Adaptation Strategies to Climate Change: High Andean Plant Species as Ruminant Feed Alternatives

The understanding and use of plant resources, coupled with the strategic selection of forage species, play crucial roles in biodiversity preservation, enhanced biomass production, nutrient supply, and a reduced ecological footprint. This study aimed to characterize the forage potential of perennial plant species in high Andean ecosystems. Species naturally occurring in livestock production systems were identified and classified based on their botanical and agronomic characteristics. We assessed biomass production, bromatological composition, carbon sequestration, in vitro dry matter digestibility, and methane emissions. Among the 28 identified species, 17 presented optimal characteristics: high biomass, protein (> 7%), gross energy (> 3500 kcal kg^-1), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) percentages (< 42% and < 37%, respectively), and in vitro digestibility (> 40%). Plants with relatively high secondary metabolite contents exhibited reduced methane emissions. Carbon uptake varied from 3.27 to 35.41 g C m^-2 or plant. The recognized forage potential of these perennial plant species offers a sustainable option for integration into ruminant feeding systems and silvopastoral practices in the tropical Andes. This strategic integration presents a viable approach for mitigating the impacts of livestock farming in response to climate change.