Comparative diet selection by cattle and sheep grazing two contrasting heathland communities |
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| Authors: | MD Fraser VJ Theobald JB Griffiths SM Morris JM Moorby |
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| Institution: | 1. Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Plas Gogerddan, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 3EB, UK;2. ADAS Pwllpeiran, Cwmystwyth, Aberystwyth SY23 4AB, UK;1. Department of Ruminant Production, IRTA (Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries), Research Group on Production Efficiency of Ruminants, Torre Marimon, 08140, Caldes de Montbui, Barcelona, Spain;2. ICREA (Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats), 08010 Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain;1. CECAV, Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, P.O. Box 1013, 5000-911 Vila Real, Portugal;2. Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), P.O. Box 13, 33300 Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain;1. Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, 410E Agriculture/Forestry Center, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2P5, Canada;2. Department of Renewable Resources, 751 General Services Bldg, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H1, Canada;3. Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, Lands Division, Box 1420, Room 242, Provincial Building 782 Main Street, Pincher Creek, Alberta T0K 1W0, Canada;1. IFM Biology, Conservation Ecology Group, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden;2. MTA-DE Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Research Group, Egytem tér 1, Debrecen H-4032, Hungary;3. Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Regensburg, D-93040 Regensburg, Germany;4. University of Debrecen, Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 71, Debrecen H-4010, Hungary;2. Scotland’s Rural College, King’s Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, United Kingdom |
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| Abstract: | In the UK the funding mechanism for moorland restoration is being implemented primarily through agri-environment schemes, yet to date remarkably few comparative grazing studies with domesticated livestock have been conducted on this type of vegetation community. In this experiment the diet composition of four groups of animals grazing heathland swards with low (8%) and high (61%) percentages of cover of Calluna vulgaris was estimated from faeces profiles of n-alkanes and long-chain fatty alcohols. Two breeds of sheep (Welsh Mountain (WM) and Scottish Blackface (SBF)), and two breeds of cattle (Welsh Black (WB) and Continental cross (CX)) grazed the experimental sites during two separate 14-day sampling sessions, in July and September respectively. Both species were selective feeders, consuming grasses (selectivity indices 0.20–1.0) in preference to dwarf shrubs (selectivity indices 0.20–1.0), but there were significant differences in the proportions of various plant groups within the diets. Although the sheep diets contained significantly more C. vulgaris, the quantities consumed were small (<10% of the diet), even on the High site, reflecting the biomass of the graminoid species present, and hence availability of preferred items. The SBF sheep were the only animal type to increase consumption of C. vulgaris later in the season. There were a number of significant differences in the composition of the diets selected by the two hill breeds of sheep used in the study, with the SBF sheep recorded as consuming more C. vulgaris. These results imply that through choice of breed land managers may be able to meet environmental goals more effectively without compromising returns from conventional production systems. In contrast, the overall diet composition of the two breed types of cattle was similar. This indicates that commercial breeds have the potential to deliver the types of environmental benefits associated with grazing of traditional breeds. |
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