Mineral content in range forages from north Mexico

Abstract

Native forages such as trees Quercus eduardii and Quercus grisea; shrubs such as Atriplex canescens, Acacia constricta, Acacia shaffneri, Cassia wislizeni, Celtis pallida, Condalia lycioides, Cordia parvifolia, Flourencia cernua, Larrea tridentata, Mimosa biuncifera and Prosopis leavigata; forbs such as Coldenia greggii, Dalea bicolor, Jatropha dioica and Parthenium incanum; cacti such as Opuntia imbricata, Opuntia leptocaulis and Opuntia leucotricha; red and white fruits from O. leucotricha; fruits from O. leptocaulis, O. imbricata and A. canescens; pods from P. leavigata; pods from A. shaffneri and flowers from Yucca spp. were collected to estimate and compare the mineral content. Plant samples were collected during the dry and wet seasons of two consecutive years (2006–2007) at seven locations situated in four counties of the state of Durango, Mexico. All macrominerals and trace elements were significantly different among plants within each group of plants. The Ca, Mg, K, Fe and Mn content of most plants were in sufficient amounts to satisfy adult range requirements; however, P, Na, Cu and Zn resulted with marginal deficiencies.

Keywords:

• native forages
• digestibility
• mineral content
• north Mexico

Acknowledgements

We would like to Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, Mexico for providing a Doctoral Scholarship to Maribel Guerrero-Cervantes.