Foraging Behavior of Goats Browsing in Southern Mediterranean Forest Rangeland

Abstract

Mediterranean forest rangelands offer an important feed source for goats. Concerns about grazing strategies and management schemes in order to ensure the rangeland sustainability of Southern Mediterranean forest have revived interest in the foraging behavior of goats. This study was conducted to investigate the seasonal changes of feeding behavior of grazing goats in the Southern Mediterranean forest rangeland of Northern Morocco during two consecutive years beginning in 2016. The direct observation method was used to compare diet composition, intake rate, and diet selectivity of goats during three seasons (spring, summer, and fall). Bite mass of each plant species selected by goats was estimated using hand-plucked simulation. The optimal foraging theory was used as a tool to explain the goats foraging decisions. Bite mass range was extremely wide and varied seasonally. The goats’ diet was largely composed of Cistus spp., Lavandula stoechas, Quercus spp., and Myrtus communis. The result shows that the smaller the bite mass, the higher the biting rate, leading to increased short term intake rates. The selection of various plant species during fall and summer enlarged the diet diversity of goats. As expected, goats preferred trees and some shrubs despite their low availability. Consequently, the most available species is not necessarily the most positively selected. Particular high and positive selection of Quercus suber was observed over seasons. The outcomes confirm the high adaptability and ability of goats to select a woody species across seasons. Knowledge about forage availability and the feeding behavior of goats could be used as the first guide for rangeland managers to ensure herd and forest sustainability.

UPLC-MS/MS Phytochemical Analysis of Two Croatian Cistus Species and Their Biological Activity

“…According to ethno-pharmacology, the Cistus species has been used due to its antimicrobial, antiproliferative, anticancer, antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiulcerogenic, antidiarrheal, and antispasmodic activity [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. It is also known that some Cistus species have been used in human and animal diets, such as goats, lamb and beef [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ].…”

“…Phytochemical profile of different Cistus species aqueous extracts reveals their polyphenolic profile, having flavonoids, phenolic acids, and ellagitanins as their main constituents [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 8 , 10 , 15 , 23 , 26 , 31 , 32 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ].…”

Small Ruminant Production Based on Rangelands to Optimize Animal Nutrition and Health: Building an Interdisciplinary Approach to Evaluate Nutraceutical Plants

“…The DOM is the result of gathering many tools such as bite counting [ 97 , 98 , 99 ], hand-plucking [ 100 , 101 ], construction of a “bite coding grid” related to the local vegetation of given study area, and an ethological protocol for the animal species considered under study [ 93 , 94 ]. As a result, the DOM has been successfully implemented in different regions of México [ 102 , 103 , 104 ] and countries like France [ 93 ], Brazil [ 94 ], Greece [ 105 ] or Morocco [ 106 ].…”

“…It is worth mentioning that selection can be assessed under controlled cafeteria trials by using specific selection indexes and ensuring a constant supply of the feed resources [ 183 , 184 ]. An estimation of selectivity has been performed under natural [ 129 , 130 ] and controlled [ 185 , 186 , 187 ] conditions in the LDF and other ecosystems [ 105 , 106 , 186 , 187 ].…”

Carcass characteristics and meat quality of male goat kids supplemented by alternative feed resources: Olive cake and cactus cladodes.

“…Goat (Capra hircus) is characterized by a high adaptation capacity in harsh systems and to climate changes [1,2]. Thus, it provides an important and stable source of red meat and protein for consumers in regions with a harsh environment [3].…”