Improvement of kermes oak shrublands for sustainable use by livestock
Shrublands dominated by kermes oak ( Quercus coccifera L.) cover large areas in Greece and constitute iιnportant sources of feed to livestock, especially goats. Due to their irrational use in the past and the socioeconomic changes in rural areas in the last few decades, these shrublands have been seriously degraded. Their dominant problem is the wildfires that pastoralists set in order to open up and thus improve them for grazing of their aniιnals. Despite their degradation, kermes oak shrublands have a high production potential provided that it is properly exploited. The main goal in their improvement should to increase the available forage to livestock without impairing their soil protection role and other multiple uses they provide. In this paper, several improvement methods, such as clearing, clearcutting, topping, prescribed buming, fertilization and thinning, are discussed together with proper grazing of the improved areas while eιnphasis is given on management of wild bumed shrublands.
Nutritive value of forage species and shrubland utilization by goats
Nutritive νalue of forage species common in the mediteπanean shrublands was detrmined at various periods during the year. Intake by goats was also deteπnined in shrublands with different shrub-herbage vegetation over and at three stocking rates. Crude protein content for all plants decreased as growing season progressed and plants matured. Crude protein content decreased for grasses by 62% from spring to autumn, while for legumes and woody species it decreased only by 47%. !η vitro organic matter digestibility for grasses and leguιηes decreased by 28%, while for woody species by 7%. Mineral content was reduced in all forage species as plant matured except for Ca in woody species. Legumes tended to maintain almost constant Ca and Ρ levels. By reducing shrub cover from 66% dowη to 53% and increasing herbaceous cover the nutritiνe value of goat’s diet was improved. This resulted in an increased intake in the pasture with the greater proportion of herbaceous plants in comparison to the pastures with lower proportions for all grazing periods except June and May. Also, intake was higher in the moderately stocked shrublands (44.3g/kg Bw0.75) than in the heavy (37.3g/kgBW0.75) and very heavy stocked shrublands (35.4glkgBW0.75).
Utilization of kermes oak forage by goats: Selection and nutritive composition of goat diets
Experience with forage utilization of kennes oak ( Quercus coccifera L.) shrublands of varying herbage cover (Α: 32, Β: 20, C: 12 %) by goats in Greece is reviewed. The selection of diet by goats was affected by the heρbage cover of shrublands. The herbaceous component contributed more than 50% to the goats’ diet during spring for shrubland Α , while in the remaining grazing periods goats selected larger quantities of browse. Crude protein (CP) content, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), lignin and in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) varied greatly frοm one season to the next. Diet quality deteriorated as the amount of herbage available matured and decreased. Goats selected diets higher in CP when grazing in shrubland Α than in Β and C (14.1, 12.1 and 11.4%, respectively). Dietary levels of CP approached or exceeded maintenance requirements for goats during all grazing periods. Goat diets of shrubland Α had lower levels of NDF and lignin compared with diets of shrublands Β and C almost year round. Diets frοιη shrubland Α tended to be more digestible the whole throught the year than Β and C. lt is concluded that shrubby and herbage components, being complementary, were better balanced proportion wise in pasture Α. However, during the dry period of the year (August – October) even this composition is insufficient to meet gestation requirements which occur this period; goat demands can be met by grazing shrublands composed of deciduous woody species in high proportion.
Effects of grazing intensity and grazing systems on productivity and vigor of kermes oak ( Quercus coccifera L.)
Grazing of kermes oak ( Quercus coccifera L) shrublands is being practiced without planning in Greece for thousands of years, thus having a negative impact on ecosystem’s sustainability. The grazing practice applied coincides mostly with the continuous grazing and- the stocking rates are usually higher to grazing capacity. Research has shown that 60% and 80% grazing intensities of kermes oak twigs, repeated every 15 days during the growing season for five consecutive years, presented higher twig number and browse production compared to 20%, 40%, 100% intensities and the control. The vigor of kennes oak shrubs grazed at 80% was slightly reduced, while shrubs grazed at I 00% died early in the fourth year of the experiment. As far as the grazing system is concemed, the results of the research have shown that the rotational grazing of kermes oak shrublands using goats, with 20 days rotation, was superb compared to continuous. Browse production was 3018.0 and 2413.3 kg/ha, twigs frοm regrowth were 35.5 and 31.4 per ιη 2 and twig length was 3 cm and 2 cm respectively while liveweight gain was +1.93 Kg/ha for the rotational and – 0.60 kg/ha for the continuous grazing system. lt is concluded that kemιes oak can withstand grazing up to 80% of the annual production for five years. The rotational grazing system is the mοst appropriate for sustainable production for both the plant and the animal component.
Influence of light intensity of kermes oak ( Quercus coccifera L.) dry matter production and forage quality
This research has been conducted in Chrysopigi, Serres. The purpose of this research was to study the influence of light intensity on kermes oak ( Quercus coccifera L.) dry matter production and forage quality. Α nuιnber- of shrubs, were selected under a dense Pinus brutia stand and an equal number in an open area without any shading. Measurements of current year’s growth (L), leaf area (LA) and leaf weight (W) and dry matter production were obtained during the stages of flash growth and maturity. Also specific leaf weight (SL W), relative growth rate (RGR) and the unit leaf ration (ULR) were estimated. Shaded plants had higher growth, LA (8,5% and 27%) and L (44% and 29%) respectively at the flash growth stage and at the maturity one, but lower dry matter production as compared with the open grown plants. The SL W and RGR had the same growth rate in the sun and shade -grown plant while the ULR was found to have lower values under low light intensities. This is an indication that the lower dry matter production in the shaded plants as compared to the sun plants was probably due to the higher respiration loss of the former than of the latter plants. Crude protein content was higher in the shaded than in the sun plants during the growing season, while the concentration of total non-structural carbohydrates, cell contents and soluble protein were higher in the sun plants than in the shaded plants. Tannins and lignins content were higher in shaded than in sun plants. Similarly, dry matter digestibility was higher in sun plants but declined mοre drastically in the shaded plants during the growing season. The dry matter production was 3018 kg/ha for sun plants and 1576 kg/ha for shaded ones.
