Information system about African herbivores’ natural feeds
Large herbivores contribute the lion’s share of the gross national product in southern Africa. Not only as livestock, but also game farms become increasingly important. Next to animal husbandry, “bush meat” (including sport hunting) is an important food resource. Furthermore, wild-ranging herbivores, ranging from elephants over antelopes to primates, are main attractants for tourism, providing an increasing contribution to the economy, and they are of high value for nature conservation. It is expected that under the pressure of future human population growth and climate change, the pressure on wild and domestic herbivores will intensify. In this context, knowledge about the nutritional values of different food plants seems to be indispensable and of high importance.
HERBFEEDS is a project developed under SASSCAL funded research (SASSCAL 1, Task 042). It is an open access information system on food resources of all types of mammalian herbivores. The idea behind HERBFEEDS is to provide information about the nutritional values and plant chemistry of all kinds of food plants of herbivores of southern Africa, linked with information about sampling site and date, collector (reference), the methodology of analyses and which plant part analysed as well as the herbivore feeding on the plant, if applicable. The information system will be helpful for different stakeholders such as livestock and game farmers, but also for animal and nature conservation management and researchers, as the chemical composition of a plant determines the utilization by herbivores and in consequence animal distribution. HERBFEEDS will be beneficial to identify new, neglected or forgotten knowledge about potential food resources and their nutritional values as well as an understanding and reactivation of local, traditional feeding knowledge and practices. This will in consequence be helpful for the development of new adapted feeding regimes and/or management strategies in the face of unpredictable changes in resource availability for herbivores due to climate change.
Planned linkages with other databases such as the Photo Guide to the Plants of Southern Africa will expand the given information. Inputs into the database are gained either from fieldwork and lab analyses or from other data resources e.g. scientific literature. Contributions that add valuable information to the database are welcome and should be sent to
Species | Other names | Plant functional trait | Reference | Location | Biome | Lat Dec Deg | Long Dec Deg | GPS position info | Year of sampling | Season | Plant part | Feedipedia | SASSCAL plant guide | PZA-SANBI | Sample size | Crude N mean | Crude N Std dev | Method | NDF mean | NDF Std dev | ADF mean | ADF Std dev | ADL mean | ADL Std dev | SCC mean | SCC Std dev | Hemicell mean | Hemicell Std dev | Cellulose mean | Cellulose Std dev | CT mean | CT Std dev | CT method | CT Solvent | TP mean | TP Std dev | TP method | TP solvent | Ash mean | Ash Std dev | Herbivore utilisation | Comments |
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Acacia ataxacantha | Senegalia ataxacantha, flame thorn | tree | Stolter & Tomaschewski* | Waterberg, Namibia | woodland savanna | -20.450497222222 | 17.238044444444 | 2014 | End of rainy season (April) | top of shoots including leaves | SASSCAL Plant Guide Link | 2.12 | 0.11 | Kjeldahl | 30.48 | 4.860872349692 | 1.0139510178833 | 0.41394376966497 | 72.428333333333 | 4.3699584284827 | 14.103333333333 | 2.8748124576512 | 9.5683333333333 | 1.4162120839291 | 2.4133333333333 | 0.38934132411891 | Butanol-HCL | Methanol | 5.0266666666667 | 0.56567363971345 | Folin-Ciocalteus | Water | 3.745 | 0.31804087787579 | wild herbivores | |||||||
