Diet selection of free ranging horses in the highland savanna of Namibia

Abstract

Abstract by author:

The diet selection of free ranging horses was determined at Seeis farm during mid-June. Direct animal observation technique, technically known as the bite count method, was used and the bites taken from various plant species were compared to the percentage occurrence of those species available in a natural range as determined by systematic step point sampling. The horse ate Grass species, herbs, bushes, shrubs, tree bark, and fallen grass materials. The principal forage is Stipagrostis uniplumis (24. 7) and Eragrostis rotifer (18. 7). The most preferred forage is the fallen grass material at 30. 1 percent. There are differences among means in the chemical composition of different forage species utilized, with regard to dry matter, ash, crude fibre and crude protein. All grass species tend to have little fat content that ranges from 1 to 1. 3 percent. Acacia mellifera leaves have the most fat content among forage species utilised by the horses