Sward structure and diet selection after sheep introduction on abandoned grassland in the Giant Mis, Czech Republic

HEJCMAN, M., ŽÁKOVÁ, Irena, BÍLEK, Miroslav, BENDOVÁ, Pavla, HEJCMANOVÁ, P., PAVLŮ, V. a STRÁNSKÁ, M. Sward structure and diet selection after sheep introduction on abandoned grassland in the Giant Mis, Czech Republic. Biologia, 2008, 63, 506-514. ISSN 0006-3088.
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Abstrakt

In the study, the effect of rotational grazing on the sward structure of long-term abandoned grassland and the sheep diet selection were investigated in the Giant Mts. The aims of the research were to ascertain if sheep grazing affect the sward structure, how sheep diet selection develops in grazing seasons and what plants do sheep prefer to graze. Seasonal as well as inter-annual changes in sheep diet selection were detected. In the first spring, sheep grazed over a wide variety of plant species in lowquantities. In subsequent springs, they preferred species favored during previous autumns and changed the diet only after elimination of favored plants. Furthermore, sheep preferred grazing at the highest part of the pasture probably as a consequence ofanti-predator behavior. Changes in the sward structure were mostly of a quantitative character. The diet selection changed probably due to the sheep experience, as they were able to recognize favored plant species after 6 months.

OdděleníTechnologie a technika chovu hospodářských zvířat