Acacia tortillis (seedling - leaves undamaged) | Vachellia tortilis, umbrella thorn | tree | Stolter & Tomaschewski* | Greenhouse | natural thornbush savanna | 2015 | Rainy season | seedling leaves | Feedipedia Link | SASSCAL Plant Guide Link | vachellia-tortilis | 10 | 2.34 | 0.44 | C/N Analyzer | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 0.69 | 0.18 | Butanol-HCL | Methanol | 0.79 | 0.09 | Folin-Ciocalteus | Water | x | x | livestock (goates), wild herbivores eg. rhino, giraffe | sub species unknown,greenhouse experiment, undamaged seedlings | |||
Acacia reficiens (seedling -leaves) | Vachellia reficiens, r ooihak , Rotrindenakazie , red-bark acacia , red thorn , | tree | Stolter & Tomaschewski* | Greenhouse | natural thornbush savanna | 2015 | Rainy season | seedling leaves | SASSCAL Plant Guide Link | 20 | 2.63 | 0.36 | C/N Analyzer | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 0.51 | 0.09 | Butanol-HCL | Methanol | 1.17 | 0.22 | Folin-Ciocalteus | Water | x | x | goats, wild herbivores eg. rhino, giraffe, elephant | greenhouse experiment, leaves from undamaged plants | |||||
Acacia mellifera (seedling - leaves) | Senegalia mellifera, blackthorn and swarthaak | tree | Stolter & Tomaschewski* | Greenhouse | natural thornbush savanna | 2015 | Rainy season | seedling leaves | SASSCAL Plant Guide Link | senegalia-mellifera-subsp-detinens | 15 | 4.23 | 0.55 | C/N Analyzer | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 0 | 0 | Butanol-HCL | Methanol | 0.6 | 0.73 | Folin-Ciocalteus | Water | x | x | livestock (goats), wild herbivores, e.g.black rhino, gemsbok, impala, kudu, eland, springbok, dassies, elephant and giraffe | greenhouse experiment, leaves from undamaged plants | ||||
Anthephora pubescens | Wool grass | grass | Kesch et al. (accepted)* | Khutse and Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana | savanna | 23°-24° S and 24-25° E | 2009/2010 | Different seasons | combined samples | SASSCAL Plant Guide Link | div. | 5.7 | 1.5 | Kjeldahl | 74.2 | 3.6 | 42.8 | 2.3 | x | x | x | 31.3 | 5.1 | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | livestock, wild herbivores | ||||||
Crotolaria spec. | Rattlepod | herb | Stolter & Tomaschewski* | Namibia: Erichsfelde | thornbush savanna | 21.5986 | 16.9012 | 2014 | End of rainy season (April) | whole above-ground plant | SASSCAL Plant Guide Link | 3 | 1.86 | 0.14 | Kjeldahl | 53.35 | 1.29 | 36.46 | 1 | 6.62 | 0.44 | 46.65 | 1.29 | 16.89 | 0.42 | 29.84 | 1.3 | 0 | 0 | Butanol-HCL | Methanol | 0.42 | 0.05 | Folin-Ciocalteus | Water | 4.33 | 0.1 | livestock sometimes | ||||
Dichrostachys cinera (seedling leaves) | Sickle bush, sekelbos | shrub, bush | Stolter & Tomaschewski* | Greenhouse | natural thornbush savanna | 2015 | Rainy season | seedling leaves | Feedipedia Link | SASSCAL Plant Guide Link | dichrostachys-cinerea | 18-19 | 2.23 | 0.24 | Kjeldahl | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 0.96 | 0.25 | Butanol-HCl | Methanol | 1.9 | 0.43 | Folin-Ciocalteus | Water | x | x | goats, livestock, wild herbivores | greenhouse experiment, leaves from undamaged plants | |||
Eragrostis rigidior | Curly-leaved love-grass, krulblaarpluimgras | grass | Stolter & Tomaschewski* | Namibia: Omatako Ranch | thornbush savanna | -21.5094 | 16.7291 | 2014 | Start of rainy season (October) | whole plant (aboveground) | SASSCAL Plant Guide Link | 4 | 0.46 | 0.04 | Kjeldahl | 73.91 | 0.8 | 39.9 | 0.73 | 5.2 | 0.24 | 26.09 | 0.8 | 34.01 | 0.81 | 34.7 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | Butanol-HCL | Methanol | 0.42 | 0.04 | Folin-Ciocalteus | Water | 4.92 | 0.39 | wild herbivores, cattle | ||||
