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Buffalo thorn (Ziziphus mucronata)

Datasheet

Description
Click on the "Nutritional aspects" tab for recommendations for ruminants, pigs, poultry, rabbits, horses, fish and crustaceans
Common names 

Buffalo thorn, Cape thorn [English]; blinkblaar-wag-'n-bietjie [Afrikaans]; umPhafa, umLahlankosi, isiLahla [isiZulu]; umPhafa [isiXhosa]; umLahlabantu [Swazi]; mokgalo [Tswana]; mutshetshete [Venda]; mphasamhala [Tsonga]; mokgalô, moonaona [N Sotho]

Related feed(s) 
Description 

The buffalo thorn (Ziziphus mucronata Willd.) is a multipurpose tree whose leaves and fruits are a valuable fodder source.

Morphological description

The buffalo thorn (Ziziphus mucronata Willd.) is a small to medium sized tree, growing to a height of 3-10 (-20) m. The crown is irregular, with dense spreading and drooping branches. The trunk is short, up to 40 cm in diameter, branching near the base, with a grey-brown bark. The branches are armed with pairs of sharp thorns (0.7-2 cm) on each node. The leaves are simple, alternate and very variable in size (3-9 cm long x 2-5 cm broad), glossy green on the upper side and paler below. The flowers are small (4 mm), green to yellow, borne in clusters. The flowering period depends on rainfall and can start from October to late summer (January). The tree bears numerous fruits, the weight of which often bends the branches. The fruits are small, between 10 and 20 (-25) mm. They are globose, glossy drupes that turn from green to dark brown as they ripen in late summer (January) or later in winter. They have a hard, shiny exocarp and a floury, nutritious mesocarp. The oval seed is usually solitary and embedded in a hard stone (Orwa et al., 2009; Mazibuko, 2007; Ellis, 2003).

Uses

The buffalo thorn is a multipurpose tree of considerable cultural importance in Eastern and Southern Africa, and many beliefs and traditions are attached to it (Mazibuko, 2007). Its Zulu name umLahlankosi means "which buries the chief". In Botswana, the tree is believed to protect from lightning (Mazibuko, 2007). The fruits are edible and nutritious though not very tasty and somewhat mealy. In times of scarcity, they can be eaten fresh, dried or made into a meal or porridge. The fruit flesh mixed with water is a good thirst quencher and is fermented to prepare a beer (Roodt, 1998 cited by Ellis, 2003). The young leaves are not very palatable but are nutritious and can be prepared in the same manner as spinach. Roasted seeds can be used as maize meal or as coffee substitute. The wood is used for fuel, agricultural implements and utensils. The thorny branches are used for fences. The sap is used as a mixing agent for arrow poison and, because of its high tannin content (12-15%), the bark helps in tanning leather. The buffalo thorn is used as an ornamental in gardens (Orwa et al., 2009). Many parts of the plant are used in ethnomedicine. Tannins may play a role in the treatment of dysentery (Ellis, 2003). In East Africa, roots are used for treating snake bites (Hutchings et al., 1996 cited by Mazibuko, 2007). These properties have been attributed to the peptide alkaloids and antifungal properties isolated from the bark and leaves (Mazibuko, 2007).  

The leaves and fruits are a valuable fodder source for livestock and game (Orwa et al., 2009).

Distribution 

The buffalo thorn is widespread in Southern and Eastern Africa. It occurs in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Mozambique, as well as Ethiopia and Arabia. It is found in arid and semi-arid areas dominated by thorny vegetation such as dry savannah woodlands, open scrublands, open grasslands, forest margins and riverine vegetation. The buffalo thorn is a very hardy species able to withstand frost and drought. Ziziphus mucronata is found from sea level up to an altitude of 2000 m. It is tolerant of coastal salt spray. It grows on a wide range of soils, from shallow rocky hillsides to brackish floodplains along rivers, but does better on deep alluvial soils near water where it can form dense thickets. It is believed to indicate underground water (Ecocrop, 2014; Orwa et al., 2009). 

Environmental impact 

Feed resource for wild animals

The buffalo thorn is a valuable feed resource for wild animal species. Its fruits are relished by birds, baboons, monkeys, warthogs, bushpigs (Potamochoerus larvatus), etc. Its leaves are sought after by giraffes, elephants, black rhinos, kudus (Tragelaphus spp.), nyalas (Tragelaphus angasii) and impalas (Aepyceros melampus). The nectar is particularly attractive to bees (Orwa et al., 2009; Mazibuko, 2007).

Nutritional aspects
Nutritional attributes 

Buffalo thorn forage

Buffalo thorn forage has a medium to high protein content (10-20% DM) and a moderate fibre content (ADF 17-23% DM). It is considered as a potential protein supplement in low-grade forage diets. The Ca, P, Mg, Na and K contents are variable but higher than cattle requirements (Njidda, 2012).

