Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Research Instructor, Forests and Rangelands Research Department , East Azarbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Tabriz, Iran
2 Senior Research Expert, Range Research Division, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran
3 Senior Research Expert, Forests and Rangelands Research Department , East Azarbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Tabriz, Iran
4 Range Research Division, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran.
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 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.
Keywords
- Ahmadi, A., Sanadgol, A.A., MohseniSaravi, M., Arzani, H. and ZahediAmiri, G.H., 2009. Investigation of behavior and diet selection of different ages of Zandian sheep. Journal of Rangeland, 3(2): 232-245.
- , A. and Peiravi., M., 2010. Effects of animal age and different months of grazing season on grazing behaviour and diet selection of Zandi ewes grazing in steppe rangelands (case study: Yekke bagh, Qom). Iranian journal of Range and Desert Reseach, 16 (4):536-550.
- Arzani, H. and Naseri, K., 2009. Livestock grazing in Range and Pasture. University of Tehran Press.
- Arzani, H., 2009. Forage quality and daily requirement of grazing animal, University of Tehran Press, 354 p.
- BaghestaniMeybodi, N. and Arzani, H., 2006. Aninvestigation of range plants, palatability and goat behavior in Posht-Kooh rangeland, Yazd province. Iranian Journal of Natural Resources, 58(4): 909-
- Chandrasechar, K., Rao, K.S., Maikuri, R.K. and Saxena, K.G., 2007. Ecological implications of traditional livestock husbandry and associated land use practices: A case study from the Trans-Himalaya, Journal of Range Management, 54:77-81.
- Chapman, D.F., Parsons, A.J., Cosgrove, G.P., Barker, D.J., Marotti, D.M., Venning, K.J., Rutter, S.M., Hill, J. and Thompson, A.N., 2007 Impacts of spatial patterns in pasture on animal grazing behavior. Intake, and Performance, Segoe Rd., Madison, WI 53711 USA, Published in Crop Science, 47:399-415.
- -Dumont, B., Maillard, J.F. and Petot, M., 1999. The effect of the spatial distribution of plant species within the sward on the searching success of sheep when grazing. Grass &Forage Sci. 55: 138-145.
- Duncan, A.J., Ginane, C., Elston, D.A., Kunaver, A. and Gordon, I.J., 2006. How doherbivores trade-off the positive and negative consequences of diet selection decisions? AnimalBehavior, 71: 93-99.
- Hussain, F. and Durrani, M.J., 2009. Seasonal availability, palatability and animal preferences of forage plant in Harboi Arid Rangeland, Kalat, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 41(2): 539-554.
- Mirdavoodi, H. R. and Sanadgol, A.A., 2009. Study of preference value of range plants in key ranges of Anjedan’s rangelands of Markazi province, Iranian Journal of Range and Desert Research, 16 (2): 190-199.
- Moghadam, M.R., 2005. Range and Range Management. Tehran University press. 699 p.
- Naseri, G.H.,Abarsaji, G.H.A., and Fayaz, M., 2015. Study of preference value of range plants in Til Abad region, Golestan province. Iranian Journal of Range and Desert Research, 22(2): 373-381.
- Ngwa, A.T., Pone, D.K. and Mafeni, J.M., 2000. Feed selection and dietary preferences of forage by small ruminants grazing natural pastures in the Sahalian zone of Cameroon. Journal of Animal Feed Science & Technology, 88: 253–266.
- Provenza, F.D., 1997. Feeding behavior of herbivores in response to plant toxicants. Handbook of plant and fungal toxicants, 16: 231-242.
- Rahmani, G.H., Bagheri, R. and Pourmirzaie, A., 2016. Studying the preference value of range species during a grazing period in the Bid Kheyri rangelands. Iranian Journal of Range and Desert Research, 23 (1): 29-36.
- Rosiere, R. E., Beck, R. F. and Wallace, J. D., 1975. Cattle diets on semidesert grassland: Botanical composition. Journal of Range Management, 28 (2): 89 – 93.
- Sanon, H.O., Kabor´e-Zoungrana, C.M. and Ledin, I., 2007. Behaviour of goats, sheep and cattle and their selection of browse species on natural pasture in a Sahelian area. Journal of Small Ruminant Research, 67: 64-74.
- Whittaker, R.H. and Niering, W.A., 1975. Vegetation of Santa Catalina Mountain, Arizona. V. Biomass, production and diversity along an elevation gradient. Journal of Ecology, 56: 771-
- yaynesheta, T., Eika, L.O. and Moec, S.R., 2008. Influences of fallow age and season on the foraging behavior and diet selection pattern of goats Capra hircus L., Small Ruminant Research, 77: 25-37.
- Zadbar, M., Naseri, S. and Fayaz, M., 2016. Studying the preference value of range species and its relationship with rainfall. Iranian Journal of Range and Desert Research. 23(4): 744-759.
- Zare, M., Fayaz, M., Goudarzi, G.H. and Farmahinifarahani, A., 2012. Preference value comparison in range species Anjedan-Arak. Iranian Journal of Range and Desert Research. 19(1):178-190.
)