Gomphocarpus fruticosus | Milkweed, wild cotton, gansie, melkbos | tall herb-like shrub | Stolter & Tomaschewski* | Namiba: Hohe Warte | thornbush savanna | -22.644016606218 | 17.403625845909 | 2014 | Start of rainy season (October) | whole above-ground plant | SASSCAL Plant Guide Link | gomphocarpus-fruticosus | 4 | 1.93 | 0.3 | Kjeldahl | 29.95 | 6.2 | 20.98 | 4.83 | 5.84 | 0.41 | 70.05 | 6.2 | 8.97 | 1.42 | 15.15 | 4.71 | 0 | 0 | Butanol-HCL | Methanol | 1.43 | 0.1 | Folin-Ciocalteus | Water | 8.25 | 0.98 | sometimes fed when food resources decline by cattle and wild herbivores | poisonous!! (cardenolides) | ||
Grewia flava | Brandybush, velvet raisin | shrub, bush | Stolter & Tomaschewski* | Namibia: Erichsfelde, hohe Warte | thornbush savanna | div. | 2014 | Start of rainy season (October) | top of shoots including leaves | SASSCAL Plant Guide Link | 7 | 1.75 | 0.47 | Kjeldahl | 45.1 | 8.31 | 31.88 | 6.43 | 9.71 | 2.5 | 5.49 | 8.31 | 13.22 | 1.91 | 22.18 | 4.3 | 2.16 | 0.42 | Butanol-HCL | Methanol | 3.41 | 0.66 | Folin-Ciocalteus | Water | 4.72 | 1.21 | goats, wild ruminants | values per farm available | ||||
Laggera decurrens | Wolbos, pietbos, bitterbos | small shrub | Stolter & Tomaschewski* | Namibia: Erichsfelde, hohe Warte | thornbush savanna | div. | 2014 | Start and end of rainy season (October, April) | top of shoots including leaves | SASSCAL Plant Guide Link | 14 | 1.61 | 0.28 | Kjeldahl | 46.89 | 2.29 | 28.91 | 3.92 | 6.55 | 2.48 | 53.11 | 2.29 | 17.99 | 2.39 | 22.36 | 2.62 | 0 | 0 | Butanol-HCL | Methanol | 1.51 | 0.3 | Folin-Ciocalteus | Water | 7.97 | 1.69 | goats, wild ruminants | values per farm and season available | ||||
Leucosphaera bainesii | Wolbos, perdebossie | small shrub | Stolter & Tomaschewski* | Namibia: Claratal, Erichsfelde, Hohe Warte | thornbush savanna | div. | 2014 | Start of rainy season (October) | top of shoots including leaves | Feedipedia Link | SASSCAL Plant Guide Link | 7 | 1.3242857142857 | 0.25323619691618 | Kjeldahl | 57.028571428571 | 6.5581563175723 | 34.084285714286 | 4.4905636511202 | 8.25 | 1.699284163013 | 42.971428571429 | 6.5581563175724 | 22.944285714286 | 2.2071464015999 | 25.834285714286 | 2.8681053975453 | 0 | 0 | Butanol HCl | Methanol | 0.96857142857143 | 0.44035699803033 | Folin-Ciocalteus | Water | 7.67 | 0.90494935401565 | cattle, sheep, goats, important food resource during dry season for wild herbivores (e.g. oryx) | values per farm available | |||
Monechma genistifolia | Perdebos, sandsuikerbos | small shrub | Stolter & Tomaschewski* | Namibia: Erichsfelde | thornbush savanna | -21.5986 | 16.9012 | 2014 | Start and end of rainy season (October, April) | top of shoots including leaves | SASSCAL Plant Guide Link | 8 | 1.6525 | 0.29168231250553 | Kjeldahl | 38.15125 | 10.770606081235 | 26.11375 | 8.6068841840205 | 9.05875 | 3.2706069227067 | 61.84875 | 10.770606081235 | 12.0375 | 2.2714611408267 | 17.055 | 5.4412209764248 | 0 | 0 | Butanol HCl | Methanol | 0.70125 | 0.21290088237085 | Folin-Ciocalteus | Water | 17.74375 | 2.6332540298487 | high value for wild herbivores in dry season (e.g. oryx) | values per saison available | |||
Rhigozum brevispinosum | Granaatbos, simple-leaved rhigozum | shrub, bush | Stolter & Tomaschewski* | Namibia: Omatako Ranch | thornbush savanna | -21.5094 | 16.7291 | 2014 | Start of rainy season (October) | top shoots | SASSCAL Plant Guide Link | 4 | 1.51 | 0.09 | Kjeldahl | 56.64 | 2.01 | 40.52 | 2.07 | 17.74 | 1.06 | 43.36 | 2.01 | 16.12 | 0.51 | 22.79 | 1.2 | 0 | 0 | Butanol-HCL | Methanol | 1.78 | 0.05 | Folin-Ciocalteus | Water | 2.44 | 0.54 | wild ruminants | ||||
