Mohammad Reza Najibzadeh; Mina Bayat; Mohammad Hasan Pezeshki; Mohammad Fayyaz
Volume 28, Issue 2 , June 2021, , Pages 208-221
Abstract
In this research, the preference value of rangeland species in Sahand rangelands of East Azarbayjan province was studied for four years (2007-2010). The preference index method was used for this purpose. After determining the amount of production and consumption of each species selected in the grazing ...
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In this research, the preference value of rangeland species in Sahand rangelands of East Azarbayjan province was studied for four years (2007-2010). The preference index method was used for this purpose. After determining the amount of production and consumption of each species selected in the grazing season (June, July, August, and September) and calculating the share of each species in the forage production of the region and livestock feed, and calculating the preference index, the data analyzed in split-plot design based on the completely randomized design in SAS software. The results showed that the effect of the year in three species, the effect of the month in four species, and the interaction of year and four species at (p≤0.01) were significant on the preference index. The preference index is a very important factor in determining the preference value of plant species for livestock. The species of Festuca rubra, Tanacetum chiliophyllum, with an average preference index of 1.4 to 1.6 during four-year, has a relative preference and is a relatively benign species and was placed in the palatable class I. Tanacetum chiliophyllum, with the highest average preference index, was ranked first among all herbaceous species. The species of Bromus tomentellus, Festuca ovina, Alopecorus textilis with an average preference index of 0.7 to 1.2 were of moderate preference and were classified as moderate in palatability and classified in the palatability class II. Astragalus aureus, with an average preference index of about 0.3, had a relative preference, and this species was almost non-chewed and ranked in the palatable class III. Overall, the results of this study showed that the preference value of Festuca rubra and Tanacetum chiliophyllum was more than the other species, and the sheep preferred the forbs, followed by grasses and shrubs for sheep grazing.
Mohammad Fayaz; Seyed Hamid Habibian; Hasan Yeganeh; Anvar Sanaie; Mohammadjavad Mahdavi
Volume 26, Issue 1 , June 2019, , Pages 174-186
Abstract
The knowledge of livestock grazing behavior is one of the effective factors in rangeland management. This research was carried out in order to recognize the sheep grazing behavior in the rangelands of Cheshmeh Anjir, Fars province, during the years 2007-2010.The indicators assessed ...
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The knowledge of livestock grazing behavior is one of the effective factors in rangeland management. This research was carried out in order to recognize the sheep grazing behavior in the rangelands of Cheshmeh Anjir, Fars province, during the years 2007-2010.The indicators assessed in this research included the daily distance traveled by livestock, average livestock movement, speed, and the time spent grazing. To determine these parameters, a GPS device was used and attached on the back of a 4- year old ewe using a special belt. Thus, after the start of grazing in the rangeland, the GPS was activated and then its data were extracted using mode track in ILWIS software at the end of the day. Data analysis was done in a completely randomized block design method using SAS software. The results of the study years showed that the average livestock movement speed and the daily distance traveled by livestock were significant at 1% and 5% levels, respectively; however, the time spent grazing did not show significant differences. Also, the results of study months showed that the average livestock movement speed was significant at 5% level and the daily distance traveled by livestock and the time spent grazing were not significant. According to the results, August 2008 with the mean value of 4 m/s and June 2009 with the mean value of 29 m/s had the lowest and highest average livestock movement speed, respectively; however, June 2009 with the mean value of 4.2 m/s and August 2008 with the mean value of 15.4 m/s had the lowest and highest distance traveled by livestock, respectively. The knowledge of mentioned factors will help rangeland management to determine the appropriate time for livestock moving and will increase livestock performance.
Hasan Ghelichnia
Volume 24, Issue 2 , July 2017, , Pages 280-290
Abstract
Rangelands consist of different plant species with different vegetative and phenological characteristics that have a certain grazing value. Accordingly, livestock reveals particular grazing behavior. Without knowing these behaviors, range and livestock planning and management is not feasible. To understand ...
