Performance and forage selectivity of sheep and goats co-grazing grass/forb pastures at three stocking rates

Animut, Getachew; Goetsch, A.L.; Aiken, Glen E.; Puchała, R.; Detweiler, G.; Krehbiel, C. R.; Merkel, R.C.; Sahlu, T.; Dawson, L.J.; Johnson, Z. B.; Gipson, T.A.

doi:10.1016/j.smallrumres.2005.05.015

Cited by 62 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…As a consequence, the pastoralists have started owning more goats and fewer sheep, hence changing their livestock composition. However, goats have a more serious impact on the pastures compared to sheep due to their generalist feeding habitats and higher forage consumption (Schaller 1977;Animuta et al 2005). Unsurprisingly, complaints of pasture degradation from herders have been heard more frequently since this change, even though wild herbivores such as kiang (Equus kiang, Figure 10) are usually blamed (Bhatnagar et al 2006b).…”

Section: Consequences Of Changes Increased Employment Options For Pasmentioning

confidence: 99%

No longer tracking greenery in high altitudes: Pastoral practices of Rupshu nomads and their implications for biodiversity conservation

Singh

Bhatnagar

Lecomte

et al. 2013

Pastor Res Policy Pract

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Nomadic pastoralism has thrived in Asia's rangelands for several millennia by tracking seasonal changes in forage productivity and coping with a harsh climate. This pastoralist lifestyle, however, has come under intense transformations in recent decades due to socio-political and land use changes. One example is of the high-altitude trans-Himalayan rangelands of the Jammu and Kashmir State in northern India: major socio-political reorganisation over the last five decades has significantly impacted the traditional pasture use pattern and resources. We outline the organizational transformations and movement patterns of the Rupshu pastoralists who inhabit the region. We demonstrate the changes in terms of intensification of pasture use across the region as well as a social reorganisation due to accommodation of Tibetan refugees following the Sino-Indian war in 1961 to 1962. We focus in particular on the Tso Kar basin -an important socio-ecological system of livestock herding and biodiversity in the eastern Ladakh region. The post-war developmental policies of the government have contributed to these modifications in traditional pasture use and present a threat to the rangelands as well as to the local biodiversity. In the Tso Kar basin, the number of households and livestock has almost doubled while pasture area has declined by half. These changes have potentially negative consequences for the long-term resilience of nomadic pastoralism as well as for the survival of rare local wildlife. To increase the pastoralist standard of living, having fewer pastoralists may be the only solution, and alternative livelihood options may bring this about. Development programmes should concentrate on enhancing opportunities for herders so that there is a greater diversity of employment opportunities and potentially better chances for the persistence of biodiversity.

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Section: Consequences Of Changes Increased Employment Options For Pasmentioning

confidence: 99%

No longer tracking greenery in high altitudes: Pastoral practices of Rupshu nomads and their implications for biodiversity conservation

Singh

Bhatnagar

Lecomte

et al. 2013

Pastor Res Policy Pract

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“…Using IGER units, the number of steps and time spent lying and ruminating were not affected by species (P>0.05), but goats spent less time eating (P<0.05) and more time idle than did sheep (P<0.05). Although factors responsible for less time spent eating by goats than sheep are unknown, botanical composition of the diet (Animut et al, 2005b) may have been involved. For example, goats consumed more forbs and less grasses compared with sheep (Animut et al, 2005b), and ingestion time is less for legumes than for grasses (Galyean and Goetsch, 1993).…”

Section: Grazing Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although factors responsible for less time spent eating by goats than sheep are unknown, botanical composition of the diet (Animut et al, 2005b) may have been involved. For example, goats consumed more forbs and less grasses compared with sheep (Animut et al, 2005b), and ingestion time is less for legumes than for grasses (Galyean and Goetsch, 1993). Also, the slower rate of growth of goats than sheep implies lower DM intake relative to BW of goats.…”

Section: Grazing Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Pasture Inclusion of Mimosa on Growth by Sheep and Goats Co-Grazing Grass/Forb Pastures

Animut

Goetsch

Aiken

et al. 2007

Journal of Applied Animal Research

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“…This led to a shift in livestock herd composition with a relative increase in goats compared to traditionally herded sheep (Singh et al 2013). Goats are however known for their generalist feeding habits and high forage consumption; this led to pasture degradation and reduced availability (Animut et al 2005;Singh et al 2013). In addition, prolonged livestock movement into grazing lands and watering around settled areas have been observed to decrease pasture availability among the Baringo pastoralists of Kenya (Kaimba et al 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drivers of forage availability: An integration of remote sensing and traditional ecological knowledge in Karamoja sub-region, Uganda

et al. 2015

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Low-input pastoral production systems provide up to 90 % of livestock and livestock products consumed in Uganda. However, pastoral communities are increasingly faced with the challenge of meeting their livestock needs in terms of forage, a situation exacerbated by climatic variability. The study identified the patterns of forage availability and quality, compared perceived patterns of forage availability with normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and determined drivers of forage availability in Karamoja sub-region. Over a 12-month period, 75.3 % of the respondents perceived forage to be sufficiently available with differentiated availability in the livelihood zones and between livestock species (goats, sheep, cattle, donkeys and camels). A similar pattern was observed with regard to perceived forage quality. A significant relationship between perceived forage availability and long-term mean monthly NDVI dynamics was observed. A lag time of 2.9 months existed between rainfall and vegetation response peak periods. Mean monthly rainfall pattern was found to be correlated with perceived forage availability. The length of residence by a livestock keeper, frequency of grazing, number of kraals, presence of governing rules, and presence of conflicts and knowledge of pasture locations, restricted movement and ease of access to grazing areas significantly (P ≤ 0.05) were the major perceived drivers of forage availability. Therefore, we find that pastoral communities in Karamoja have detailed traditional ecological knowledge of forage status and their perceived determinants. There is a need to conduct nutritional analysis of key forage species available in the different livelihood zones. Finally, there is a need to constantly monitor socio-political conditions that have potential of creating 'artificial' forage shortage in the sub-region.

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Performance and forage selectivity of sheep and goats co-grazing grass/forb pastures at three stocking rates

Cited by 62 publications

References 33 publications

No longer tracking greenery in high altitudes: Pastoral practices of Rupshu nomads and their implications for biodiversity conservation

No longer tracking greenery in high altitudes: Pastoral practices of Rupshu nomads and their implications for biodiversity conservation

Effects of Pasture Inclusion of Mimosa on Growth by Sheep and Goats Co-Grazing Grass/Forb Pastures

Drivers of forage availability: An integration of remote sensing and traditional ecological knowledge in Karamoja sub-region, Uganda

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