Naslov
Mediterranean shrub diversity and its effect on food intake in goats

Autori
Šarić, Tomislav ; Rogošić, Jozo ; Provenza, Fred ; Župan, Ivan ; Tkalčić, Suzana ; Franin, Kristijan ; Šikić, Zoran ; Ivanković, Stanko ; Herceg, Nevenko

Izvornik
Italian journal of animal science (1594-4077) 13 (2014), 3; 583-587

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

Ključne riječi
Goats; Mediterranean shrubs; Species diversity; Feeding preference; Biomass intake

Sažetak
Mediterranean ecosystem offers a variety of shrubs that were over long periods of time involved in the evolution of complex plant-animal interactions. Biochemical components of these plants enter different metabolic pathways after digestion and absorption, resulting in development of dietary preferences in browsing animals. Herbivores in general were found to perform better when grazing in a mixed plant community composed of diverse species, and show preferential feeding behaviors for mixed species diet vs. single species diet. Our findings demonstrate an asymptotic relationship between Mediterranean shrubs species diversity and their voluntary intake by goats. Shrub biomass intake showed linear increase when number of different shrubs in diet increased from one to four. However, goats did not further increase intake when the number of shrub species increased from four to eight. As the number of shrub species offered increased, goats exhibited more preferential feeding behavior for Quercus pubescens, Fraxinus ornus, Rubus heteromorphus and Arbutus unedo and decreased the intake of Hedera helix, Juniperus oxycedrus and Helichrysum italicum. This asymptotic relationship indicates that the maintenance of plant species richness in Mediterranean shrublands can overall benefit domestic goat farming, goat’s productive performance, and the conservation of plant biodiversity.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Veterinarska medicina, Poljoprivreda (agronomija), Šumarstvo

POVEZANOST RADA