Grazing behaviour of merinos on an undeveloped semi-arid tussock grassland block

Abstract

Flocks of merino wethers or ewes varying in size from 20 to 2200 were observed from dawn until dusk for 77 days over three summers on an 850 ha block of undeveloped, semi-arid Festuca novae-zelandiae tussock grassland with an altitudinal range of 60 m.Group location, size, and activity were recorded at half-hourly intervals together with associated weather. Sheep dispersed at dawn, grazed during the morning (about 80% at anyone time), rested during the middle of the day (standing, lying, or in shade groups; total about 60%) and then grazed again in the late afternoon (about 80% grazing). Activities engaged in were determined principally by time of day and temperature. Grazing reached a maximum at 1O-15°C, and numbers lying increased with temperature. Shade group formation increased rapidly above a threshold of about 15°C, particularly under sunny conditions. Sheep showed a preference for the higher terraces. Groups formed during the morning grazing period, but were irregular in composition and showed no territorial behaviour. Sheep tended to graze into the wind, more so at higher temperatures and wind speeds. Drinking was rarely observed. The proportion of the block grazed in a day depended on flock size, being about 15% per day for a flock of 20 to about 60% per day for a flock of 1600. Grazing of small areas of developed pasture appeared to be a chance occurrence.

Summer Habitat Use and Activity Patterns of Domestic Sheep on Coniferous Forest Range in Southern Norway

“…However, the activity and utilization patterns of sheep grazing freely on open range and in forests have received less attention (Noble 1975). Many such studies have involved fenced, sown, and fertilized pasture (Hunter 1962, Lynch 1971, De Leeuw and Bakker 1986 and major predators have been absent (Grubb andJewel1 1974, Scott andSutherland 1981).…”

Changes in sheep grazing behaviour and herbage after partial area improvement of a high country summer range

“…Whether effective conditioning or learning from contrived experience is possible was not examined in this study. The research of Scott & Sutherland (1981) suggests it is not likely to occur simply by exposure of sheep to small unfenced plots (three of 0.25 ha) of improved grassland, even though the present study shows a substantial effect on sheep distribution from topdressing and oversowing a total area of 44 ha in a study area of similar size.…”

“…Harris & O'Connor (1980) found little New Zealand-based scientific information on relationships between forage supply, forage improvement, and sheep behaviour. Scott & Sutherland (1981) reported the effect on sheep behaviour of developing three 0.25 ha areas in a relatively flat 850 ha undeveloped block of semi -arid tussock grassland in the Mackenzie Basin, Canterbury. That study suggested sheep retained no memory from day to day of the location of these developed sites.…”

Wasserbedarf, Wasserversorgung und Thermoregulation kleiner Wiederkäuer bei Weidehaltung

“…Das Verhaltensmuster ist für afrikanische Wiederkäuer beschrieben (34), lässt sich aber auch bei unseren Tieren beobachten. Einen ähnlichen Effekt hat das enge Beieinanderstehen bei Hitze (78,88). Oft halten die Schafe ihren Kopf gesenkt, um ihn der direkten Sonneneinstrahlung zu entziehen (14,78) (88).…”

“…Einen ähnlichen Effekt hat das enge Beieinanderstehen bei Hitze (78,88). Oft halten die Schafe ihren Kopf gesenkt, um ihn der direkten Sonneneinstrahlung zu entziehen (14,78) (88). Schwitzen und Hecheln erhöhen den Wasserbedarf, der eng mit der Atemfrequenz verknüpft ist.…”