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Rangelands consist of different plant species with different vegetative and phenological characteristics that have a certain grazing value. Accordingly, livestock reveals particular grazing behavior. Without knowing these behaviors, range and livestock planning and management is not feasible. To understand the livestock behavior, The Niak site was selected in the mountain rangelands of Mazandaran in the Plour region. Livestock grazing behavior such as the distance traveled daily, the speed of the livestock, the time spent moving, resting and grazing were investigated using GPS. The study period was from 2007 to 2010. The results showed that livestock grazing behavior was different in different months of the season. Livestock grazing behavior showed no significant differences in different years. The maximum livestock movement (min) was recorded in slope class of 15- 30% and the lowest in slope class more than 60%. On average, the distance traveled by livestock in the first, second and third month of the grazing season was calculated to be 14.84 km, 13.30 km, and 12.38 km, respectively.
Leila Mostafavi; Gholamali Heshmati; hamid mostafalou
Volume 23, Issue 4 , March 2017, , Pages 785-799
Abstract
Range suitability assessment for different objectives is along with management principles and guarantees sustainable development. A considerable area of Golestan Province plains is covered with halophytes, grazed by different livestock including sheep. A study was done to assess the suitability of saline ...
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Range suitability assessment for different objectives is along with management principles and guarantees sustainable development. A considerable area of Golestan Province plains is covered with halophytes, grazed by different livestock including sheep. A study was done to assess the suitability of saline winter rangelands with dominant species of Halocnemum strobilaceum and Aleuropus lagopoides for sheep grazing. The F.A.O method in GIS environment was used in this research for Gomishan Plain, Golestan province, Iran. In the method, three criteria of vegetation, water and soil erodibility were used as the sub-models and constituted the final model components. For vegetation sub-model, vegetation types, cover percentage, forage production, range condition and trend and range capacity were determined. Distance from water resources, water quantity and quality were determined for water sub-model. For the soil erodiblity sub-model evaluated by the EPM model, slope, rock and soil sensitivity to erosion were determined. The final model of range suitability for sheep grazing revealed that 38.69 and 61.31 percent of the region were classified as low suitability and no suitability, respectively. Among all factors determined in sub-models, the distance from water resource was the most limiting factor for sheep grazing and forage production was the most reducing factor of range suitability. Finally, utilization of rangelands in the region could be improved by reducing grazing intensity and implementing range restoration practices.
Anvar Sanaie; Hossein Arzani; Ali Tavili; Mehdi Farahpour
Volume 22, Issue 2 , August 2015, , Pages 275-288
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the range suitability for sheep grazing according to the Manual of Suitability for Sheep Grazing instructions in the rangelands of central Taleghan and comparison with the FAO guidelines (1991). Accordingly, the final model of range suitability was determined from combining ...
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This study aimed to evaluate the range suitability for sheep grazing according to the Manual of Suitability for Sheep Grazing instructions in the rangelands of central Taleghan and comparison with the FAO guidelines (1991). Accordingly, the final model of range suitability was determined from combining three criteria of vegetation, water resources and soil erosion. Sampling was conducted in the key area of vegetation types through random-systematic method with four transects of 200 meters and 40 plots of one square meter and in each plot, the list of species, canopy cover percentage, and species composition as well as production were harvested and calculated. For this purpose, the results of the proposed instructions were compared with the results of the FAO model (1991) by non-parametric Wilcoxon test. Our results clearly showed that the lack of available forage, low allowable use, erosion and the formation sensitive to erosion (Marl), poor condition and negative trend in some vegetation types as well as steep and mountainous regions were among the factors, limiting range suitability for sheep grazing. The final results of sheep grazing model showed that no vegetation type was placed in S1 and N classes, and most of the vegetation types of the study area was in S2 range suitability class, so that from 25576.9 ha of the rangelands studied, 87.25% was in S2 class and 12.75% was in S3class. According to the results of comparison of the two methods for determining range suitability, no significant differences were found (P <0.01).
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.
