Foraging behaviour of goats and sheep on Mediterranean kermes oak shrublands

Papachristou, T. G.

doi:10.1016/s0921-4488(96)00942-x

Cited by 54 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Bite rate of goats had a similar pattern as sheep during 1994 when grazed together in the pastures ( Figure 5); but significant difference was found only between cleared and control pastures. Sheep showed a higher bite rate than goats, especially in the improved pastures, apparently because they utilised the forage of herbaceous species which was in abundance during this period (Papachristou, 1996b). However, goats showed a higher bite rate than sheep when kermes oak browse was the dominant forage component in the pastures (Papachristou, 1996b).…”

Section: Grazing Responses Of Small Ruminantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sheep showed a higher bite rate than goats, especially in the improved pastures, apparently because they utilised the forage of herbaceous species which was in abundance during this period (Papachristou, 1996b). However, goats showed a higher bite rate than sheep when kermes oak browse was the dominant forage component in the pastures (Papachristou, 1996b). Sheep avoided foliage of kermes oak and searched for herbs and other woody species such as Phillyrea media, Cistus incanus and broad-leaved deciduous shrubs thus decreasing their bite rate.…”

Section: Grazing Responses Of Small Ruminantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Forage production and small ruminant grazing responses in Mediterranean shrublands as influenced by the reduction of shrub cover

1996

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Reduction of shrub cover in Mediterranean shrublands is considered as a method of optimising forage and animal production. In this study, forage production in grazed and protected plots and grazing responses of small ruminants in cleared (25% shrub cover), slashed (34'7o shrub cover) and not treated (control, 55% shrub cover) kermes oak (Quercus coccifera L.) shrublands were compared during the spring seasons of 1992, 1993 and 1994. The alterations in shrub density were done in October 1991 and pastures remained ungrazed until spring of 1992. Clearing and slashing of shrub vegetation resulted in higher amounts of available herbaceous forage and useable browse. At the end of the growing season, averaged across years, herbaceous biomass was generally two to three times higher in the treated shrublands than in the control; also, browse biomass was slightly less (1,078 vs 1,533 kg/ha) but easily accessible because of the open structure and the lower height of the sprouting shrubs. There were generally no grazing response differences between the cleared and slashed pastures. However, grazing animals (sheep and goats) had a higher bite rate (bites/rain; P ~< 0.05) in the treated pastures than in the control. Levels of crude protein in the forage selected by animals were higher (P ~< 0.05) in the treated pastures than in the control. Animals in the improved pastures maintained diets that were significantly more digestible (53.5%) than those in the control pasture (48.5'7o). Neutral detergent fibre and lignin contents of animal diets were similar in the improved pastures but lower (P <~ 0.05) than those of the control. It is concluded that removing of woody vegetation in Mediterranean shrublands results in increased forage production (available herbage and useable browse) and improved forage quality and availability for small ruminants.

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Section: Grazing Responses Of Small Ruminantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Grazing Responses Of Small Ruminantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forage production and small ruminant grazing responses in Mediterranean shrublands as influenced by the reduction of shrub cover

1996

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“…The results of this study are parallel to this; browsing increased in the period when grazing decreased. It was reported that while the goats preferred bush mostly in July at the rate of 63.41% averagely, browsing behavior of the goats could vary between 50% and 90% (28). In addition, Solanki (9) stated that bushes had a share of about 52% in total consumption.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative investigation of some behavior traits of Honamlı,Hair, and Saanen goats in a Mediterranean maquis area

Akbaş¹,

Elmaz²,

Saatcı³

2017

Turk J Vet Anim Sci

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IntroductionAnimal behavior studies are scientific studies in which any kind of animal activity is observed. However, since there might be differences between species and breeds of animals, it is also needed to consider relationships of animals with each other and their environment in these studies. The fourth out of the 5 fundamental freedoms of animals, which were introduced in 1992 by the Farm Animal Welfare Committee, is about animals exhibiting their normal behaviors. Related studies indicate that animals exhibiting their natural behaviors move around more and have a healthier body structure; therefore, they also live for a longer time (1). Allowing animals to exhibit their natural behaviors is important in terms of meeting their needs (2). When the issue is approached from this perspective, it is significant to reveal goats' patterns of behavior in areas in and around forests found in their natural habitats.Goat breeding in Anatolian geography is observed to be carried out generally in areas in and around forests, as well as lands with inappropriate terrain conditions and areas that are not suitable for plant and animal production (3). Goats have a feeding behavior quite different than other farm animals and can feed on numerous plant species, including bush, brier, and small saplings of maquis (4). Compared to other farm animals, they are more selective when they are both feeding in their feed boxes and grazing (5). Goats, with a very developed ability of adaptation, are able to efficiently utilize bushy grazing lands in every season (6). In addition, some indigestible substances contained by bushes also restrict goats to graze for a long time (7). Goats tend to exhibit grazing behaviors for longer times compared to other ruminants. Even though they consume the forage more rapidly compared to sheep, they have a longer period of grazing. This is associated with the fact that goats are quite active and behave selectively when they are grazing. Goats exhibit numerous patterns of behavior to adapt to adverse effects caused by high temperatures. One of these is reducing feed intake voluntarily. They are observed to graze more at early hours in the morning and at late hours in the evening during warm seasons (8). Goats are also reported to adjust their grazing rates based on hours in a day (9). Differently from other ruminants, goats reach the branches of trees by standing on their hind legs and can eat offshoots, buds, and leaves (bipedal stance) (10). This behavior constitutes a considerably important situation in terms of silvopastoral systems of the Mediterranean region (11). It is reported that goats can

