Abstract
Integration of woodlands into the grazing system would provide extended grazing opportunities for small ruminants. Previous woodland-grazing studies with goats showed a browse line created at a height of 1.5 m from the ground level, suggesting the limited access of goats to most of the vegetation present above this height. Cutting the woodland vegetation to lower heights may increase forage availability and influence animals’ preference for different vegetation available in the system. The study objectives were to 1) determine the small ruminants’ preference for woodland vegetation cut at different heights, and 2) evaluate their performance in woodland grazing system. The study site consisted of six woodland plots (0.4-ha each) containing longleaf (Pinus palustris Mill.) and loblolly (Pinus taeda L.) pines, and several non-pine species. The non-pine species were either cut to one of the heights from the ground level (0 m, 0.91 m, and 1.52 m) or left uncut (control). Eight Kiko wethers (66 ± 1.79 kg live weight) and six Katahdin rams (83 ± 4.63 kg live weight) were rotationally stocked (3 plots/species) and animals’ preference (0–5: 0-not preferred, 5-highly preferred) for different vegetation was recorded after moving animals out of each plot. Animals’ performance data (LW; body condition score, BCS; FAMACHA score; and average daily gain, ADG) were collected before stocking animals and fortnightly thereafter. Data were analyzed in SAS 9.4, using Mixed procedure for preference, and GLM procedure for performance. Out of the 21 major plant species present, six species were highly preferred by animals. Cutting treatment showed a significant effect on the vegetation preference of rams (p<0.05). Rams’ BCS and ADG decreased (p<0.05) during woodland grazing. Maintaining low vegetation height and concentrate supplementation is recommended for integrating rams in the woodland grazing system.
Keywords: Live weight, FAMACHA score, Body condition score