Ziziphus mucronata | Buffalo thorn, cape thorn, blinkblaar-wag-'n-bietjie | shrub, bush | Stolter & Tomaschewski* | Namibia: Erichsfelde, hohe Warte | thornbush savanna | Erichsfelde: Lat-21.5986, Long 16.9012; hohe Warte: Lat: -22.64401660621814 Lon: 17.40362584590912 | 2014 | Start of rainy season (October) | top of shoots including leaves | Feedipedia Link | SASSCAL Plant Guide Link | ziziphus-mucronata | 4 | 2.11 | 0.16 | Kjeldahl | 45.93 | 5.53 | 29.87 | 3.81 | 9.98 | 1.42 | 54.07 | 5.53 | 16.06 | 2.97 | 19.89 | 3.31 | 0.83 | 0.13 | Butanol-HCL | Methanol | 2.02 | 0.24 | Folin-Ciocalteus | water | 4.37 | 0.65 | goats, wild ruminants | |||
Zygophyllum c.f. pubescens | Spekbos | small shrub | Stolter & Tomaschewski* | Hohe Warte Namibia | thornbush savanna | -22.644016606218 | 17.403625845909 | 2014 | Start of rainy season (October) | top of shoots including leaves | SASSCAL Plant Guide Link | zygophyllum | 4 | 1.7725 | 0.19972898304119 | Kjeldahl | 53.97 | 5.9299971894316 | 37.2575 | 4.124062519733 | 13.08 | 0.93234471450567 | 46.03 | 5.9299971894315 | 16.7125 | 1.8595586393909 | 24.1775 | 3.2283471002976 | 0 | 0 | Butanol-HCL | Methanol | 0.4125 | 0.066017674401128 | Folin-Ciocalteus | Water | 6.5675 | 0.82935215680674 | wild ruminants, goats | |||
Aristida stipitata subsp. stipitata | Bristle grass, steifes stechgras | grass | Stolter & Tomaschewski* | Waterberg, Namibia | woodland savanna | -20.333690000698 | 17.33388003 | 2015 | End of rainy season (April) | whole above-ground plant | SASSCAL Plant Guide Link | 6 | 1.0133 | 0.07033 | Kjeldahl | 79.4683 | 1.00033 | 5.0517 | 0.55726 | 20.995 | 0.98368 | 36.3683 | 0.31556 | 38.0483 | 1.03296 | 2.6983 | 0.24425 | wild large herbivores | mean of samples from unburned control sites, values from recently burned sites are available | |||||||||||||
Bauhinia petersiana | Large white bauhinia, koffiebos | bush/tree | Stolter & Tomaschewski* | Waterberg, Namibia | woodland savanna | -20.333690000698 | 17.33388003 | 2015 | End of rainy season (April) | top of shoots including leaves | SASSCAL Plant Guide Link | 6 | 3.1783 | 0.38028 | Kjeldahl | 33.9267 | 3.88357 | 5.3083 | 0.60941 | 65.1683 | 2.13394 | 11.5917 | 1.24328 | 17.0267 | 2.28379 | 2.1483 | 0.89923 | Butanol-HCL | Methanol | 2.9683 | 1.14895 | Folin-Ciocalteus | Water | 3.8033 | 0.46509 | wild herbivores and livestock (cattle, goats) | mean of samples from unburned control sites, values from recently burned sites are available | |||||
Brachiaria nigropedata | Black-footed grass, svartvoetjie | grass | Stolter & Tomaschewski* | Waterberg, Namibia | woodland savanna | -20.333690000698 | 17.33388003 | 2015 | End of rainy season (April) | whole above-ground plant | Feedipedia Link | SASSCAL Plant Guide Link | 6 | 1.9317 | 0.36592 | 2.0617 | 0.4722 | 32.095 | 2.01729 | 36.095 | 1.60339 | 29.5883 | 2.27646 | 6.02 | 2.10871 | wild large herbivores and livestock | mean of samples from unburned control sites, values from recently burned sites are available | |||||||||||||||
Burkea africana | False ash, sandsering, wildesering | tree | Stolter & Tomaschewski* | Waterberg, Namibia | woodland savanna | -20.333690000698 | 17.33388003 | 2015 | End of rainy season (April) | top of shoots including leaves | SASSCAL Plant Guide Link | burkea-africanaLink | 6 | 1.4 | 0.10354 | Kjeldahl | 39.4083 | 1.47422 | 11.5083 | 0.34412 | 63.88 | 2.92578 | 11.4767 | 0.73772 | 16.4233 | 0.63613 | 2.9883 | 0.32908 | Butanol-HCL | Methanol | 5.2917 | 1.19464 | Folin-Ciocalteus | Water | 1.78 | 0.23546 | wild large herbivores (e.g. eland) and livestock | mean of samples from unburned control sites, values from recently burned sites are available | ||||
Combretum psidioides | Peeling-twig combretum, | tree | Stolter & Tomaschewski* | Waterberg, Namibia | woodland savanna | -20.333690000698 | 17.33388003 | 2015 | End of rainy season (April) | top of shoots including leaves | SASSCAL Plant Guide Link | 6 | 1.5133 | 0.1082 | Kjeldahl | 2.37948 | 0.97142 | 8.7733 | 0.55863 | 57.63 | 2.87794 | 11.3417 | 0.60836 | 20.9433 | 1.5717 | 1.815 | 0.27443 | Butanol HCl | Methanol | 7.2067 | 0.50318 | Folin-Ciocalteus | Water | 3.1633 | 0.24809 | wild large herbivores | mean of samples from unburned control sites, values from recently burned sites are available | |||||
