Woody fodder plants: Their role in the Mediterranean production systems

Experience with deciduous woody fodder plants in Greece is reviewed and their role in grazing production systems is discussed. The species reported are Amorpha fruticosa L., Carpinus orientalis Mill., Colutea arborescens L., Corylus avellana L., Fraxinus ornus L., Ostrya carpinifolia Scop., Pirus amygdaliformis Vill., Quercus pubescens Willd., Quercus sessiliflora Salich and Robinia pseudoacacia L.. Comparing the leguminous species (Robinia pseudoacacia, Amorpha fruticosa, Colutea arborescens) with the remaining species, the leguminous ones have a higher content of crude protein and a higher IVOMD value. Fodder plants produce high amounts of grazable material during summer with a relative preference high for Robinia pseudoacacia, low for Amorpha fruticosa, Colutea arborescens and Corylus avellana and medium for the remaining species. Based on such data an operational management scheme of woody fodder plantations is discussed.