Sedighe Zarekia; Parvaneh Ashouri; Mohammad Fayaz; Mahmood Goudarzi; Niloofar Zare
Volume 21, Issue 4 , March 2015, , Pages 676-684
Abstract
Livestock is one of the components of rangeland ecosystems. Different grazing behaviors would be observed according to the climatic conditions, the type of livestock and vegetation. Knowledge of livestock grazing behavior on rangelands could be useful in the planning and utilization of rangelands. For ...
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Livestock is one of the components of rangeland ecosystems. Different grazing behaviors would be observed according to the climatic conditions, the type of livestock and vegetation. Knowledge of livestock grazing behavior on rangelands could be useful in the planning and utilization of rangelands. For this purpose, in this study, the grazing behavior of sheep in the steppe rangeland of Saveh was investigated. Initially, a three-year-old ewe was selected, then, using a geographic positioning system (GPS), the path of movement, the time of arrival and departure of livestock, time of rest and movement speed were recorded. Data were entered into the GIS and statistically analyzed using two-way analysis of variance. Results showed that, except for the livestock average speed, there was no significant difference among the measured parameters of grazing behavior during the four years of study. The time spent for movement and rest in different months of the grazing seasonshowed significant differences, while the length of the grazing path had no significant difference during different months. The highest time spent for movement and rest was attributed to May, although the grazing distance in May was not significantly different from other months, indicating the presence of more and better forage for grazing in this month. The lowest average speed of livestock was recorded in May. The most covered distance by sheep occurred in slope gradient ranging from 0 to 8% with dominant cover of Artemisia sieberi and Salsola laricina. Generally, it could be concluded that livestock grazing behavior and rangeland management could be better evaluated using GPS technology and GIS.
Mostafa Zare; Mohammad Fayaz; Gholamreza Goudarzi; Ali Farmahini
Volume 21, Issue 2 , August 2014, , Pages 329-335
Abstract
Temporal and spatial factors have different effects on grazing behavior so that different temporal parameters including the speed and distance walked by livestock are among the factors that can serve as an important tool in grazing management. This research was conducted in Anjedan, a semi-steppe ...
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Temporal and spatial factors have different effects on grazing behavior so that different temporal parameters including the speed and distance walked by livestock are among the factors that can serve as an important tool in grazing management. This research was conducted in Anjedan, a semi-steppe region in Arak province, in different months of grazing season (five months) during 2007-2010. To determine the parameters, a GPS, attached to the livestock, was used in a certain day of each month of grazing season. The speed of livestock movement, the length of distance walked by livestock, and the time spent for grazing, rest and movement were recorded. The data were analyzed in a completely randomized design and the means were compared using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. According to the obtained results, the speed of livestock movement, the length of distance walked by livestock and the time spent for rest and movement showed significant difference during the studied years as well as in the months of grazing season. The time spent for grazing did not show significant difference in different years; however a significant difference at 5% level of probability was recorded in different months. More grazing, movement and rest and less distance walked by livestock were recorded when the environmental and climatic conditions were appropriate for the growth of range species especially annuals.
Mohammad Fayyaz
Volume 19, Issue 3 , December 2012, , Pages 432-442
Abstract
This research was performed in Isfahan and Tehran Provinces. The races considered inTehran province were Zandi Sheep and native goat. Naeini Sheep and native goat were alsostudied in Isfahan province. To feed livestock, rangelands (winter range and summer range),aftermath of farms and handy hay were ...
