Fodder trees and shrubs of the north-tzotzil region of Chiapas, Mexico

Abstract

TREES AND SHRUBS HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A STRATEGIC RESOURCE TO IMPROVE CATTLE SYSTEMS. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE PRESENT STUDY WAS TO IDENTIFY WOODY SPECIES WITH FODDER POTENTIAL FOR THE CATTLE SYSTEMS IN THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS REGION OF CHIAPAS, MEXICO, INCORPORATING THE FARMERS' PERCEPTIONS, CHEMICAL-NUTRITIONAL ANALYSIS, AND IN VITRO AND IN SITU DIGESTIBILITY ASSAYS OF THE FOLIAGE. THROUGH PARTICIPATORY WORKSHOPS, THE FARMERS RECOGNIZED 60 USEFUL WOODY SPECIES WITHIN THE GRAZING AREAS. OF THESE, 18 ARE CONSUMED BY THE CATTLE AND THEY HAVE MULTIPLE USES. BASED ON THE PERCEPTION AND QUALIFICATION OF THE FARMERS, THE MOST PROMISING FODDER TREES WITH THE POTENTIAL TO BE INCORPORATED IN A SILVOPASTORAL SYSTEM WERE IDENTIFIED: PITHECELLOBIUM DULCE, GUAZUMA ULMIFOLIA, LEUCAENA LEUCOCEPHALA, LEUCAENA ESCULENTA, GLIRICIDIA SEPIUM, SAURAUIA SCABRIDA, CHROMOLAENA SP, ERYTHRINA CHIAPASANA, ACACIA PENNATULA, ACACIA ANGUSTISSIMA, EYSENHARDTIA ADENOSTYLIS, CALLIANDRA HOUSTONIANA AND MIMOSA ALBIDA. SAMPLES OF TREE FOLIAGE FROM TWO SEASONS OF THE YEAR AND FROM DIFFERENT GRAZING AREAS WERE COLLECTED, CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND IN VITRO DIGESTIBILITY PARAMETERS OF THE FOLIAGE OF THESE TREES DIFFERED SIGNIFI CANTLY BETWEEN THE WET AND DRY SEASON. BY MEANS OF A DIGESTIBILITY IN SITU ASSAY WITH BOVINES, FOLIAGE OF: ACACIA ANGUSSTISIMA, ACACIA PENNATULA, EYSENHARDTIA ADENOSTYLIS, CHROMOLAENA SP, AND SAURAUIA SCABRIDA WAS EVALUATED AND IT WAS SHOWN THAT AMONG THEM THERE IS A HIGH VARIATION IN THE POTENTIAL OF DEGRADATION, RATE OF DEGRADATION AND EFFECTIVE DEGRADABILITY OF THE DRY MATTER. FOUR SPECIES ARE PROMISING FOR THE TROPICAL PART OF THE REGION (PITHECELLOBIUM DULCE, GUAZUMA ULMIFOLIA, LEUCAENA LEUCOCEPHALA AND L. ESCULENTA), TWO FOR THE TEMPERATE ZONE (SAURAUIA SCABRIDA AND CHROMOLAENA SP) AND THREE THAT CAN BE USED IN A LARGE ALTITUDINAL RANGE (ERYTHRINA CHIAPASANA, ACACIA ANGUSTISSIMA AND EYSENHARDTIA ADENOSTYLIS).