Research Note<br><br>The use of trees, shrubs and herbs in livestock production by communal farmers in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Abstract

A
survey of the use of trees, shrubs and herbs for livestock production
was conducted through questionnaires among 90 farmers in the
communal areas of northern KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. The
areas surveyed were located at Mtubatuba, Hluhluwe, Kwadlangezwa
and Jozini. All the farmers questioned were found to own some
form of livestock, mostly the Nguni breed. The commonly perceived
sources of constraints on livestock production were external
and internal parasites. The well known plants reported to be
consumed by the animals were Vitellariopsis arginata
and Rhus gueinzii. Most of the farmers (27.7%) used Cissus
quadrangularis and Gnidia kraussiana for treating
worm infestations and coughs in livestock. Plants used for increasing
milk production were Crinum macowanii and Sarcostemma
viminale. The well known plant species detrimental to livestock
was Moraea spathulata, which causes diarrhoea and death.

African Journal of Range & Forage Science 2003, 20(3): 271–274