Comportamiento animal y características de la dieta de bovinos pastoreando estrella africana sola y asociada con árboles

The objective of this study was to evaluate, animal behavior, quality, and composition of the diet selected by cattlegrazing on stargrass  (Cynodon plectostachyus) in monoculture and associated with Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.)De Wit. and Guazuma ulmifolia (Lam.) in the dry tropics of Chiapas, Mexico.  For this purpose, animals behaviorwasobserved for 24 h. It was estimated quality as well as botanical composition of the diet selected.  Data were analyzedby variance with a completely random design. Comparison of means was carried out using Tukey s test.  Nonsignificant differences were reported for the animal behavior data (P>0.05). In the associated grassland, it was foundthat more time was dedicated to browsing during the dry season (P<0.05).  The best diet selected, in terms of crudeprotein was found in the associated grassland (P<0.001), for both seasons. In this grassland, woody plants werefound in the diet selected during both seasons.  Nevertheless, more woody species contributed to the diet during thedry as compared to the rainy season (52.1 versus 26.9 %, respectively).