Assessing cattle feed preferences to Crescentia cujete silages by cafeteria test

The aim of this study was to determine the animal preference and intake pattern of tropical cattle fed two calabash tree fruit silages: i) ground ripe calabash tree fruit (FS) and ii), a ground calabash tree fruit mixed to a composed foliage at 30:70 fruit-to-roughage ratio (FFS). We verified whether the silage alternative with the best ensilability and preservation features evaluated in a previous study is that with the greater animal preference. Eight Gyr breed cows (451.6 ± 9.5 kg BW; 3–4-years old) were involved in a short-term 21-day cafeteria test (i.e., 14 and 7 days for adaptation and data collection, respectively). First consumed silage (FCS) and number of times the animal consumed each silage (CONS) were measured, whereas individual fresh matter intake of each silage (FMI), total time spent eating (TSE), fresh matter intake rate (IRFM) and dry matter intake rate (IRDM) were calculated and statistically analysed as a completely randomized design with two experimental treatments and seven replicates. Significant statistical differences were observed in all the variables evaluated except on CONS and IRFM. The cows consumed FFS in 100% of the times they were exposed to this silage, compared to 93.9% when consuming FS. Under the conditions of this study, our findings suggest that ensiled mixture of calabash tree fruit and foliage in a 30:70 fruit-to-roughage ratio positively influenced the preference and intake pattern by beef cows when compared to a calabash tree fruit silage without additives or forages in the mixture.