Mineral content of browse species from Baja California Sur, Mexico

The legumes Acacia peninsularis (Brit. L. Rose) Standley; Cercidium floridium Benth; Mimosa xantii, Gray; Pithecellobium confine Standley and Prosopis sp. Torr. and non-legumes Bursera microphylla Gray (Burceraceae); Cyrtocarpa edulis (Brand) Stand (Anacordiaceae); Lippia palmeri, S.Wats (Verbenaceae); Opuntia cholla,Weber (Cactaceae) and Turnera diffusaWild (Turneraceae) were evaluated in their mineral content. Shrubs were collected from 16 linear transects of 30 m. Collections were carried out in each season during three consecutive years. Potential mineral intake of range goats consuming these shrubs was also estimated. Non-legumes were highest in Na content than legumes in all seasons. Both legumes and non-legumes were lower in K and Cu, whereas Na and Fe were highest during spring than in other seasons. In summer, Ca was lower and P was highest in all plants. Levels of Ca were nine times higher than requirements for range ruminants. Potential intake of Ca, Mg, K, Na, Mn and Fe by range goats consuming these shrubs was sufficient to satisfy their requirements. However, consumption of P, Cu, Zn was low. It is concluded that range goats grazing these shrub species must be supplemented with P, Cu and Zn throughout the year in order to sustain goat productivity. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved