Palatability and animal preferences of plants in Tehsil Takht-e-Nasrati, District Karak, Pakistan

In the present investigation, 161 plant species were judged for palatability purpose in Tehsil Takht-e-Nasrati, District Karak, Khyber Pakhtun Khawa, Pakistan. The study shows that 161 plant species including 22 (13.4%) trees, 23 (14%) shrubs and 116 (72.6%) herbs were grazed among five animals in different seasons. Of the 161 recorded species, 29 species (18.01%) were non palatable, 32 species (19.88%) were highly palatable, 43 species (26.71%) were mostly palatable, 34 species (21.12%) were less palatable and 23 species (14.29%) were rarely palatable. The overall animals preferred 83 plant species (62.88%) in a fresh form, single species (0.76%) in dry form and 48 species (36.4%) in both forms. The goat preferred the most plant (118 species, 33.52%), camel (79 species, 22.4%), cow (61 species, 17.33%), sheep (51 species, 14.5%) and donkey (43 species, 12.22%). The most preferred species by animals were Zizyphus mauritiana, Acacia modesta,Cyperus species, Dichanthium annulatum, Euphorbia prostrata and Kickxia ramosissima. In winter, there is less availability of palatable species in plain areas from an agriculture point of view, while it is reverse in hilly areas. It was observed that palatability and animal preference increased in summer. As such, a recommendation was made to evaluate the nutritional and mineral status of high palatable plants.   Key words: Palatability, fresh condition, dry condition, animal choice, seasonal effect.