Mohammad Fayaz; Seyed Hamid Habibian; Hasan Yeganeh; Avar Sanaie
Volume 22, Issue 1 , June 2015, , Pages 1-11
Abstract
In this research, the preference value of range species for sheep and goat was studied in the Cheshme-Anjir rangelands of Fars province during four years (2007-2010). Direct observation (timing) method was used during the grazing months (June, July, August and September). In each month, around one to ...
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In this research, the preference value of range species for sheep and goat was studied in the Cheshme-Anjir rangelands of Fars province during four years (2007-2010). Direct observation (timing) method was used during the grazing months (June, July, August and September). In each month, around one to two hours after entering livestock to the rangeland, livestock grazing was filmed for 30 minutes and was transferred to the computer to determine the time of grazing for each species. In addition, the frequency and duration of the use of each species in the mentioned months was examined. Afterward, data were analyzed by SAS software in a completely randomized block design. Results showed that there was significant difference (p<0.01) among the species studied in terms of time percentage and grazing frequency. However, the effect of month and month*species for time percentage and grazing frequency treatments was not significant. The results of preference value of species showed that maximum time percentage and grazing frequency for sheep and goat was on annual grasses+ forbs, and in general, results showed that goat was a browser livestock and sheep was a grazer livestock.
Saeed Rashvand; Ali Ehsani; Hasan Yeganeh; Anvar Sour
Volume 21, Issue 4 , March 2015, , Pages 591-603
Abstract
Knowledge of the phenological stages of species constituting a plant community has a considerable importance in grazing management to achieve the goals of sustainable production. The study of plant phenology is critical for monitoring, management and conservation of ecosystems. In this research, ...
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Knowledge of the phenological stages of species constituting a plant community has a considerable importance in grazing management to achieve the goals of sustainable production. The study of plant phenology is critical for monitoring, management and conservation of ecosystems. In this research, the phenology of two shrub species including Artemisia aucheri and Thymus kotschyanus was investigated for four years during 2007 to 2010. For this purpose, 10 samples were selected from each species and the phenological data were recorded every 15 days and every 7 days in the vegetative and reproductive stages, respectively. Results showed that the start and end time of growth in different years in these two species differed under the influence of temperature and precipitation. The flowering stage of Thymus kotschyanus began in the first half of June, and the seeding stage started in the first half of July, continuing to the first half of August.The vegetative growth of Artemisia aucheri started from the second half of May, the flowering stage began in the late August and the seeding stage started from the last week of September, continuing for 2-3 weeks.
Ghader Karimi; Hasan Yeghaneh; Hasan Barati; Farhang Ghasriani
Volume 21, Issue 4 , March 2015, , Pages 631-642
Abstract
A proper utilization of rangelands could result in preventing degradation, maintaining desirable species and improving range condition, leading to longterm and economic production. This research was aimed to investigate the allowable use of Stipa hohenckeriana in Kordan rangelands. In this study, a reference ...
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A proper utilization of rangelands could result in preventing degradation, maintaining desirable species and improving range condition, leading to longterm and economic production. This research was aimed to investigate the allowable use of Stipa hohenckeriana in Kordan rangelands. In this study, a reference area of one hectare was selected and fenced in the first year of the study. Treatments included four harvesting intensities of 25, 50 and 75% and 0 (control group). Finally, data were analyzed using split plot design in time with 10 replications for each treatment. Data analysis was performed by SAS software. Results showed that the effects of harvesting intensity, different years and their interactions on the forage production were significant at 1% level of probability, indicating that in different years, production rate varied with varying climate conditions. According to the results, an allowable use of 25% is recommended for Stipa hohenckeriana in the study area. The recommended allowable use can be used in determining the allowable use for the study area and areas of similar climate, along with information from other plants.
Mohammad Fayaz; Hooshmand Safari; Hasan Yeganeh; Gholam Hosein Rahmani; Hosein Tavakoli; Mohammad Akbarzadeh; Mohammad Ghaytoori; Ahmad Ahmadi
Volume 21, Issue 4 , March 2015, , Pages 731-746
Abstract
Rangelands are one of the major sources of forage production in the country and in addition to its effects on the production of livestock products, a large population is dependent on rangelands because of animal husbandry. Since the government applies management on rangelands through range management ...
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Rangelands are one of the major sources of forage production in the country and in addition to its effects on the production of livestock products, a large population is dependent on rangelands because of animal husbandry. Since the government applies management on rangelands through range management plans, therefore, in this study, direct and indirect effects of management variables on range condition and trend as well as rangeland production were investigated by selecting three range management plans at three levels of successful, moderately successful and unsuccessful in Kerman, Kermanshah, Mazandaran, Khorasan Razavi and West Azarbaijan provinces. Management variables were included as follows: the accuracy of rangeland and livestock data, project compatibility with natural conditions, beneficiaries' conditions, funding and the capabilities of human resources, predicting the executive and beneficiaries' obligations, executive calendar, and active supervisors. According to the results of rank correlation by Spearman, variables of range condition and trend as well as rangeland production had a high rank correlation together.According to the results of path analysis, variables including the accuracy of rangeland data, project compatibility with the capabilities of human resources, predicting the executive obligations, active supervisors, and beneficiaries' obligations were the factors which improved range condition and trend as well as rangeland production. Due to the negative impact of variables including project compatibility with funding, project compatibility with beneficiaries' conditions, and executive calendar on range condition and trend as well as rangeland production, these variables must be revised and their function need be evaluated. In addition, it is emphasized that greater sensitivity is required in planning for the future due to the negative effect of these variables. Other variables had no favorable or negative effect directly; however, they affected range condition and range trend as well as rangeland production indirectly.
