Follaje de árboles y arbustos en los sistemas de producciónbovina de doble propósito

Foliage of tropical trees and shrubs represents an important source of nutrients for cattle grazing tropical grasses. Chemical composition, digestibility and intake of foliage of shrubs and trees are generally satisfactory for their utilization by ruminants, supplying protein to the rumen that promotes a readily available nitrogen for microbial growth. However, energy availability relative to nitrogen in the rumen, seems to be a constraint to the efficient use of foliage Incorporation of foliage of trees and shrubs in ruminant rations has the potential to increase animal production in dual-purpose systems in the tropics, since they are an important source of nutriments for livestock under grazing conditions.