Strengthening the Feed Base in Livestock Production Through Alternative Plants Rich in Nutritional Value

One of the priority directions of agriculture is the development of livestock farming. Within this development cycle, strengthening the feed base of cattle and small ruminants and improving quality indicators are among the most important issues. One of the main solutions is expanding the possibilities of using plants with a high-quality feed base. Conducting research in this direction is purposeful and necessary. Among alternative plants, research has been conducted for the first time under the conditions of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic on the plant maralfalfa (Pennisetum spp.), which is willingly consumed by animals both in fresh and dry forms. The aim of the research is to adapt the plant to the soil and climatic conditions of the republic, to study its resistance to biotic and abiotic factors as well as its quality indicators, and to apply it in the development of livestock farming. The research was carried out in 2024 at the experimental field of the Academic Hasan Aliyev Agricultural Scientific Research Institute.