Determine the Preference Value of Plant Species for the Two Age Group of Fashandi Sheep in Eshtehard Rangelands

Mousavy, E. S. (2015) Determine the Preference Value of Plant Species for the Two Age Group of Fashandi Sheep in Eshtehard Rangelands. Masters thesis, University of Zabol.

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Abstract

The consumption of nutrients can be optimized by the recognition of the plants preference value grazing by sheep and its diet. In this regard, the present study examined the preference value of plant species for two age groups of Fashandy sheep in Eshtehard rangelands, which are located in Alborz province. For this purpose, the species preference value for non-pregnant ewe with 1 and 3 old years, by the timing method (using a chronometer), were studied in mid-spring. In this study for each age group, three animals were selected and one sheep were followed in the way of free grazing, from 8 to 10 am every day. GLM test was used to investigate the effects of sheep’s ages, species, and their interactions on the preference value. Preference value comparison of plant species for each age class was performed using one-way ANOVA. Preference value comparison of each species for two livestock’s age groups was performed using unpaired t-test. In general, preference value comparison for both groups of livestock's was performed using one-way ANOVA. The results showed that the age of the sheep had a significant effect on preference value of plant species. So that three years old sheep had significantly spent more time for grazing of plant species. The highest preference value was related to herbaceous species such as Plantago ovote and Stipa barbata and the lowest preference value was related to bush and spiny species such as Acantholimo narmenum. Although the study livestock has few grazing time of bush and shrub species, in most cases, this grazing time in three years old animals was more than one year old animals. In general, the results of the study showed that in this area the factors such as the age of the animals and plant species should be taken into account for livestock management. Moreover, the major grazing diet of this animal is based on herbaceous species.

Item Type: Thesis (Masters)
Uncontrolled Keywords: Preference value, Fashandy sheep, Timing method, Eshtehard rangelands
Subjects: S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General)
Depositing User: admin admin1 admin2
Date Deposited: 24 Apr 2016 05:52
Last Modified: 24 Apr 2016 05:52
URI: http://eprints.uoz.ac.ir/id/eprint/498

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