Preference of cattle for the foliage of twelve species with potential for agrosilvopastoral systems in the Trujillo State, Venezuela.

With the objective of knowing the preference of young cattle for twelve forage species of the Trujillo State, Venezuela (Chlorophora tinctoria, Morus alba, Pithecellobium pedicellare, Gliricidia sepium, Guazuma ulmifolia, Cordia alba, Trichantera gigantea, Tithonia diversifolia, Leucaena leucocephala, Moringa oleifera, Azadirachta indica and Samanea saman) a cafeteria test was performed through foliage intake measurements, by means of a Latin square design with a 12-day evaluation period. The chemical composition (CP, CE, NDF, phenols, condensed tannins, protein precipitable tannins and total sterols) and the in situ ruminal degradability (DMD and OMD) of the forages were determined. The most preferred species were: P. pedicellare (327,98 g DM), L. leucocephala (325,63 g DM), M. alba (293,37 g DM), G. ulmifolia (292,48 g DM), C. tinctoria (277,18 g DM) and C. alba (274, 49 g DM). The foliages of G. sepium (108,05 g DM), T. diversifolia (106,09 g DM), M. oleifera (76,28 g DM), A. indica (76,19 g DM) and S. saman (58,72 g DM) were moderately consumed. However, the biomass of T. gigantea (1,39 g DM) was practically rejected. During the experimental period different trends were observed in the intake of each species. Nevertheless, no significant relationship was observed among the intake and chemical composition, the concentration of secondary metabolites and ruminal degradability. It is concluded that to carry out preference trials with animals for the selection of species with potential for silvopastoral systems is important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]