Forage Offer and Nutritive Value of Elaeagnus angustifolia in North Patagonia, Argentina

Abstract

The presence and growth cycle of the browse Elaeagnus angustifolia (olivillo, Russian olive), naturalized in the Mid Valley, Rio Negro, Argentina, must be considered in the yearly schedule of rangeland management. Field observations showed that cattle prefer the leaves of this species that are included on the reproductive branches which develop as a thyrse inflorescence. In this trial, authors studied the incidence of E. angustifolia in the breeding cow’s diet as determined by microhistological analysis of cow feces; mapped the distribution patterns in a cattle farm and quantified its abundance in different parcels; estimated the volume of forage produced by this species and determined the nutritive value of the edible parts of the plants. The quality and quantity of the thyrses accessible for cow’s browse suggest that E. angustifolia must be considered as an important feed input. The results are used to schedule grazing periods in a valley farm divided into plots with different abundances of E. angustifolia and a known floristic composition.