Trees are common in the agricultural landscape in Central America and they are widely believed to have a potential for improving pasture sustainability and quality. Interactions between trees and pasture are under investigation in an attempt to create improved management practices. This study examines the effect of distance to trees on cattle behaviour in Muy Muy, Nicaragua. Activity distances to trees were recorded in twelve paddocks, varying in size and tree densities, using Altmann’s scan sampling technique. Cattle rested closer to trees and fed further away from trees than random. There were different resting and feeding distances associated with different tree species. Both resting and feeding were performed closer to small trees than trees of medium and large size. Cattle rested closer to trees at midday than in the morning and afternoon. They fed closer to trees in the morning and at midday than in the afternoon.

M-MNRSA