Izvorni znanstveni članak
https://doi.org/10.33128/k.67.1.2
A traditional use of wild-growing plants in animal nutrition as an alternative source of nutrients — an example of Hrvatsko zagorje (Croatian hinterland)
Ivana Vitasović Kosić
orcid.org/0000-0001-9372-5892
; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Jelena Blagec
orcid.org/0009-0000-4946-3581
; studentica Agronomskog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Sažetak
Many wild-growing plants are used as the alternative sources of nutrients in animal feed and provide the important nutrients for animal health and growth. A traditional use of wild plants in animal feeding in Croatia has a long history, but this knowledge has been undocumented and has only been transferred orally, so ethnobotanical research is crucial for its preservation. Since the region of Hrvatsko zagorje (Croatian Hinterland) has not yet been fully ethnobotanically researched, this paper aims to document a traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) about the use of plants in animal nutrition. A total of 40 plant taxa (species and subspecies) were inventoried (34 wild and 6 cultivated species and subspecies). On average, 15.7 taxa were listed per interview. A total of 21 families were recorded, with the largest number of taxa belonging to the families Asteraceae (6 taxa), Fabaceae (4 taxa), Poaceae (4 taxa) and Brassicaceae (3 taxa). Regarding the plant parts used in animal feeding the above-ground part of the plant (52.5%) and the leaf (27.5%) are the most commonly used. The most frequently mentioned plant species are stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), creeping clover (Trifolium repens), maize (Zea mays), white clover (Chenopodium album), horsetail (Equisetum arvense), mullein (Verbascum phlomoides), field bindweed (Sonchus arvensis), burdock (Petasites hybridus), hens millet (Echinochloa crus-galli), male fern (Dryopteris filix-mas), yarrow (Achillea millefolium), red clover (Trifolium pratense), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), hops (Humulus lupulus) and field sedge (Cirsium arvense). Sessile oak (Quercus petraea) is used as high-energy and highprotein additional feed in winter period, especially for pigs. The use of the medicinal plant mullein (Verbascum phlomoides) is of interest and could be a useful nutritional additive to improve health, antioxidant status and product quality in livestock production. Studies such as this could preserve cultural heritage and provide data regard to the prophylactic and therapeutic effects of medicinal and other plants that provide healthier diets and the development of new medicines for animals.
Ključne riječi
ethnobotanical research; ethnoveterinary; traditional ecological knowledge (TEK); Hrvatsko zagorje; Croatia
Hrčak ID:
333346
URI
Datum izdavanja:
30.6.2025.
Posjeta: 856 *