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“…Papachristou (1997) reported a greater rate of biting by goats when available forage was primarily browse vs. non-browse plant species; Nastis & Nolan (1997) reported that goat diet under different brush cover was mainly based on browsing (53-65.6%) followed by grass (13.1-22%) and forbs (16.5-20.3%).…”

Section: Goat Feeding Habitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Goat grazing as a wildfire prevention tool: a basic review

Lovreglio¹,

Meddour-Sahar²,

Leone³

2014

iForest

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© iForest -Biogeosciences and Forestry IntroductionThe general response of most countries to the problem of an increasing number of fires and burned areas has generally been to strengthen fire suppression capacity (Costa Alcubierre et al. 2011). France, Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal spend a total of 2500 million Euros annually in the fight against forest fires, 60% of which allocated to cover costs related to suppressing fires, while only 40% is invested in activities targeted to prevention (EFIMED 2012).Despite the high investment to improve fire suppression resources, mainly through expenditure on important aerial fleets, such as in Spain, Greece or Italy, the phenomenon continues to be characterized by an aggressive trend, with a progressively reduced interval between dramatic years.Wildfires occurring during prolonged and severe heat waves (such as in 2003 for Portugal, 2006 for Spain, 2007 for Algeria, Italy, Spain and Portugal, 2010 for Russia, 2012 for all the Mediterranean countries including Algeria) demonstrate that a different approach must be considered for tackling the problem of forest fires. This means a shift from the short term policy, which is mainly based on huge investments for suppression measures, to a long term preventive policy (Birot 2009, Montiel & Herrero 2010.The key purpose of fire prevention measures is to reduce the number of fires through hazard reduction, education, and law enforcement. Improving prevention strategies seems mandatory if a further reduction in the mean yearly burnt area is to be pursued (Ruiz-Mirazo 2011). Fuel treatment and wildfire minimizationAn appropriate approach to wildfire prevention must be aimed at both lessening the possibility of a fire occurring and minimizing its spread should one occur. This can be achieved through fuel treatments for biomass reduction, which are paramount to wildfire abatement (Omi & Martinson 2002). To reduce fire damages, an infrastructure of roads and water supply should be constructed, firebreaks and fire detection systems established, an immediate and efficient intervention of ground crews ensured, but above all, fuel treatments should be timely executed (Leone et al. 2000).Fuel treatments are a key factor to decreasing wildfire risk (Omi & Joyce 2003): they target different fuel components in order to achieve both forest structures and fuel characteristics which are able to reduce the likelihood of fire spread.Fuel treatments are mainly aimed at eliminating the vertical and horizontal continuity of fuels, in order to disrupt the vertical progression of fire (passage from surface fuels to ladder fuels to canopy fuels), and its horizontal progression, especially from crown to crown (Scott & Reinhardt 2001, Graham et al. 2004.Activities aimed at reducing surface fuels (low vegetation, woody fuel, shrub layer) decrease the chances of surface fires igniting ladder fuels and canopy fuels (Pollet & Omi 2002, Fernandes & Botelho 2003.The range of possible treatments to modify forest fuels is rather wide, varying from pruning (Le...

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Foraging behaviour of goats and sheep on Mediterranean kermes oak shrublands

Cited by 54 publications

References 15 publications

Forage production and small ruminant grazing responses in Mediterranean shrublands as influenced by the reduction of shrub cover

Forage production and small ruminant grazing responses in Mediterranean shrublands as influenced by the reduction of shrub cover

Comparative investigation of some behavior traits of Honamlı,Hair, and Saanen goats in a Mediterranean maquis area

Goat grazing as a wildfire prevention tool: a basic review

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