Fodder trees and shrubs for high rainfall areas of south Western Australia

Abstract

In south Western Australia, the lack of good quality feed in late summer and autumn is a major constraint to livestock production. This feed gap is usually filled by costly supplementary hand feeding of grain or hay. The ability of some trees and shrubs to provide good quality forage during summer and autumn has generated interest for many years (Corbett, 1951; Everist, 1969; Snook, 1987;Oldham et al., 1991, Lefroy, 1991). The dual benefits of reducing the need for supplementary hand feeding and deferring the grazing of annual pastures until they are well established has recently led to the recognition of tagasaste (Chamaecytisus palmensis) and saltbush (Atnp/exspecies) as important forage plants in Western Australia (Malcolm; 1986, Oldham et al., 1991

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