Nutritional Profile and Leaf Surface Structure of Some Native Shrubs Consumed by Small Ruminants in Semiarid Regions of Northeastern México

Abstract

Ramírez, R.G., Hernández-Piñeiro, J.L. and Maiti, R.K. 1997. Nutritional profile and leaf surface structure of some native shrubs consumed by small ruminants in semiarid regions of northeastern Mexico. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 11: 145–156. This study evaluated browse composition of animal diets of range goats and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus, texanus) grazing in northeastern Mexico and some dominant native browse species from semiarid Nuevo León, Mexico, were studied to determine their nutritional value and leaf surface ultrastructure. Browse was the main component of the annual diets of goats and deer. Large differences in nutritional vlaues were found in the different plant species, although all were high in crude protein (range = 12.3–23.5%) and low in cell wall (range = 27.7–44.7%). Plants such as Acacia rigidula, Acacia berlandieri, Ziziphus obtusifolia, Porlieria angustifolia, Condalia obovata and Acacia farnesiana showed smooth and waxy leaf surface with the absence of trichomes. These plants had acceptable digestibility values ranging from 50 to 85%, with exception of Acacia rigidula (31%), probably because of its high tannin content. However, this plant was the most prefered for its high abundance in the range. The preference in diets by small ruminants not only depends on the leaf surface structure, but is highly related to the abundance of browse species in the harsh summer season also as well as their nutritional value. It seems that availability and the high nutritional value of plants had influenced diet selection, although leaf surface smoothness may play some role in animal selection. Besides, leaf surface structure could be an acceptable guide for plant species identification.