Abstract
<p><strong>Background: </strong>Many trees and shrubs from different parts of the world have forage potential, because they are inexpensive local products used for small ruminants as feed resource, some of these native shrubs are currently already an important fodder resources in arid and semi-arid regions of Northeastern México. <strong>Objective:</strong> The aim of this study was to determine the cell-wall composition and <em>in vitro</em> leaf digestibility of five shrub species: <em>Celtis pallida</em>, <em>Croton suaveolens</em>, <em>Forestiera angustifolia</em>, <em>Guaiacum angustifolium</em> and <em>Parkinsonia aculeata</em>. <strong>Methodology: </strong>Plant material was collected monthly from July 2018 to June 2019 at two sampling sites in Nuevo León, México: Linares and Los Ramones Counties. <em>In vitro</em> dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) was calculated using the Daisy<sup>II</sup> incubator. <strong>Results: </strong>Non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) (total mean = 22.4% dry matter) varied significantly among species, sites, and months (p&lt;0.001, p&lt;0.05 and p&lt;0.001, respectively). Conversely, neither acid detergent lignin (ADL) (8.4%), crude protein (CP) (21.9%), cellulose (12.5%), hemicellulose (20.8%), nor IVDMD (75.5%) varied significantly between sites. In general, NSC values were higher in Linares. The highest and lowest IVDMD values as per the Daisy<sup>II</sup> incubator were recorded in March and September, respectively. <em>C</em>. <em>pallida</em> showed the highest IVDMD associated with a high hemicellulose and low ADL values, whereas <em>P</em>. <em>aculeata</em> showed a lower IVDMD value and high cellulose content. <strong>Implications: </strong>All species maintained considerably high levels of digestibility, which might indicate an availability of high CP levels for consumption by ruminants in the semi-arid regions of northeastern México. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> It is concluded that the species under study can be considered as emergency feed resources for small ruminants throughout the year.</p>
Highlights
It has been reported that many trees and shrubs from different parts of the world have forage potential, due to their protein and mineral contents, and in vitro digestibility analyzes have shown that they may be a valuable supplementary feed for ruminants in extensive grazing systems (Ammar et al, 2004; Guerrero et al, 2012; Habib et al, 2016; Luske and van Eekeren, 2018)
Some of these trees and shrubs are currently already important fodder resources for ruminants, as suggested by several studies and evaluations. This is the case of some of the native plants from the Tamaulipan Thornscrub, a semiarid ecosystem in northeastern México, in which to date, no low-palatability or toxic substances, such as tannins have been detected by in vitro gas production or by in situ methods in the leaves of the shrub species Celtis pallida Torr. (Ulmaceae), Croton suaveolens Torr. (Euphorbiaceae), Forestiera angustifolia Torr. (Oleaceae), Guaiacum angustifolium Engelm. (Zygophyllaceae), and Parkinsonia aculeata L. (Fabaceae), in quantities that may limit their use as fodder (Domínguez et al, 2011; Ramırez et al, 2000)
The aim of this study was to determine the crude protein (CP), cell-wall composition including, cellulose, hemicellulose, and acid detergent lignin, (ADL), non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of five shrub species, namely, Celtis pallida, Croton suaveolens, Forestiera angustifolia, Guaiacum angustifolium, and Parkinsonia aculeata, which might be fed to ruminants in the semi-arid regions of northeastern México
Summary
It has been reported that many trees and shrubs from different parts of the world have forage potential, due to their protein and mineral contents, and in vitro digestibility analyzes have shown that they may be a valuable supplementary feed for ruminants in extensive grazing systems (Ammar et al, 2004; Guerrero et al, 2012; Habib et al, 2016; Luske and van Eekeren, 2018). Browsing behaviors are directed towards the consumption of leguminous and non-leguminous shrub/herb plant species that remain green and show a relative nutrient content throughout the year (Guerrero et al, 2008) Some of these trees and shrubs are currently already important fodder resources for ruminants, as suggested by several studies and evaluations. This is the case of some of the native plants from the Tamaulipan Thornscrub, a semiarid ecosystem in northeastern México, in which to date, no low-palatability or toxic substances, such as tannins have been detected by in vitro gas production or by in situ methods in the leaves of the shrub species Celtis pallida Torr. Owing to their high nutritional value, the indigenous browse species in pastoral and agropastoral areas need to be restored and conserved for a sustainable livestock production (Derero and Kitaw, 2018) because, fodder trees and shrubs are perennial, grasses disappear from grasslands under high-intensity grazing regimes due to their carbohydrate content, especially non-structural carbohydrates (NSC), whereby their rapid regrowth after browsing by ruminants requires careful management (Heyden and Stock, 2016)
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