Digitaria seriata | Kuruman finger-grass, Kurumanvingergras | grass | Stolter & Tomaschewski* | Waterberg, Namibia | woodland savanna | -20.333690000698 | 17.33388003 | 2015 | End of rainy season (April) | whole above-ground plant | Feedipedia Link | SASSCAL Plant Guide Link | 6 | 1.265 | 0.30244 | Kjeldahl | 68.965 | 1.92017 | 2.8867 | 0.40732 | 30.7733 | 2.79516 | 30.41 | 2.35741 | 35.6683 | 1.69626 | 5.3483 | 1.17958 | wild large herbivores and livestock | mean of samples from unburned control sites, values from recently burned sites are available | ||||||||||||
Eragrostis jeffreysii | Geelhoutpluimgras, weeping love grass | grass | Stolter & Tomaschewski* | Waterberg, Namibia | woodland savanna | -20.333690000698 | 17.33388003 | 2015 | End of rainy season (April) | whole above-ground plant | Feedipedia Link | SASSCAL Plant Guide Link | 6 | 1.26 | 0.07849 | Kjeldahl | 78.2017 | 0.63253 | 4.885 | 0.51462 | 22.155 | 0.69192 | 38.2633 | 0.75381 | 35.0533 | 1.12784 | 2.9067 | 0.35904 | wild large herbivores and livestock | mean of samples from unburned control sites, values from recently burned sites are available | ||||||||||||
Grewia flava | Brandybush, velvet raisin | shrub, bush | Stolter & Tomaschewski* | Waterberg, Namibia | woodland savanna | -20.333690000698 | 17.33388003 | 2015 | End of rainy season (April) | top of shoots including leaves | SASSCAL Plant Guide Link | 6 | 2.8333 | 0.35001 | Kjeldahl | 45.5883 | 2.67324 | 6.5167 | 0.90507 | 56.705 | 3.7724 | 20.915 | 2.46063 | 18.1567 | 1.11092 | 1.2333 | 0.18195 | Butanol HCl | Methanol | 2.325 | 0.26501 | Folin-Ciocalteus | Water | 6.5783 | 0.53372 | wild herbivores | mean of samples from unburned control sites, values from recently burned sites are available | |||||
Philenoptera nelsii | Kalahari apple-leaf, appelblaar | tree | Stolter & Tomaschewski* | Waterberg, Namibia | woodland savanna | -20.333690000698 | 17.33388003 | 2015 | End of rainy season (April) | top of shoots including leaves | SASSCAL Plant Guide Link | 6 | 4.0017 | 0.39291 | Kjeldahl | 51.2017 | 4.52156 | 10.2233 | 1.75734 | 58.8083 | 2.92872 | 18.8017 | 2.04558 | 22.1767 | 1.24815 | 0 | 0 | Butanol-HCl | Methanol | 0.88 | 0.05657 | Folin-Ciocalteus | Water | 4.1783 | 0.6733 | wild large herbivores and livestock | mean of samples from unburned control sites, values from recently burned sites are available | |||||
Stipagrostis uniplumus | Silky Bushman-grass, blinkhaarboesmangras | grass | Stolter & Tomaschewski* | Waterberg, Namibia | woodland savanna | -20.333690000698 | 17.33388003 | 2015 | End of rainy season (April) | whole above-ground plant | SASSCAL Plant Guide Link | 6 | 0.8583 | 0.09347 | Kjeldahl | 80.5067 | 0.96309 | 4.3467 | 0.77699 | 20.1633 | 1.93374 | 31.6767 | 0.50623 | 44.4833 | 1.21103 | 1.8783 | 0.1209 | wild large herbivores and livestock | mean of samples from unburned control sites, values from recently burned sites are available | |||||||||||||
Terminalia sericea | Silver cluster-leaf, vaalboom, geelhout | tree | Stolter & Tomaschewski* | Waterberg, Namibia | woodland savanna | -20.333690000698 | 17.33388003 | 2015 | End of rainy season (April) | top of shoots including leaves | SASSCAL Plant Guide Link | terminalia-sericea Link | 6 | 1.3767 | 0.11911 | Kjeldahl | 32.1533 | 1.59799 | 6.4183 | 1.10101 | 66.685 | 2.63493 | 10.455 | 1.28293 | 21.6983 | 1.57238 | 1.4117 | 0.1817 | Butanol-HCl | Methanol | 7.3417 | 0.72909 | Folin-Ciocalteus | Water | 2.7133 | 0.29118 | wild large herbivores and livestock | mean of samples from unburned control sites, values from recently burned sites are available |