[Dietary preferences of domestic ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats) grazing on natural Sahelian and Sudano-Sahelian ranges. III. Epidermal characteristics of the principal plant species consumed on the pastures: compilation of a reference atlas with a view toward study of dietary preferences].

Microscopic analysis of vegetal fragments contained in the faeces and in the alimentary bolus is a method for studying the animals' diet on pastures. This work is conducted within the scope of a ruminant diet enquiry over Sahelian and Sudano-Sahelian pastures in Senegal. The author describes the epidermal characteristics of the main grazed plants (28 species) so as to constitute a reference atlas. An example of the identification key is exposed for 19 dicotyledons from their epidermal characteristics. This key will have to be completed and will help to recognize the plant debris contained in the faeces and in the alimentary bolus.