Dietary selection by goats and sheep in kermes oak shrublands of northern Greece: Influence of shrub cover and grazing season

• Published in: Cahiers Options Mediterraneennes (France) Vol. 52; pp. 161 - 164
• Main Author: Papachristou, T.G. (National Agricultural Research Foundation, Thessaloniki (Greece). Forest Research Institute, Rangeland and Wildlife Resources Section)
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Zaragoza (Spain) CIHEAM-IAMZ 2000; CIHEAM
• Subjects: ARBUSTE; ARBUSTOS; BROUSSE; CAPRIN; CAPRINOS; DIET; DIETA; ESTACIONES DEL AÑO; FEED INTAKE; FEEDING PREFERENCES; GOATS; GRAZING; GRECE; GRECIA; GREECE; INGESTIÓN DE PIENSOS; OVIN; OVINOS; PASTOREO; PATURAGE; PLANT ANIMAL RELATIONS; PLANT-ANIMAL INTERACTIONS; PREFERENCIAS ALIMENTARIAS; PRISE ALIMENTAIRE (ANIMAUX); PRÉFÉRENCE ALIMENTAIRE; PÂTURAGE; QUERCUS COCCIFERA; RELACIONES PLANTA ANIMAL; RELATION PLANTE ANIMAL; RÉGIME ALIMENTAIRE; SAISON; SCRUBLANDS; SEASONS; SHEEP; SHRUBS; TIERRAS DE MATORRAL
• ISSN: 1022-1379

Selection and nutritive composition of diets of goats and sheep grazing sparse (shrub cover approximately 29 per cent), moderate (shrub cover approximately 40 per cent) and dense (shrub cover approximately 56 per cent) kermes oak shrublands were studied in six periods (Oct., Nov., Mar., Apr., May, Jun.). Main dietary components for sheep were herbs (grass: 42 per cent and forbs: 34 per cent) for all rangelands, while browse occurred mostly in goat diets (greater than 64 per cent); however herbs contributed considerably (approximately 30 per cent) in goat diets during April, May and June. Goat diets were lower in crude protein (CP) compared with sheep diets on the sparse shrubland in March and May but similar in the remaining periods. Goats selected forage lower in CP than sheep only in May on the moderate and dense shrublands but higher or similar in the remaining periods. No difference in in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) was found between goats and sheep on the sparse rangeland