Impact of silvipastoral system on forage availability and livestock productivity in semi-arid zones

Abstract:

Here is the dilemma semi-arid livestock farmers face every dry season: pastures wither, feed prices spike, and animals lose condition right when they should be gaining weight for market. Silvipastoral systems — integrating fodder trees with improved grasses promise a way out by providing tree-leaf browse when grasses go dormant. This research measured forage availability and cattle productivity across three land-use types (open pasture, Leucaena-based silvipasture, and Gliricidia-based silvipasture) over 18 months at a semi-arid site in eastern Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Total annual dry-matter forage production was 42.3% higher in Leucaena silvipasture (11.8 t DM ha⁻¹) than in open pasture (8.3 t DM ha⁻¹). Critically, Leucaena silvipasture maintained 67.4% of its annual forage supply during the 6-month dry season, compared to only 38.2% for open pasture. Cattle grazing Leucaena silvipasture gained 0.41 kg day⁻¹, versus 0.23 kg day⁻¹ on open pasture — a 78% advantage. These results demonstrate that integrating high-quality fodder trees with improved grass can sharply reduce dry-season feed gaps and improve livestock performance in Indonesia’s semi-arid eastern islands.