Preference of the main spontaneous forage herbaceous natural pastures in central west Niger

This study on the feeding behavior of sheep carried out at animal park Faculty Agronomy Abdou Moumouni University Niamey made it possible to evaluate preference six spontaneous forage herbaceous plants in sheep. These are two legumes Alysicarpus ovalifolius and Zornia glochidiata four grasses including Cenchrus biflorus, Panicum laetum, Pennisetum pedicellatum Schizachyrium exile. were harvested stage maturity natural pastures Boboye (an agricultural area western Niger). The material consists 10 Fulani Bali-Bali rams aged 12 15 months. was conducted using so-called “cafeteria” method. mean voluntary ingestion 566.67±147.49 g-1.d-1.animal-1 varied depending herb periods. highest index that lowest pedicellatum. At end this study, three ovalifolius, exile classified as most palatable species should be retained coarse feed fattening rations seeding stock restoration programs degraded pastures.