Naslov
Importance of Biological Diversity in the Foraging of Herbivores on Mediterranean Rangelands

Autori
Rogošić, Jozo

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u zbornicima skupova, cjeloviti rad (in extenso), znanstveni

Izvornik
Animal product from the Mediterranean area : proceedings / Ramalho, J.M.C. ; Horta, A.E. ; C. Mosconi, C. ; Rassati, A. - Wageningen : Wageningen Academic Publishers, 2005, 63-73

Skup
Animal product from the Mediterranean area

Mjesto i datum
Santarém, Portugal, 25.09.2005. - 27.09.2005

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
Mediterranean shrubs; Biodiversity; Sheep; Goats; Diet selection; Secondary compounds; Polyethylene Glycol.
(Mediteranski grmovi; Biološka raznolikost; Ovce; koze; Sekundarni metaboliti; Polietilen glikol)

Sažetak
Maquis and garrigues are one of the most extensive vegetation types in the Mediterranean region an important habitat for wild and domestic herbivores. Although majority of these shrubs are nutritious, secondary compounds, like tannins and terpenes, reduce their forage value. A better understanding of how secondary compounds limit intake is vital for increasing consumption of shrubs and for enhancing and maintaining biodiversity in the Mediterranean shrublands. In four trials, we examined the effect of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and number of species offered on intake of Mediterranean shrubs by sheep and goats. We offered 6 shrubs in Trial 1, three shrubs in Trial 2, two shrubs in Trial 3, and one shrub in Trial 4. Trials were conducted with 12 sheep and 12 goats (6 PEG vs. 6 control). In trial 1, goats ate more total shrub biomass than did sheep (60.7 vs. 45.9 ± 2.6 g/kg BW, respectively). There was a trend (P=0.08) towards a positive PEG effect on total shrub intake, with PEG-supplemented animals consuming more total shrubs than controls (56.7 vs. 50.0 ± 2.6 g/kg BW). In trial 2, both species of animals showed a numerical decrease in total shrub intake with or without supplemental PEG. Sheep receiving PEG ate more (P=0.002) total shrubs than did controls, but no such treatment effect was found for goats. In trial 3, supplemental PEG had a positive effect (P<0.001) on total shrub intake for both sheep and goats when only 2 shrubs (Arbutus and Pistacia) of lower palatability were offered. In trial 4, supplemental PEG had a marked positive effect (P<0.001) on intake of Pistacia lentiscus in both sheep and goats. PEG supplemented goats ate more Pistacia (39.6 g/kg) than did PEG supplemented sheep (28.1 g/kg), whereas control sheep and goats ate similar amounts (12.2 and 15.3 g/kg, respectively). Our study suggest that biodiversity plays a very important role in herbivore’ s diet selection, enabling animals to better meet their nutritional needs and avoid toxicity. In addition, as the number of shrubs in the diet decreased, the impact of PEG on intake of shrubs increased. PEG alone had a greater influence on sheep than on goats, and it had the most influence on both sheep and goats when only one or two foods were available.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Poljoprivreda (agronomija)

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