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Effects of Season of Use on Quality and Botanical Composition of Sheep Diets Within a Northern Idaho Conifer Plantation Item Info

The effect of season use on quality and botanical composition of sheep (Ovis aries) diets within a northern Idaho conifer plantation was examined during the summers of 1993, 1994 and 1995. The grazing seasons were in early and late summer. The botanical composition of sheep diets averaged 58% graminoids, 27% forbs, 11% shrubs and 4% conifers during the entire study period. The average graminoid content of sheep diets tended to be higher in the early summer grazing season compared to the late summer grazing season. The interaction between the three years and the two grazing seasons was significant for both forb and shrub content in the sheep diets (p<0.10). The conifer composition of the sheep diets was lowest when the graminoid content was highest in the early grazing season of 1993 and 1994. The same was true with respect to the shrub use by the sheep. Relative preference index values indicated that sheep selected first for graminoids, followed by the forbs and then shrubs. Diet quality results tended to be high in fecal nitrogen (FN) in the early grazing season. The fecal diaminopimelic acid (FDAPA) levels appeared to be high in the early grazing season in each of the two grazing seasons over the three years of the study. Data in this study demonstrated that sheep can obtain diverse forage within a conifer plantation with a minimum consumption of conifers, especially in the early summer grazing season. The forage consumed at this time was also generally higher in both FN and FDAPA levels.

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Title:
Effects of Season of Use on Quality and Botanical Composition of Sheep Diets Within a Northern Idaho Conifer Plantation
Creator:
Mbabaliye, Theogene
Date Created:
1996-11
Description:
The effect of season use on quality and botanical composition of sheep (Ovis aries) diets within a northern Idaho conifer plantation was examined during the summers of 1993, 1994 and 1995. The grazing seasons were in early and late summer. The botanical composition of sheep diets averaged 58% graminoids, 27% forbs, 11% shrubs and 4% conifers during the entire study period. The average graminoid content of sheep diets tended to be higher in the early summer grazing season compared to the late summer grazing season. The interaction between the three years and the two grazing seasons was significant for both forb and shrub content in the sheep diets (p<0.10). The conifer composition of the sheep diets was lowest when the graminoid content was highest in the early grazing season of 1993 and 1994. The same was true with respect to the shrub use by the sheep. Relative preference index values indicated that sheep selected first for graminoids, followed by the forbs and then shrubs. Diet quality results tended to be high in fecal nitrogen (FN) in the early grazing season. The fecal diaminopimelic acid (FDAPA) levels appeared to be high in the early grazing season in each of the two grazing seasons over the three years of the study. Data in this study demonstrated that sheep can obtain diverse forage within a conifer plantation with a minimum consumption of conifers, especially in the early summer grazing season. The forage consumed at this time was also generally higher in both FN and FDAPA levels.
Document Type:
Thesis
Library Call Number:
SF376.M33 1996
Subjects:
Flat Creek sheep diet season of use botanical composition diet quality sheep range resources
UIEF Unit:
Flat Creek
Location:
UIEF; Flat Creek
Latitude:
46.851013
Longitude:
-116.724478
Department:
Department of Rangeland Science
Type:
text
Format:
application/pdf

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Preferred Citation:
"Effects of Season of Use on Quality and Botanical Composition of Sheep Diets Within a Northern Idaho Conifer Plantation", UIEF Research Exchange, University of Idaho Library Digital Collections, https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/uief/items/uief_0102.html
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