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This research was performed in Isfahan and Tehran Provinces. The races considered inTehran province were Zandi Sheep and native goat. Naeini Sheep and native goat were alsostudied in Isfahan province. To feed livestock, rangelands (winter range and summer range),aftermath of farms and handy hay were used. Using of aftermath and handy hay was done in allflocks. The usage duration of hay, aftermath and rangelands in Tehran province was differentamong the flocks considered in this study due to different flocks and different years as theydiffered from 65 to 120, 100 to 180 and 90 to 245 days respectively. The usage duration of hay,aftermath and rangelands in Isfahan province also differed from 85 to 100, 30 to 240 and 90 to245 days respectively. In both provinces, the forage of rangelands and hay were usedsimultaneously to compensate the shortage of forage in rangelands. Livestock products in theflocks were milk, cheese, curd, butter, wool and fuzz. The amount of Per capita production wasdifferent per head. In Tehran province, sheep suck differed from 25 to 120 days in the flocksconsidered here. In Isfahan province the milk of sheep was used by lambs hence there was nosheep suck. Curd production was just done in one flock which approximately produced 0.5kgcurd per a head of sheep annually. Wool harvest was performed in all flocks. Per capitaproduction of wool differed from 800 to 900gr per a head of sheep. Cheese production was donethrough the milk of sheep and goat and its amount for sheep and goat differed from 2 to 7.7 and4.5 to 12kg respectively. The average of wool and fuzz production in Isfahan province differedfrom 500 to 800 and 200 to 250gr in different flocks respectively. In this province, cheeseproduced from the milk of goat and differed from 90 to 1200gr related to the duration of suck indifferent flocks. The amount of curd production also differed from 150 to 1500gr per a head ofgoat. The amount of milk production in goat differed from 3 to 10kg related to the duration ofsuck. The sale of lamb and goat was the main source of ranchers' income. The sale weight oflamb and goat differed in various ages. Average weight of lamb and goat were different asbelow: The average weight in 3, 3 to 6 and more than 6-year-old lambs of Naeini and Zandiraces was 28.8, 34.8 and 32.6kg respectively. Average weight in less than 3, 3 to 6 and morethan 6-year-old goats of native races in Isfahan and Tehran was 23.8, 23.8 and 24.7 kgrespectively. There was a significant difference between the weight of lambs and goats. Therewas a significant difference between the weight of Naeini and Zandi sheep. The results showedthat the most economic age of livestock in both Naeini and Zandi races were 3 to 6- year-old.Weights of 3 to 6-year-old lambs in Naeini and Zandi races were 29.6 and 39.8 kg respectively.The weight of 3 to 6-year-old goats in native races of Isfahan and Varamin were 20.8 and 30.4kg, respectively.
Mostafah Zare; Mohammad Fayyaz; Gholamreza Goudarzi; Ali Farmahini farahani
Volume 19, Issue 1 , June 2012, , Pages 178-190
Abstract
The preference value is defined as selection of available species by livestock in the free grazing. This study was conducted in semi steppe rangelands of Anjedan located 35 Km far from east Arak. These rangelands are of important centers for keeping livestock which is under heavy grazing with a poor ...
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The preference value is defined as selection of available species by livestock in the free grazing. This study was conducted in semi steppe rangelands of Anjedan located 35 Km far from east Arak. These rangelands are of important centers for keeping livestock which is under heavy grazing with a poor condition. The soil of the study area is loamy with high stone and gravel. This study was performed to determine the preference value of important species for sheep to support palatable species in range management plans. Direct observation (timing) method was used to calculate the time spent on livestock grazing and presence during grazing season for 3 years. Afterward, data were analyzed by SAS software in a complete random block design and Duncan test was used for mean comparisons. The results showed the preference value in different season grazing months significantly differed (p<0.01). Generally, annual grasses and forbsshowed maximum preference value. Plant litters, Bromus tomentelus, Artemisia aucheri, Buffonia koelzii respectively ranked next in terms of preference value.
Hosein Tavakoli; Hasan Ahmadnejad
Volume 9, Issue 3 , September 2001, , Pages 861-870
Mohammadali Jafari
Volume 9, Issue 3 , September 2001, , Pages 871-880
Abolghasem Esmaieli; Vahid Noeman
Volume 9, Issue 3 , September 2001, , Pages 921-934
Vahid Noeman; Abolghasem Esmaieli
Volume 9, Issue 2 , September 2001, , Pages 803-818
Hosein Ameri; Mansour medaghi
Volume 9, Issue 2 , September 2001, , Pages 847-859