviewed in different regions of Bhutan used 1–13 different tree species for fodder, with Ficus auriculata standing out as the preferred and most widely used species across a range of conditions. It is preferred because of the wide range of adaptation, good nutritional qualities and palatability, and its good productivity. Ficus auriculata is also an important tree fodder in the Himalayan region of Nepal and India. Its fodder quality is far superior to paddy straw, the main winter fodder in the rice growing regions of the Himalayas. Parameters recorded in the literature for crude protein, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fiber are 9.5–17.3, 46.2–58.4 and 36.1–45.8%, respectively. Farmers consider it to be better than rice straw and the fodder from the tree fodder species Celtis tetrandra, Brassaiopsis hainla, Stereospermum suaveolens, Bauhinia purpurea and Litsea polyantha. Average annual fresh yield per tree was reported as 200, 120, 112, 108, 108 and 96 kg for F. auriculata, Artocarpus lakoocha, Gmelina arborea, F. cunia, Litsea monopetala and Stereospermum suaveolens, respectively. Considering the current importance of F. auriculata it is imperative to carry out research exploring its potential in evolving production systems and to quantify the opportunities of improving its nutritional quality and productivity through selection.