Exploratory data assessment of fecal NIRS from small ruminants: toward a global model to Brazilian Northeastern rangelands.

Abstract: The nutrition of grazing ruminants on Brazilian Northeastern rangelands (Caatinga) is challenging. The Fecal NIR spectrum shows high linearity with dietary nutrients of grazing ruminants. However, it requires a database variability wide enough to encompass all field condition. Many species from Caatinga have been identified as endemical, may acting as a link points, raising the possibility to build a global model. This work is a first approximation to evaluate the feasibility to develop a global model of fecal NIRS to small ruminants on Brazilian Caatinga. In conclusion, fecal NIR global model from Brazilian rangelands seems be potentially feasible, depending on how wide is the botanical composition of the area and when the samples are obtained, representing this last point the challenge toward a global model.