Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
The livestock used in a browsing regime must be
under control in relation to their location, the time spent
in any given location, and the animal density. The rate
of plant species removal will affect the species returning
to replace them in the ecosystem. Perennial vegetation
should be encouraged due to depth of root zone, ability
to absorb and store water, and building of organic matter.
Overbrowsing plants depletes root reserves and over-
resting the plants decreases the biodiversity (Table 16.2).
Caution is warranted at all times to avoid erosion and
the creation of hydrophobic soils. In browsing manage-
ment, use of animal behavior and the herd effect allows
concentrated animal energy input into a small area for a
short period of time. Animals of the same physiological
condition need to be foraged as a mob, and the quality
of feed on offer needs to satisfy their physiological
requirements.
understanding of goat behavior (social, nutritional, envi-
ronmental, etc.) to enhance the welfare and well-being of
the goat. The stockman needs to be observant and patient,
and at the same time, understand that individual or small
mob (a small group of goats) dynamics do not necessarily
work with large commercial mobs; therefore, caution must
be used when drawing conclusions.
When using goats for ladder fuel reduction, fi re break-
ing, weed abatement, and riparian area restoration, there
are basic behavioral patterns that can be used to enhance
utilization of the goats or to curtail problems before they
arise. The selection of environmentally adapted goats,
goats that are in good physical condition, and structurally
correct conformation are conducive to success. When
placing goats into a new area, whether fenced with por-
table solar-powered electric polywire or netting or set/
parked on horseback using herding dogs, let the livestock
guardian dogs check the area fi rst. As the dogs complete
their rounds, then let the goats in. Once in the new area,
the goats will circle the fence line and check out the veg-
etation before browsing.
In plant anatomical selection, goats eat from the tip of
the plant toward the base, selecting the highest quality
plants and plant parts the fi rst time around because they
will return to the same plant many times before ending
consumption of the specifi c plant (Table 16.3). They eat
the seed heads from grasses and forbs and select fl owers
of thistles and some brush species. Mobile lips and bipedal
capabilities afford them the ability to select young buds,
create a 2 - 2.5 m (6 - 8 ft) browse line, and knock down the
larger diameter vegetation high in cellulose and lignin.
When browsing, they are always on the move, nibbling on
one plant but on the lookout for the next selection. They
K
NOWLEDGE
OF
A
NIMALS
The physiological and psychological effects of stress on
the goat have a major impact on its production perfor-
mance and health. It is therefore critical to have a basic
Table 16.2
Root depletion affected by grazing
defoliation.
% Leaf removal
% Root stoppage
40
0
50
5
60
50
70
70
80
100
Table 16.3
Browsing calendar based on the goat.
Specie
Preferred Time
Not Preferred
Notes
Yellow Star Thistle
Centaurea solstitialis
Leaf phase through seed head
production
Cane heads are dead
and empty.
All ages and classes select
fi rst at various growth
phases.
Scotch Broom
Cytisus scoparius
Before fl owering and after fall
dieback
Flowering
Caution using young doelings
and pregnant does
Chamise
Adenostoma fasciculatum
Fall, winter, spring
Mid - to late summer
Buckeye
Aesculus californica
Fall as leaves die back and
seeds drop
Green and productive
Toxic when green
Tamarisk
Tamarix
New shoots and young branches
Old decayed plants
Continuously barking and
trampling
