TRIGUEIRO, R. W. P.; http://lattes.cnpq.br/7131027301734722.; TRIGUEIRO, Rodolfo Wagner de Paiva.
Resumo:
The use of the native vegetation of the caatinga in the creation of ruminants comes from the beginnings of the discovery of Brazil, being that in the course of the years occurred the creation of extensive form and of subsistence. But in the present times the producers look for ways to maintain the quality of the animals even during the dry period, where there is a shortage of fodder for the animals. The objective of this work was to characterize the native species, to evaluate the bromatological composition of the plants used as food in the grazing areas of small ruminants, and alternatives for the conservation and use of plant material. The material was collected at the Lagoa de Pedra farm, located in the city of Pombal, Paraíba, 12 km from the county seat. For the identification of the native plants used as food, observations were made on 11 male sheep, being observed the selectivity by plants with forage potential. The experimental design was completely randomized, with factorial scheme 5 x 4, being the 5 plant species of forage potential (Catingueira (Caesalpinia pyramidalis Tul.), Jurema Preta (Mimosa tenuiflora), Panicus Grass (Aristida Setifolia), Digitária Grass (Digitaria sp.) and Rice Grass (Echinochloa sp.)) and 4 samples of each species in the grazing area. The collected plant materials were taken to the Animal Nutrition Laboratory, Federal University of Campina Grande campus Pombal - PB. Analyzed the dry matter (MS), organic matter (MO), mineral matter (MM), crude protein (PB), ethereal extract (EE), total digestible nutrients (NDT), crude fiber (FB), neutral detergent fiber (FDN), acid detergent fiber (FDA), hemicellulose (HEM), cellulose (CEL), lignin (LIG) and non-nitrogenous extract (ENN). It was verified that the vegetal extract analyzed has fodder characteristics and presents as a fodder support, being able to be used in the form of direct pasture or in the conserved form, using as hay. Leguminous plants had higher concentrations of nutrients, and the Panasco grass plant was the one with the lowest levels.