Mohammad Fayaz; Hasan Yeganeh; Mirtaher Ghaemi; Hosein Piri Sahragard; Mehdi Moameri
Volume 21, Issue 3 , December 2014, , Pages 482-493
Abstract
Knowledge of preference value of rangeland species during the grazing period is essential for range management and planning. The purpose of this study was to investigate the preference value of plant species grazed by crossbreed cows during the grazing period in Tezkharab Rangeland of West Azerbaijan ...
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Knowledge of preference value of rangeland species during the grazing period is essential for range management and planning. The purpose of this study was to investigate the preference value of plant species grazed by crossbreed cows during the grazing period in Tezkharab Rangeland of West Azerbaijan Province using species selection index. The data required were collected over six months of grazing season for four years to calculate the species selection index. According to the obtained results, the effects of species, grazing time and their interaction were significant on species preference value. Maximum and minimum preference values were recorded for Aeluropus littoralis (1.48, class I) and Halocenumum strobilaceum (0.14, class III), respectively. The preference value changes of the studied species were constant during the months of grazing season as well as the years. Overall, available forage of halophytes in saline rangelands of Urmia could be estimated using the data of preference value.
Hosein Arzani; Javad Moetamedi; Hasan Yeghaneh; Hamzeh Ali Shirmardi
Volume 21, Issue 2 , August 2014, , Pages 221-233
Abstract
Being informed about the sufficiency of forage required for the daily need of the animal unit grazing on the rangeland is of paramount importance in animal and rangeland management. Therefore, in the current study, 32 important plant species grazed by animals on semi-steppe rangelands of Karsank in Chaharmahal-o-Bakhtiari ...
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Being informed about the sufficiency of forage required for the daily need of the animal unit grazing on the rangeland is of paramount importance in animal and rangeland management. Therefore, in the current study, 32 important plant species grazed by animals on semi-steppe rangelands of Karsank in Chaharmahal-o-Bakhtiari were sampled during three growth stages (vegetative growth, flowering and seeding). During each stage, three samples were taken and three plant bases were cut for each sample. Having measured the percentage of nitrogen (N) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) of the studied species, the amount of their crude protein (CP), dry matter digestibility (DMD) and metabolisable energy (ME) were determined to know their critical level for meeting animals’ daily requirements. In order to analyze the data, analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used and to observe the within-groups differences Duncan's test was employed. Results showed that the maximum crude protein (23.87%), dry matter digestibility (74.35%) and metabolisable energy (6.73 Mj/Kg/DM) belonged to Bellevalia glauca. The minimum crude protein (9.81%) belonged to Thymus daenensis and the minimum dry matter digestibility (51.38%) and metabolisable energy (6.73 Mj/Kg/DM) were recorded for Asperula molluginoides. The average crude protein for vegetative, flowering and seeding stages were 20.92, 13.03 and 8.89%, respectively, that at all three growth stages, it was higher than its critical level (7.0%) to meet the daily maintenance requirement of an animal unit. Average dry matter digestibility values for the three phenological stages were 62.48, 55.02 and 46.18%, respectively, that its amount was higher than the critical level (50%) for vegetative and flowering stages and was lower than the critical amount at the seeding stage for meeting the daily maintenance requirements of an animal unit. Metabolisable energy in vegetative, flowering and seeding stages were 8.62, 7.35 and 5.85%, respectively, which were higher than the critical level (8Mj) during the vegetative growth and flowering stages and lower than the same critical level at the seeding stage for meeting the daily maintenance requirements of an animal unit. This is an indicator of the fact that desirability of range forage at different grazing times is not the same and it is necessary to determine the daily requirement of animal unit on the basis of forage quality. In general, the studied rangelands are considered to be desirable in terms of supplying required daily crude protein and metabolisable energy for an animal unit. Results presented in this paper are important for livestock and range management in the studied area.
Ghader Karimi; Hasan Yeghaneh; Mehdi Moameri; Mahmoud Goudarzi
Volume 21, Issue 2 , August 2014, , Pages 295-306
Abstract
In order to understanding of the grazing cycle and grazing behavior at different slopes of Kordan rangelands, the grazing behavior of Fashandy breed sheep was investigated for four years. Parameters examined in this study included daily distance traveled by livestock, livestock path in the ...
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In order to understanding of the grazing cycle and grazing behavior at different slopes of Kordan rangelands, the grazing behavior of Fashandy breed sheep was investigated for four years. Parameters examined in this study included daily distance traveled by livestock, livestock path in the rangeland considering the slope, livestock speed (mean, maximum and minimum) and the time spent for livestock rest and movement per day. To determine the parameters, Garmin GPS was used on the back of a 4-year-old ewe using a special belt. After livestock exit from the fold, GPS was active and at the end of the day all recorded data were extracted by Mod-track in Ilwis software. The livestock path was determined by shepherd. Results showed that during the first month of grazing season and when vegetation was more, the distance traveled by livestock was less than that of other months. In addition, the maximum and minimum distances traveled by livestock were obtained at slopes of 30-60% and less than 15%, respectively. According to the results of grazing behavior during the months of grazing season, maximum and minimum livestock speed were recorded in July and in May and June, respectively. Therefore, the grazing program in similar areas could be managed at different slopes using the obtained results in this study.