Feno de jurema preta (Mimosa tenuiflora (willd.Poiret) e favela (Cnidoscolus phyllacanthus (Muell Arg.) Pax et K. Hoffm.) na alimentação de ovinos.

Abstract

Extensive cattle raising is a widespread activity present in the semiarid region of northeast Brazil. It is based on browsing of the native herbaceous and woody species of the Caatinga. During the dry season, forage availability is reduced and negatively affects animal performance. Additional forage can be obtained by pruning and drying fine branches of trees in the rainy season to help feeding the animals later in the dry season, a forage that otherwise would be unavailable. Jurema preta and favela are arboreal xerophytes native to the Caatinga forest that produce leaves and fine branches consumed by ruminants. Their branches may be pruned and stored as hay to feed small ruminants. Jurema preta and favela hays were tested in three independent assays, according to an entirely random design with four treatments (hay levels: 0, 17, 33 and 50% of jurema preta, favela, or jurema preta&favela hay) and two replications, with plots subdivided in time. Data analyses showed that animals maintained or gained weight until 33% of jurema preta or 50% of favela hay in the diet. Also, no histological alterations were observed in the epithelial cells of the gastrointestinal system, as well as no damage was observed in sperm quality. Thus sheep may be kept in stable shape (weight and clinic) using jurema preta or favela hay, meaning that tree forage may be considered in the production system of small ruminants in the northeast semiarid region of Brazil.