Documentation of Wild Fodder Plants Used By Gujjar and Bakerwal Tribes of District Poonch Ut of Jammu and Kashmir, India

Abstract

Study area is inhibited mostly by Gujjar and Bakerwal tribes whose chief occupation is rearing of cattle, sheep and goats. These animals obtain their food by grazing in pastures, browsing leaves of shrubs and trees and also young twigs and leaves of trees are lopped for fodder. The present study was carried out with the aim to document the plants used as source of fodder by Gujjar and Bakerwal tribes. A total of 73 species belonging to 61 genera and 34 families were reported. Majority of the plants used as fodder are trees with 33 species which is followed by herbs with 29 species, shrubs 8 species and climber 3 species. Leaves of 41 species are used as fodder and 23 species are used as entire plants and aerial parts of 7 species and young twigs of 4 species are used as fodder.