Publication Date
1993
Description
In African savannas primary production by woody plants may match that by the grass layer. However, maximum population levels attained by browsing ruminants are only one tenth of those reached by similar sized grazers, The productivity of browsers is limited because (I) much foliage is out of reach, and dispersed by wind when shed; (2) most palatable trees are deciduous, leading to a food bottleneck during the late dry season; (3) leaves of many woody species are rendered unpalatable, indigestible or toxic by plant secondary metabolites. Management actions to overcome these limitations include (I) lopping trees to restrict their height; (2) gathering shed leaves to be stored for later feeding; (3) stressing trees by severe browsing or pruning to reduce secondary metabolite levels or change species composition; (4) stocking several species of browser adapted to cope in different ways with woody plant defences.
Citation
Owen-Smith, Norman, "Overcoming Limitations on the Productivity of Browsing Ungulates in Africa" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 4.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session57/4
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Overcoming Limitations on the Productivity of Browsing Ungulates in Africa
In African savannas primary production by woody plants may match that by the grass layer. However, maximum population levels attained by browsing ruminants are only one tenth of those reached by similar sized grazers, The productivity of browsers is limited because (I) much foliage is out of reach, and dispersed by wind when shed; (2) most palatable trees are deciduous, leading to a food bottleneck during the late dry season; (3) leaves of many woody species are rendered unpalatable, indigestible or toxic by plant secondary metabolites. Management actions to overcome these limitations include (I) lopping trees to restrict their height; (2) gathering shed leaves to be stored for later feeding; (3) stressing trees by severe browsing or pruning to reduce secondary metabolite levels or change species composition; (4) stocking several species of browser adapted to cope in different ways with woody plant defences.
