Abstract

PINTO RUIZ, René et al. Animal behavior and diet characteristics of cattle grazing on stargrass in monoculture and associated with trees. Rev. mex. de cienc. pecuarias [online]. 2014, vol.5, n.3, pp.365-374. ISSN 2448-6698.

The objective of this study was to evaluate, animal behavior, quality, and composition of the diet selected by cattle grazing on stargrass (Cynodon plectostachyus) in monoculture and associated with Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) De Wit. and Guazuma ulmifolia (Lam.) in the dry tropics of Chiapas, Mexico. For this purpose, animals' behavior was observed for 24 h. It was estimated quality as well as botanical composition of the diet selected. Data were analyzed by variance with a completely random design. Comparison of means was carried out using Tukey's test. Non significant differences were reported for the animal behavior data (P>0.05). In the associated grassland, it was found that more time was dedicated to browsing during the dry season (P<0.05). The best diet selected, in terms of crude protein was found in the associated grassland (P<0.001), for both seasons. In this grassland, woody plants were found in the diet selected during both seasons. Nevertheless, more woody species contributed to the diet during the dry as compared to the rainy season (52.1 versus 26.9 %, respectively).

Keywords : Silvopastoral systems; Animal behavior; Tropics.