Mulberry (Morus species; Family: Moraceace) leaves are source of highly palatable as well as digestible fodder during summer season and are rich in crude protein content (14.0 –34.2%) and macro as well as micro nutrients. These leaves are rich in secondary metabolites known to enhance livestock production including the flavonoids present in mulberry leaves are known to show efficacy in managing fatal livestock diseases such as neonatal calf diarrhea and reducing enteric methane production. Moreover, mulberry species is easy to propagate, and produces high leaf biomass yield and can be grown under vast climatic conditions from arid, semi arid, tropical, subtropical to temperate conditions. Further, mulberry species can be managed as a tree, shrub or hedge and has been found to be compatible to be grown under agro-forestry systems, as high density plantations, as boundary plantations and bund plantations etc. Thus, given the pressing issues of declining livestock productivity, increasing enteric methane emission s, and the prevalence of livestock diseases, harnessing the potential of mulberry species emerges as a sustainable solution which needs promoting cultivation of mulberry species ensuring sustainable livestock feeding systems in India. For cultivation, identification of elite germplasm that are well suited to the various climatic conditions along with higher and uniform leaf biomass yield, high protein as well as nutritional profile, nutraceutical potential (flavanoid rich) and methane reduction potential is required which can be promoted for cultivation among farmers. Thus, there is an urgent need to initiate screening of mulberry species germplasm for identification of superior genotypes of mulberry for ensuring economically viable way to reduce enteric methane emissions and ensuring sustainable livestock feeding systems in India under various agro-climatic zones.
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