Description
Mirandesa cattle are a local breed from the Northeast region of Portugal, playing an important role on the maintenance of the rural spaces, contributing to the fixation of the populations and to the environmental preservation. The aim of this study is to characterize the feed resources (mineral composition) available along the year in this farming system. The animals graze natural pastures in Spring and beginning of Summer, being after fed with hays (of natural pasture or oat) and straws (oat, barley or wheat). Samples of feeds were taken from three different farms in two consecutive years and analysed for crude protein (CP), cell wall components, minerals and in vitro organic matter digestibility (OMD). Data were evaluated using ANOVA statistical approach. Results of organic composition of feeds were presented by Galvão et al. (EAAP, 2005). For mineral composition, seasonal variations were observed in natural pastures with decreases of K and P (from Spring to Summer 2 to 0.97 and 0.33 to 0.18% DM, respectively). Farm variations were observed for Ca, K and Mg. Regarding hays composition, differences were observed for Ca and Mg contents which was lower for oat hay, compared with that from natural pasture (0.16 vs 0.32 and 0.08 vs 0.15% DM, respectively). The composition of straws varied between farms and type of straw.
; Moreira, Olga 
