Biochemical and mineral composition of plant species consumed by goats in three seasons of the year

Objective. Determine and compare the biochemical and mineral composition of the plant species consumed by grazing goats in three seasons of the year (drought, rain, and transition). Materials and methods. The plant species consumed by goats were sampled in each season during the time that they fed on the rangeland, following them by the feeding paths and recording the species and plant organs they consumed. The data were used to calculate a preference index, recording consumption frequency, and selecting the three most consumed species per season. Results. The most consumed species in the drought season were Cyrtocarpa edulis, Pithecollobium confine, and Cercidium floridum; Forchhammeria watsonii, Tecoma stans, and Cercidium floridum during transition; Cyrtocarpa edulis, Indigofera suffruticosa, and Mimosa distachya in the rainy season. The protein and ethereal extract contents were higher (p≤0.05) in drought season, and those of Ca, Mg, Mn, K, P, and total-N were higher (p≤0.05) in the rainy season. Conclusions. The plant species associated with the rangeland in the study area showed variation per season in mineral and biochemical contents. The result is attributed to species variation and climatological conditions, but both are a source of minerals and nutrients for goats.