CSIRO Publishing blank image blank image blank image blank imageBooksblank image blank image blank image blank imageJournalsblank image blank image blank image blank imageAbout Usblank image blank image blank image blank imageShopping Cartblank image blank image blank image You are here: Journals > Animal Production Science   
Animal Production Science
Journal Banner
  Food, Fibre and Pharmaceuticals from Animals
 
blank image Search
 
blank image blank image
blank image
 
  Advanced Search
   

Journal Home
About the Journal
Editorial Board
Contacts
Content
Online Early
Current Issue
Just Accepted
All Issues
Special Issues
Research Fronts
Reviews
Sample Issue
For Authors
General Information
Notes for Authors
Submit Article
Open Access
For Referees
Referee Guidelines
Review Article
For Subscribers
Subscription Prices
Customer Service
Print Publication Dates

New Feature

New Commenting Tool
Join the conversation and leave comments on all new journal articles.


blue arrow e-Alerts
blank image
Subscribe to our Email Alert or RSS feeds for the latest journal papers.

red arrow Connect with us
blank image
facebook   youtube

 

Article << Previous     |     Next >>   Contents Vol 52(12)

Foraging strategies of goats in a pasture of wheat and shrubland

Cemil Tölü A C, İsmail Yaman Yurtman A, Harun Baytekin B, Cengiz Ataşoğlu A and Türker Savaş A

A Department of Animal Science, Agriculture Faculty, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, 17020 Çanakkale, Turkey.
B Department of Crop Science, Agriculture Faculty, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, 17020 Çanakkale, Turkey.
C Corresponding author. Email: cemiltolu@yahoo.com

Animal Production Science 52(12) 1069-1076 http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/AN11251
Submitted: 30 March 2012  Accepted: 13 June 2012   Published: 11 September 2012


 
PDF (204 KB) $25
 Export Citation
 Print
  
Abstract

Cereal pastures are a crucial source of forage to reduce grazing pressure on shrublands in the Mediterranean basin. This study aimed at investigating the grazing preferences and behaviours of goats with different genotypes, when a grazing area of shrubland (0.18 ha), which was composed of 88% shrubs, 10% herbaceous species and 2% footpath and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) pasture (0.20 ha) were offered together. Twelve lactating mature (in 2007) and 15 non-lactating yearling goats (in 2008) of three genotypes (Gökçeada, Maltese and Turkish Saanen) were used. The study was carried out for 45 days during the months of April and May. Animals stayed in the pasture for 8 h daily. No roughage or concentrate was offered. Grazing, lying, standing and ruminating behaviours were recorded at 10-min intervals, whereas bipedal stance and walking behaviours were continuously monitored by observers. Mature goats spent one-third and yearling goats spent half of their time in the shrubs. The frequency of preferences to pasture types differed among mature goat genotypes (P ≤ 0.05), but not among the yearling goats (P > 0.05). Grazing of wheat pasture by Gökçeada, of herbaceous plants in the shrubland by Maltese and of shrubs by Turkish Saanen goats were more prominent (P ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, goats gave priority to wheat pasture and grazing preferences and behaviours differed by genotypes. Turkish Saanen goats tended to show more bipedal stance behaviour than the other genotypes. However, there were high individual variations within genotype and age groups.



References

Aldezabal A, Garin I (2000) Browsing preference of feral goats (Capra hircus L.) in a Mediterranean mountain scrubland. Journal of Arid Environments 44, 133–142.
CrossRef |

AOAC (1990) ‘Official methods of analysis.’ 15th edn. (Association of Official Analytical Chemists: Arlington, VA)

Barry TN, McNabb WC (1999) The implications of condensed tannins on the nutritive value of temperate forages fed to ruminants. The British Journal of Nutrition 81, 263–272.

Brown D (1954) Methods of surveying and measuring vegetation. Commonwealth Bureau of Pastures and Field Crops Bulletin 42, England.

Cañas RC, Quiroz RA, Velarde CL, Posadas A, Osorio J (2003) Quantifying energy dissipation by grazing animals in harsh environments. Journal of Theoretical Biology 225, 351–359.
CrossRef |

Cissé M, Ly I, Nianogo AJ, Sane I, Sawadogo JG, N’Diaye M, Awad C, Fall Y (2002) Grazing behaviour and milk yield of Senegalese Sahel goat. Small Ruminant Research 43, 85–95.
CrossRef |

Dove H (2010) Ingestive behavior, diet selection and feed intake. In ‘Goat science and production’. (Ed. SG Solaiman) pp. 179–193. (Wiley-Blackwell Publications: Singapore)

Dziba LE, Scogings PF, Gordon IJ, Raats JG (2003) The feeding height preferences of two goat breeds fed Grewia occidentalis L. (Tiliaceae) in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Small Ruminant Research 47, 31–38.
CrossRef |

El Aich A (1991) Role of shrubs in ecosystem functions. In ‘Options Mediterraneennes: Serie A. Seminaires Mediterraneens. No. 16’. pp. 43–46. Available at http://ressources.ciheam.org/om/pdf/a16/91605043.pdf [Verified 15 August 2012]

El Aich A, El Assouli N, Fathi A, Morand-Fehr P, Bourbouze A (2007) Ingestive behavior of goats grazing in the Southwestern Argan (Argania spinosa) forest of Morocco. Small Ruminant Research 70, 248–256.
CrossRef |

Galina M, Palma JM, Morales R, Aguilar A, Hummel J (1995) Voluntary dry matter intake by dairy goats grazing on rangeland or on agricultural by-products in Mexico. Small Ruminant Research 15, 127–137.
CrossRef |

Hakyemez BH, Gökkuş A, Yurtman İY, Savaş T (2008) Production potential of a natural pasture compared to a wheat pasture, both grazed by lactating goats under Mediterranean climate conditions. Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry 32, 501–511.

