Feeding characteristics of sheep (Ovis aries) and Grant's gazelles (Gazella granti) on Kapiti ranch, Kenya

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the dietary characteristics of sheep and Grant's gazelles on Kapiti Ranch, Kenya. The botanical composition of the diet was determined using the faecal microhistological technique. Plant species in the diets were categorised into grass, forb and browse classes. Shannon-Wiener and Morisita's similarity indices were used to express dietary diversity and overlap respectively. Simulated diets, based on microhistology results, were analysed for crude protein, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, cellulose, lignin and in vitro dry matter digestibility. Sheep were predominantly grazers during both the dry and wet season while Grant's gazelles were mixed feeders, with a higher consumption of grasses during the wet season and an equal consumption of both grasses and browse during the dry season. Diets of Grant's gazelles were more diverse than those of sheep during both seasons. Degree of dietary overlap between the animal species was highest during the wet season. There were differences (P < 0.05) in dietary nutrient content between the animal species, within seasons. Dry matter digestibility was higher (P < 0.05) for both species during the wet season. Neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, lignin and cellulose were significantly higher (P < 0.05) during the dry season. Sheep diets were higher (P < 0.05) in crude protein during the wet season, whereas crude protein was higher (P < 0.05) in the Grant's gazelles diet during the dry season than in the wet season. This study indicates that sheep and Grant's gazelles are compatible in their use of vegetation on Athi Kapiti plains.

Seasonal diet preference of cattle, sheep and goats grazing on the communal grazing rangeland in the Central District of Botswana

“…In winter, however, the two methods were found to be comparable. Most scientists however, agree that differential digestion of plant species has little or no influence on the proportion of identifiable plant fragments (Free et al 1970;Anthony and Smith 1974;Dearden et al, 1975;Alipayo et al, 1992;Kilonzo et al, 2005;Soder et al, 2009). Diet composition data alone are not sufficient to explaining the reason for observed diet differences between animal species, or switching of diet through the seasons.…”

“…Two forms of selective grazing, namely species selective grazing and area selective grazing were identified (Bailey, 1995;Soder et al, 2009;Masahiko et al, 2008). The causes for differences in palatability among both grasses and other life forms are as yet not clearly understood in spite of the fact that numerous attempts had been made in the past to relate preference differences to a number of factors such as forage quality (Bailey, 1995;Van Dyne and Heady, 1965;O'Reagain and Mentis, 1989;Soder et al, 2009), frequency of grazing and forage available in the range (Gammon and Roberts, 1978;Darlene et al, 2005;Kilonzo et al, 2005). The measurement of animal diet preferences presents numerous problems that, as yet, have not been entirely overcome.…”

“…Such knowledge can be used in the assessment of nutrient intake of animals and evaluation of forage competition or complementary between herbivores (Holechek and Gross, 1982;McInnis et al, 1983;Hendricks et al, 2002;Kilonzo et al, 2005;Lou et al, 2004;Soder et al, 2009). This research was aimed at evaluating goats, sheep and cattle diet composition, diet overlap, and forage preference on communal grazing rangeland in Central District of Botswana to understand potential for forage competition to provide better ideas for managing these rangelands.…”

“…Variations in nutrient content occur between, and within, plant species and herbivores select their food to obtain a nutritionally balanced diet (Owen - Smith and Novellie, 1982;Hardy and Mentis, 1986;O'Reagain and Mentis, 1989;Hendricks et al, 2002;Kilonzo et al, 2005;Villalba and Provenza, 2009). Some grass species (e.g.…”

“…The faecal technique is increasingly advocated to avoid the disadvantages of other methods for developing diet of free-ranging ruminants (Sparks and Malcheck, 1968;Smith and Shandruk, 1979;Kilonzo et al, 2005;Soder et al 2009). This method examines and depends on the identification of indigestible cutinised fragments of leaves persisting in the faeces (Storr, 1961;Sparks and Malcheck, 1968;Liversidge, 1970;Scotcher, 1979;Holechek and Gross, 1982;Kilonzo et al, 2005;Soder et al, 2009). However, the epidermal tissues of forbs were not as easily found in cattle and sheep faeces (Free et al, 1970).…”