Chemical and Digestibility Characteristics of Some Woody Species Browsed by Goats in Central Mexico

Abstract

Pinos-Rodriguez, J.M., Aguirre-Rivera, J.R., Mellado, M., García-López, J.C., Álvarez-Fuentes, G., Méndez-Villazana, J.C. 2007. Chemical and digestibility characteristics of some woody species browsed by goats in Central Mexico. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 32: 149–153.

A study was conducted during fall in Central Mexico to determine the chemical composition, the in situ disappearance and rate of in situ fermentation of ten common woody species used by goats in a semi-humid landscape. Leaves of Parkinsonia aculeata, Pithecellobium dulce, Ceratonia siliqua, Leucaena glauca, Crataegus pubescens, Calliandra eriophylla, Dalea bicolor, Eysenhardtia texana, Atriplex canescens and Amelanchier denticulata were analyzed. Dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and ash content of fodder tree leaves ranged between 29.3 and 63.9, 8.5 and 28.2 and 3 and 18.9, respectively. Both acid detergent fiber (21–47%) and neutral detergent fiber (56.4–81.2%) contents were high. DM disappearance of shrubs and trees was in the range 48–85%, with the highest (P<0.05) disappearance rate at all incubation time for Atriplex canescens, Pithecellobium dulce and Leucaena glauca. These data reaffirm the considerable potential of Atriplex canescens, Leucaena glauca and Pithecellobium dulce as high quality forages for ruminants.

Keywords:

• Woody species
• in situ disappearance
• ADF
• NDF
• CP