Buffalo thorn seeds

Buffalo thorn forage has a medium to high protein content (10-20% DM) and a moderate fibre content (ADF 17-23% DM). It is considered as a potential protein supplement in low-grade forage diets. The Ca, P, Mg, Na and K contents are variable but higher than cattle requirements (Njidda, 2012).

Ruminants 

Buffalo thorn forage has a medium protein content and a moderate fibre content. It can be used as protein source in low-grade diets fed to ruminants. It ranked among the most nutritious forage trees assessed in Kenya (Ondiek et al., 2010a).

Palatability

Buffalo thorn forage is palatable to livestock, and more palatable to goats than to sheep (Osuga et al., 2008).

Digestibility and energy value

Buffalo thorn foliage has medium to high in vitro OM and DM digestibility (values ranging from 55 to 75%) (Ondiek et al., 2010a; Njidda et al., 2010; Hassen et al., 2009). In North-eastern Nigeria, buffalo thorn fodder was found to have a higher ME content (6.2 MJ/kg DM, assessed by gas production) than other forage tree species including Leucaena leucocephala, Acacia tortilis and Moringa oleifera (Njidda et al., 2010).

Goats

In Kenya, small East African goats offered a low-grade hay-based diet were supplemented with buffalo thorn forage alone (15% or 30% of the diet DMl) or in a mixture with forage from the Maerua angolensis tree (Osuga et al., 2012; Ondiek et al., 2010b). The supplemented diet had a higher protein digestibility and the goats increased DM intake, N intake and N retention (Osuga et al., 2012). Buffalo thorn forage fed at 20 g DM/kg W0.75, supplementing Chloris gayana, resulted in 34 g/day weight gain (Ondiek et al., 2011).

Nutritional tables

Avg: average or predicted value; SD: standard deviation; Min: minimum value; Max: maximum value; Nb: number of values (samples) used

Main analysis Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb  
Dry matter % as fed 48.5   48.5 48.5 2  
Crude protein % DM 12.3 2.6 10.0 15.7 5  
Crude fibre % DM 14.6   8.4 20.8 2  
NDF % DM 47.0 9.6 35.8 52.5 3  
ADF % DM 21.5 1.2 20.2 22.3 3  
Lignin % DM 7.5       1  
Ether extract % DM 3.8   2.6 5.0 2  
Ash % DM 9.2 0.9 8.5 10.4 4  
Gross energy MJ/kg DM 18.0         *
               
Minerals Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb  
Calcium g/kg DM 33.5   20.2 46.8 2  
Phosphorus g/kg DM 1.4   1.2 1.7 2  
Potassium g/kg DM 20.9       1  
Sodium g/kg DM 0.0       1  
Magnesium g/kg DM 2.1       1  
Manganese mg/kg DM 307       1  
Zinc mg/kg DM 27       1  
Copper mg/kg DM 5       1  
               
Secondary metabolites Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb  
Tannins (eq. tannic acid) g/kg DM 13.0   12.7 13.2 2  

The asterisk * indicates that the average value was obtained by an equation.

References

Aganga et al., 2005; CIRAD, 1991; Dougall et al., 1958; Makkar et al., 1998

Last updated on 06/08/2014 14:29:09

Main analysis Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb  
Dry matter % as fed 89.3 2.4 85.9 92.3 7  
Crude protein % DM 16.6 3.1 11.9 20.0 7  
Crude fibre % DM 20.0       1  
NDF % DM 46.5 7.6 37.0 58.7 7  
ADF % DM 20.6 2.3 16.9 22.9 7  
Lignin % DM 9.7   8.8 10.7 2  
Ether extract % DM 5.3       1  
Ash % DM 7.3 2.1 4.0 10.1 6  
Gross energy MJ/kg DM 19.1         *
               
Minerals Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb  
Calcium g/kg DM 17.4       1  
Phosphorus g/kg DM 2.6       1  
Sodium g/kg DM 0.7       1  
Magnesium g/kg DM 8.5       1  
Manganese mg/kg DM 39       1  
Zinc mg/kg DM 56       1  
Copper mg/kg DM 14       1  
Iron mg/kg DM 75       1  
               
Secondary metabolites Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb  
Tannins (eq. tannic acid) g/kg DM 31.1 15.5 19.0 53.8 5  
Tannins, condensed (eq. catechin) g/kg DM 7.2       1  
               
Ruminant nutritive values Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb  
OM digestibility, ruminants (gas production) % 65   55 74 2  
ME ruminants (gas production) MJ/kg DM 6.2       1  

The asterisk * indicates that the average value was obtained by an equation.

References

Matlebyane et al., 2009; Njidda et al., 2010; Ondiek et al., 2010; Osuga et al., 2008; Osuga et al., 2012

Last updated on 06/08/2014 14:29:38

References
References 
Datasheet citation 

Heuzé V., Tran G., 2017. Buffalo thorn (Ziziphus mucronata). Feedipedia, a programme by INRAE, CIRAD, AFZ and FAO. https://feedipedia.org/node/81 Last updated on August 5, 2017, 10:54

English correction by Tim Smith (Animal Science consultant) and Hélène Thiollet (AFZ)
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