# Indigenous Comprehension of Fodder Trees and Shrubs in Semiarid Areas of Metema District, Northwestern Ethiopia

## TL;DR

This study explores how communities in Ethiopia's Metema District use local trees and shrubs to feed their livestock, highlighting the importance of these plants for their livelihoods.

## Contribution

The study provides a comprehensive inventory of 46 fodder trees and shrubs in a semiarid area of Ethiopia, emphasizing indigenous knowledge and species usage.

## Key findings

- Forty-six fodder tree and shrub species were identified, with Fabaceae being the most species-rich family.
- Pterocarpus lucens was the most cited and preferred fodder species by local informants.
- Most fodder plants are sourced from wild environments, and goats consume all recorded species.

## Abstract

Trees and shrubs are a major component of the diet for livestock in Ethiopia, although they were not fully documented in many parts of the country. Thus, the study was undertaken to assess fodder trees and shrubs in the semiarid area of Metema District, northwestern Ethiopia.

Eight Kebeles were selected purposively based on livestock production and vegetation availability. Cochran′s formula was used to select 385 informants composed of 40 purposively selected key informants and 345 systematically selected general informants. Data were collected through interviews, guided field walks, and focus group discussions. Then, they were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Jaccard′s coefficient of similarity (JCS), preference ranking, paired comparison, and relative frequency of citation. Knowledge difference between informant types and age groups was analyzed using t‐test and Pearson′s correlation, respectively.

Livestock production is the main source of livelihood for Metema District communities. Goats were the most reared animals per household (34), followed by cattle (26). To feed the livestock, 46 fodder trees and shrubs within 36 genera and 24 families were identified. Fabaceae was the most species‐rich family (17.39%), followed by Combretaceae (13.04%). Key informants reported significantly more fodder species than general informants (p = 0.001). They also have higher information consistency on accessing fodders. A slightly positive correlation on the number of fodder species was also observed between age groups. Leaves were the dominant fodder plant parts. Pterocarpus lucens was the most cited, preferred, and valuable fodder species. Goats browsed 100% of the recorded fodder plants. Most fodder trees and shrubs (91.3%) were sourced from wild environments.

This study revealed that the indigenous communities of Metema District possess high knowledge of tree and shrub fodder plants. The plants are vital components of their livestock feeding systems to improve their livelihoods.