The dietary preferences of domestic ruminants (cattle, sheep and goats) on Sahelian and Sudano-Sahelian ranges. III. Epidermic characteristics of main plant species grazed on pastures : constitution of a reference atlas to study the dietary preferences

Abstract

Microscope analysis of vegetal fragments debris contained in the faeces and in the alimentary bolus is a method for studying the animals' diet on pastures. This work is conducted within the scope of a ruminant diet enquiry over Sahelian and Sudano-Sahelian pastures in Senegal. The author describes the epidermic characters of the main grazed plants (28 species) ·so as to constitute a reference atlas. An example of the identification key is exposed for 19 dicotyledones from their epidermic characters. This key will have to be completed and will help to recognize the plant debris contained in the faeces and in the alimentary bolus.