Plant species selection by goats foraging on montane semi-natural grasslands and grazable forestlands in the Italian Alps
The interest for goats rearing has increased during last decades on the Italian Alps. However, feeding preferences by grazing goats have not undergone detailed investigation in extensive montane grazing systems. Our study aimed to assess plant species selection by integrating vegetation surveys with...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2015-09-01
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| Series: | Italian Journal of Animal Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.aspajournal.it/index.php/ijas/article/view/3907 |
| _version_ | 1818309507487367168 |
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| author | Gabriele Iussig Michele Lonati Massimiliano Probo Simon Hodge Giampiero Lombardi |
| author_facet | Gabriele Iussig Michele Lonati Massimiliano Probo Simon Hodge Giampiero Lombardi |
| author_sort | Gabriele Iussig |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The interest for goats rearing has increased during last decades on the Italian Alps. However, feeding preferences by grazing goats have not undergone detailed investigation in extensive montane grazing systems. Our study aimed to assess plant species selection by integrating vegetation surveys with animal GPS tracking under two contrasting alpine vegetation communities: a semi-natural grassland (SG) and a grazable forestland (GF). Goats selected a high array of plant species (56 and 47 species in the SG and GF, respectively), but most of their diet was composed by a few species (ten species accounted for 95% and 91% of the total species intake in the SG and GF, respectively). The selection by goats seemed to be more species-dependent rather than functional group-dependent. Goats appeared to be less selective within a homogeneous herbaceous grassland, because they selected plant species proportionally to their abundance (P=0.05). Conversely, in a heterogeneous and stratified grazable forestland they showed a more pronounced preference for most of the browse species, regardless of species abundance. Plant species selection was positively correlated with species height in both vegetation communities (<em>i.e.</em>, implementation of different stocking rates and densities) could be an important tool in modifying diet selection, promoting the consumption of particular plant species and thus managing the dynamics of plant communities in alpine environments. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T07:31:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1d6cea264afd41959558f20659c60343 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1594-4077 1828-051X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T07:31:16Z |
| publishDate | 2015-09-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Italian Journal of Animal Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-1d6cea264afd41959558f20659c603432022-12-21T23:55:11ZengTaylor & Francis GroupItalian Journal of Animal Science1594-40771828-051X2015-09-0114310.4081/ijas.2015.39072394Plant species selection by goats foraging on montane semi-natural grasslands and grazable forestlands in the Italian AlpsGabriele Iussig0Michele Lonati1Massimiliano Probo2Simon Hodge3Giampiero Lombardi4Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali e Alimentari, University of TorinoDipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali e Alimentari, University of TorinoDipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali e Alimentari, University of TorinoFaculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, ChristchurchDipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali e Alimentari, University of TorinoThe interest for goats rearing has increased during last decades on the Italian Alps. However, feeding preferences by grazing goats have not undergone detailed investigation in extensive montane grazing systems. Our study aimed to assess plant species selection by integrating vegetation surveys with animal GPS tracking under two contrasting alpine vegetation communities: a semi-natural grassland (SG) and a grazable forestland (GF). Goats selected a high array of plant species (56 and 47 species in the SG and GF, respectively), but most of their diet was composed by a few species (ten species accounted for 95% and 91% of the total species intake in the SG and GF, respectively). The selection by goats seemed to be more species-dependent rather than functional group-dependent. Goats appeared to be less selective within a homogeneous herbaceous grassland, because they selected plant species proportionally to their abundance (P=0.05). Conversely, in a heterogeneous and stratified grazable forestland they showed a more pronounced preference for most of the browse species, regardless of species abundance. Plant species selection was positively correlated with species height in both vegetation communities (<em>i.e.</em>, implementation of different stocking rates and densities) could be an important tool in modifying diet selection, promoting the consumption of particular plant species and thus managing the dynamics of plant communities in alpine environments.http://www.aspajournal.it/index.php/ijas/article/view/3907Diet selectionFeeding preferenceSmall ruminantStocking densityToxic species |
| spellingShingle | Gabriele Iussig Michele Lonati Massimiliano Probo Simon Hodge Giampiero Lombardi Plant species selection by goats foraging on montane semi-natural grasslands and grazable forestlands in the Italian Alps Italian Journal of Animal Science Diet selection Feeding preference Small ruminant Stocking density Toxic species |
| title | Plant species selection by goats foraging on montane semi-natural grasslands and grazable forestlands in the Italian Alps |
| title_full | Plant species selection by goats foraging on montane semi-natural grasslands and grazable forestlands in the Italian Alps |
| title_fullStr | Plant species selection by goats foraging on montane semi-natural grasslands and grazable forestlands in the Italian Alps |
| title_full_unstemmed | Plant species selection by goats foraging on montane semi-natural grasslands and grazable forestlands in the Italian Alps |
| title_short | Plant species selection by goats foraging on montane semi-natural grasslands and grazable forestlands in the Italian Alps |
| title_sort | plant species selection by goats foraging on montane semi natural grasslands and grazable forestlands in the italian alps |
| topic | Diet selection Feeding preference Small ruminant Stocking density Toxic species |
| url | http://www.aspajournal.it/index.php/ijas/article/view/3907 |
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