Lachica M, Aguilera JF (2005) Energy needs of the free-ranging goat. Small Ruminant Research 60, 111–125.
CrossRef |

Landau S, Vecht J, Perevolotsky A (1993) Effects of two levels of concentrate supplementation on milk production of dairy goats browsing Mediterranean scrubland. Small Ruminant Research 11, 227–237.
CrossRef |

Lazo A, Soriguer RC (1993) Size-biased foraging behaviour in feral cattle. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 36, 99–110.
CrossRef |

Makkar HPS, Blümmel M, Becker K (1995) Formation of complexes between polyvinyl pyrolidones or polyethylene glycols and their implication in gas production and true digestibility in vitro techniques. The British Journal of Nutrition 73, 897–913.
CrossRef | CAS |

Mellado M, Rodriguez A, Villarreal JA, Olvera A (2005) The effect of pregnancy and lactation on diet composition and dietary preference of goats in a desert rangeland. Small Ruminant Research 58, 79–85.
CrossRef |

Mellado M, Estrada R, Olivares L, Pastor F, Mellado J (2006) Diet selection among goats of different milk production potential on rangeland. Journal of Arid Environments 66, 127–134.
CrossRef |

Morand-Fehr P, Bourbouze A, Le Houerou HN, Gall C, Boyazoglu JG (1983) The role of goats in the Mediterranean area. Livestock Production Science 10, 569–587.
CrossRef |

Orihuela A, Solano JJ (1999) Grazing and browsing times of goats with three levels of herbage allowance. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 61, 335–339.
CrossRef |

Ouédraogo-Koné S, Kabore-Zoungrana CY, Ledin I (2006) Behaviour of goats, sheep and cattle on natural pasture in the sub-humid zone of West Africa. Livestock Science 105, 244–252.
CrossRef |

Papachristou TG, Platis PD, Papanastasis VP, Tsiouvaras CN (1999) Use of deciduous woody species as a diet supplement for goats grazing Mediterranean shrublands during the dry season. Animal Feed Science and Technology 80, 267–279.
CrossRef |

Rogosic J, Estell RE, Skobic D, Martinovic A, Maric S (2006a) Role of species diversity and secondary compound complementarity on diet selection of Mediterranean shrubs by goats. Journal of Chemical Ecology 32, 1279–1287.
CrossRef | CAS |

Rogosic J, Pfister JA, Provenza FD, Grbesa D (2006b) Sheep and goat preference for and nutritional value of Mediterranean maquis shrubs. Small Ruminant Research 64, 169–179.
CrossRef |

Rutter SM (2006) Diet preference for grass and legumes in free-ranging domestic sheep and cattle: current theory and future application. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 97, 17–35.
CrossRef |

Sanon HO, Kabore-Zoungrana C, Ledin I (2007) Behaviour of goats, sheep and cattle and their selection of browse species on natural pasture in a Sahelian area. Small Ruminant Research 67, 64–74.
CrossRef |

SAS (1999) ‘SAS OnlineDoc, version 8.’ (SAS Institute: Cary, NC)

Silanikove N (2000) The physiological basis of adaptation in goats to harsh environments. Small Ruminant Research 35, 181–193.
CrossRef |

Silanikove N, Gilboa N, Perevolotsky A, Nitsan Z (1996) Goats fed tannin-containing leaves do not exhibit toxic syndromes. Small Ruminant Research 21, 195–201.
CrossRef |

Solanki GS (1994) Feeding habits and grazing behavior of goats in a semi-arid region of India. Small Ruminant Research 14, 39–43.
CrossRef |

Solanki GS (2000) Grazing behaviour and foraging strategy of goats in semi-arid region in India. Tropical Ecology 41, 155–159.

Tayyar Ş (2005) Determination of yield and some quality characteristics of different bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties and lines grown in Biga. Akdeniz Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Dergisi 18, 405–409.

Tölü C (2009) Studies on behaviour, health and performance traits of different goat genotypes. PhD Thesis, University of Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart, Turkey.

Türkeş M (1998) Influence of geopotential heights, cyclone frequency and Southern Oscillation on rainfall variations in Turkey. International Journal of Climatology 18, 649–680.
CrossRef |

Van Soest PJ, Robertson JB (1985) ‘Analysis of forages and fibrous foods. A laboratory manual for animal science.’ (Cornell University: Ithaca, NY)

Ventura MR, Castanon JIR, Pieltain MC, Flores MP (2004) Nutritive value of forage shrubs: Bituminaria bituminosa, Rumex lunaria, Acacia salicina, Cassia sturtii and Adenocorpus foliosu. Small Ruminant Research 52, 13–18.
CrossRef |

Yayneshet T, Eik LO, Moe SR (2008) Influences of fallow age and season on the foraging behavior and diet selection pattern of goats (Capra hircus L.). Small Ruminant Research 77, 25–37.
CrossRef |


   
Subscriber Login
Username:
Password:  

 


    
Legal & Privacy | Contact Us | Help

CSIRO

© CSIRO 1996-2013