Feeding Preferences of Domestic and Wild Ungulates for Forage Trees in the Dry Tropics

Silvopastoralism based on livestock feeding forage trees is becoming a sustainable alternative to traditional grazing the open pastures of dry tropical Central America. Four autochthonous trees, Acacia pennatula, Enterolobium cyclocarpum, Gliricidia sepium and Guazuma ulmifolia, one exotic (Moringa oleifera) tree are preferred species for these silvopastoral systems. Little known, however, about preferences cattle, sheep goats such fodder whether wild ungulates (white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus) feed plants. In this work, we conducted several multiple-choice preference tests (cafeteria test) compare best choice sheep, white-tailed deer in farming Although all ruminant included four M. oleifera their diets, G. ulmifolia was by far. The rest varied among our species. When added cafeteria test, it well accepted but little appreciated domestic counterparts. use thus interesting not only animal production also support herbivores tropics