Naslov
Preference and Nutritional value of Mediterranean Maquis Shrubs by sheep and goats

Autori
Rogošić, Jozo ; Pfister, James A. ; Provenza, Frederick D. ; Grbeša, Darko

Izvornik
Small Ruminant Research (0921-4488) Vol 64 (2006), 1-2; 69-179

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
Mediterranean maquis; sheep; goats; shrub preference; nutritional value.

Sažetak
Abstract In the Mediterranean Basin shrubby vegetation called &#8220; maquis&#8221; (i.e., woody plants < 5-m tall), and &#8220; garrigue&#8221; (i.e., chaparral, dominated by < 1-m tall shrubs) covers over 100 million ha. Although productivity is generally low (carrying capacity of 1 sheep or 1.2 goats/ha/yr), these shrublands are traditional grazing areas, and a critical source of forage for sheep and goats, especially during summer. The dominant shrubs of the Croatian maquis - Quercus ilex, Erica multiflora, Arbutus unedo, Juniperus phoeniceae, Viburnum tinus, Pistacia lentiscus - are generally of low quality and contain secondary metabolites that adversary affect forage intake. As a first step toward better utilization and management of these grazing resources by sheep and goats, we determined the nutritional value, intake and preference of the dominant shrubs by sheep and goats in Mediterranean Croatia. Sheep and goats differed (P<0.01) in consumption of almost all of the shrubs. Goats had higher intakes (g/kg of body weight (B.W.), P<0.01) than sheep of each shrub except Quercus ilex. In Trial 1, shrub intake for goats ranged from 17.7 g/kg &#177; 0.72 B.W. for Pistacia lentiscus to 33.1 g/kg &#177; 1.40 B.W. for Erica multiflora. In Trial 2, the rank order of preference (highest to least) for goats was Quercus ilex, Erica multiflora, Viburnum tinus, Arbutus unedo, Juniperus phoeniceae, and Pistacia lentiscus. The rank order by sheep was similar: Quercus ilex, Erica multiflora, Viburnum tinus, Juniperus phoeniceae, Pistacia lentiscus, and Arbutus unedo. Overall, during Trial 2 goats ate 50.5 g/kg B.W. of shrubs/day, while sheep averaged 26.7 g/kg B.W./day. Goats appear to be better suited to graze Mediterranean maquis in terms of potential shrub use, which may in turn increase animal production, reduce risk of fire, and enhance plant diversity.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Poljoprivreda (agronomija)

POVEZANOST RADA