Data/hora: 20/06/2024 03:18:34

Biblioteca(s): | Embrapa Pantanal.
Data corrente: | 25/04/1995
Data da última atualização: | 04/04/2017
Autoria: | HODGSON, J.; FORBES, T. D. A.; ARMSTRONG, R. H.; BEATTIE, M. M.; HUNTER, E. A.
Título: | Comparative studies of the ingestive behaviour and herbage intake of sheep and cattle grazing indigenous hill plant communities.
Ano de publicação: | 1991
Fonte/Imprenta: | Journal of Applied Ecology, v.28, n.1, p.205-227, 1991.
Idioma: | Inglês
Conteúdo: | (1) Groups of.mature, non-lactating ewes and cows grazed together on a series of four grassy communities (a perennial rye-grass sward and indigenous communities dominated by Agrostis-Festuca, Nardus and Molinia, respectively) and two dwarf shrub communities (Calluna vulgaris-Eriophorum vaginatum blanket bog and Calluna moor). The communities were grazed in random sequence over a period of 4 years to provide information on seasonal variation in digestive behaviour and herbage intake on each community. (2) Information on diet digestibilit was obtained by sampling from animals fistulated at the oesophagus and estimates of herbage organic matter intake were made from these measurements and from determinations of faecal output by chromic oxide dilution. (3) Estimates of diet digestibility were consitently higher on the rye-grass sward than on the indigenous grassy communities and substantially higher on grassy than on dwarf shrub communities. Herbage intakes were also substantially higher on grassy than on dwarf shrub communities and were higher on the indigenous grassy communities than on the rye-grass sward. (4) Diet digestibility values tended to decline progressively from spring to late autumn, but intakes were usually highest in summer. (5) Levels of bite rate and intake per bite were lower on dwarf shrub than on grassy communities. Overall the results indicated the dominant influence of intake per bite on daily herbage intake. (6) The sheep consistent maintainent higher diet digestibility than did the cattle. Variations in diet digestibility were lower for sheep than for cattle booth within and between periods, but the reserve was the case for variations in biting rate and intake per bite. (7) Species differences in biting rate and grazing time were small. However in the Molinia community sheep had particulary low bite rates and grazing times and high levels of intake per bite. (8) There was a significant community x animal species interaction in herbage intake, the relative advantage of sheep being substantially greater on the shrubby than on the grassy communities. (9) These results are discussed in terms of the foraging strategy and habitat explotaition os the two species and the adequacy of nutrient supply for productive animals from the alternative communities.
Palavras-Chave: | Communitie; Comunidade; Plant.
Thesagro: | Gado; Planta.
Thesaurus Nal: | cattle.
Categoria do assunto: | --
Registro original: | Embrapa Pantanal (CPAP)
Exemplares: | CPAP - (27955-1) - ADC - SP - PP - SP14249 -  - 14249 - DIS