Comparative diet selection of three grazing sheep breeds at Neudamm farm

Abstract

Abstract by author:

Plants were grouped into trees, bushes and shrubs, and grasses, with grasses being further subdivided into annual and perennial species. Trees and bushes and shrubs were also subdivided into two groups based on their height, below 60 cm and above 60 cm categories. Bushes and [shrubs] were much preferred and contributed over 55 percent to the diets of all the breeds. Phaeoptilum spinosum, Catophractus alexandri and the invasive Acacia mellifera had the biggest contribution of all the bushes and shrubs. In contrast, bushes and shrubs constituted only 14. 2 percent of the natural range, which was dominated by grasses (77. 6 percent). Even though grasses were the most abundant in the range, they contributed only about 30 percent to the animal's diets, with perennial grasses being the most preferred ones. The trial confirms that dietary overlap between predominant browsers and sheep that are predominant grazers is high in the dormant season