EXPLORING STINGING NETTLE-ALFALFA MIXED STANDS AS ECOFRIENDLY HIGH-VALUE BIOACTIVE FORAGE RESOURCES FOR INTEGRATED PARASITE CONTROL IN CLIMATE-SMART SMALL RUMINANT PRODUCTION

This project seeks to generate data on sustainable forage-based gastro-intestinal nematodes (GIN) control using local bioactive forages that are protein-rich and not susceptible to depredation by wild ungulates and without using N fertilizers. Specifically, the project assesses effects of inter-growing alfalfa into existing stinging nettle stands and that of maturity stage at harvest on the yield and quality of forage biomass, and species composition. The project will also generate data on health and growth responses of yearling meat goats grazing in gamagrass pastures supplemented with pelletized stinging nettle-alfalfa forage mixtures. The information will be helpful to producers interested in climate-smart forage-based small ruminant production by promoting stinging nettle as a bioactive forage plant that can also deter depredatory deer damages to alfalfa in the region. Potentially, this innovative approach will also be helpful to dairy farmers interested in high-value forages that feed heavily on N, P, & K to minimize pollution of vulnerable water bodies.While inter-growing stinging nettle with compatible legumes may sustainably meet its N needs for vigorous growth, doing so with a highly nutritious and palatable type may ensure that the resulting forage mixture is of higher nutritional value and more acceptable to the animals. Furthermore, because animals can only consume stinging nettle if fed dry, the choice of legume to inter-grow with should also consider its suitability for quality haymaking, and similarities in shoot morphology and growth rate to allow for harvesting at the same time. However, although alfalfa is both a high quality and very palatable ruminant forage resource, there is paucity of information on how defoliation management may influence nutritive value of the forage mixture and/or subsequent species composition of the mixed stands. It is also not clear how species composition or maturity stage at harvest and the pelletizing process may affect the palatability, or anticipated health benefits of the stinging nettle-alfalfa forage mixture to small ruminants.