Forage chemical composition of a grazed and an ungrazed kermes oak (Quercus coccifera L.) shrubland in northern Greece

Kermes oak shrublands (Quercus coccifera L.) are an important source of nutrients for grazing goats during the critical summer period in Greece. This study was carried out to identify the growing plant species in a grazed (GS) and an adjacent ungrazed for 10 years (UGS) kermes oak shrubland at the Municipality of Anthemouda, Chalkidiki, northern Greece, as well as to determine their chemical composition. Two experimental cages 2×2 m were placed in each shrubland in order to identify the herbaceous and woody species and to collect samples. The collected samples were analyzed for ether extracts (EE), crude fibre (CF), crude protein (CP), calcium (Ca2+), phosphorus (P5+), sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) content determination. Mean CF concentration of shrubs was not different (p<0.05) between the GS (21.3% DM) and the UGS (19.7% DM). Higher CP content was found in forbs (11.4 % DM) followed by grasses (9.4% DM) and shrubs (7.4% DM) of the GS. On the contrary, higher mineral content (1316.7 mg Ca2+/100 g DM, 695.5 mg P5+/100 g DM, 1538.6 mg Na+/100 g DM, and 953.6 mg K+/100 g DM) was observed in the UGS, as only shrub species comprised the vegetation of this shrubland.