PREFERENCE OF SHEEP AND CATTLE FOR FRUITS FROM SIX TREE SPECIES

Abstract

The preference of sheep and cattle for fruits from Acacia cochliacantha Humb. & Bonpl. Willd., Caesalpinia cacalaco Bonpl., Vachellia pennatula (Schltdl. & Cham.) Benth., Chloroleucon mangense (Jacq.) Britton & Rose, Senna atomaria (L.) H.S. Irwin & Barneby, and Guazuma ulmifolia Lam, was determined. During the first trial, the preference of Tropical-Tarantés milking Criollo calves was determined, and in the second and third, the preference of Pelibuey sheep. In each trial, crushed fruits were offered simultaneously in periods of 15 minutes, for seven consecutive days, using a cafeteria arrangement. The fruits used showed more than 8 % of raw protein (RP), with C. mangense standing out (20.7 %), while the highest in vitro digestibility of the dry matter (INDDM) was for C. cacalaco (69.9 %); the presence of tannins, terpenes, saponins and flavonoids was recorded in fruits, with A. cochliacantha standing out with the highest content. The cattle preferred (P<0.001) V. pennatula (252±73) and G. ulmifolia (247±54 g animal^-1) over other fruits. The non-fasting sheep showed greater preference for C. mangense (79±35 g animal^-1 day^-1), while the fasting sheep preferred (P<0.001) C. mangense, A. pennatula and A. cochliacantha (76±28, 73±9 y 60±12 g animal^-1 day^-1, respectively). Bothe the cattle and the sheep showed preference for one fruit, although those of highest preference were C. mangense for sheep, A. pennatula and G. ulmifolia for cattle, and the C. cacalaco fruits were the least accepted.