Botanical composition and diet quality of goats grazing natural and grass reseeded shrublands

Effects of Continuous or Rotational Grazing on Goat Diets in a Desert Rangeland

“…All other grasses present in the study area were very scarce throughout the year in the goat diets, which agrees with other studies in the same type of vegetation (Mellado et al, 1991;Lopez-Trujillo and Garcia-Elizondo, 1995). In contrast, Warren et al (1984a;b) found high use of grass by Spanish goats (around 50% of diet) in spring in a Chihuahuan desert range under excellent conditions.…”

The food habits of goats on rangelands with different amounts of fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens) cover

“…The results of the present study are consistent with the general findings of other studies (Lopez-Trujillo and Garcia-Elizondo, 1995;Mellado et al, 2003) regarding the seasonal use of forbs by goats in the Larrea-Flourensia desert scrub. This seasonal pattern of forb use results primarily from the relative availability of other forages.…”

Journal of Range Management, Volume 56, Number 2 (March 2003)

“…Regardless of stocking level, utilization of grasses by goats in our study was low, which agrees with Lopez-Trujillo and Garcia-Elizondo (1995) and Mellado et al (1991) in the same type of vegetation. Other Chihuahuan desert studies have shown much higher proportions of grasses in Spanish goat diets.…”