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
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
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 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN11251
Submitted: 30 March 2012 Accepted: 13 June 2012 Published: 11 September 2012
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.
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