Spatial and temporal activity of cattle grazing in Mediterranean oak woodland

Abstract We examined the temporal and spatial variation patterns of the grazing activity of free-ranging cattle in Mediterranean oak woodland in the Western Galilee, Israel, as affected by seasonal and management factors. The vegetation is dominated by scrub-oak woodland (Quercus calliprinos Webb.), interspersed with patches of semi-dwarf shrubs and herbaceous vegetation. High and moderate animal population densities of 0.55 and 0.33 cow ha−1, respectively, were replicated twice. Cattle behavior was monitored with activity sensors on GPS collars, and pedometers, and spatial data were processed with Geographic Information System (GIS) tools. Overall, cattle devoted 9.7 ± 0.7 h/day to grazing, mostly in woodland areas, although they are natural herbaceous grazers. Behavior was associated with seasonal changes in biotic and abiotic factors. Preference for the woody vegetation types was detectable over the annual time scale but large seasonal differences in preference canceled out to a large extent when viewed at that time scale. Cattle under high density spent more time grazing and made more use of woody vegetation and steeper slopes. Thus, relatively high population densities may be required for landscape-oriented management. The present findings should contribute to rational management of cattle grazing in Mediterranean woodlands.

[1]  D. Ganskopp,et al.  Least-effort pathways?: a GIS analysis of livestock trails in rugged terrain. , 2000, Applied animal behaviour science.

[2]  Marni L. Porath,et al.  Management Strategies for Sustainable Beef Cattle Grazing on Forested Rangelands in the Pacific Northwest , 2005 .

[3]  Werner Härdtle,et al.  Site use of grazing cattle and sheep in a large-scale pasture landscape: A GPS/GIS assessment , 2008 .

[4]  G. Hahn.  Dynamic responses of cattle to thermal heat loads. , 1999, Journal of animal science.

[5]  A. Perevolotsky.  Tannins in Mediterranean woodland species: lack of response to browsing and thinning , 1994 .

[6]  D. Ganskopp,et al.  Do Pasture-Scale Nutritional Patterns Affect Cattle Distribution on Rangelands? , 2006 .

[7]  William C. Krueger,et al.  Cattle grazing and behavior on a forested range in the southern Blue Mountains of Oregon, vegetation types. , 1982 .

[8]  E. Laca,et al.  Mechanisms that result in large herbivore grazing distribution patterns. , 1996 .

[9]  M. Owens,et al.  Pasture characteristics affecting spatial distribution of utilization by cattle in mixed brush communities. , 1991 .

[10]  P. Cornelissen,et al.  Density-dependent diet selection and body condition of cattle and horses in heterogeneous landscapes , 2015 .

[11]  Landscape use by cattle affected by pasture developments and season , 2004 .

[12]  John G. Kie,et al.  Cattle distribution, habitats, and diets in the Sierra Nevada of California. , 1996 .

[13]  R. Macarthur,et al.  On Optimal Use of a Patchy Environment , 1966, The American Naturalist.

[14]  D. Bailey,et al.  Cattle use of foothills rangeland near dehydrated molasses supplement. , 2001 .

[15]  A. Perevolotsky,et al.  Nutritional value of common oak (Quercus calliprinos) browse as fodder for goats: Experimental results in ecological perspective , 1993 .

[16]  A. Perevolotsky,et al.  Role of Grazing in Mediterranean Rangeland Ecosystems Inversion of a paradigm , 1998 .

[17]  A. Brosh,et al.  Measurements of energy balance of grazing beef cows on Mediterranean pasture, the effects of stocking rate and season: 1. Digesta kinetics, faecal output and digestible dry matter intake , 2004 .

[18]  N. Seligman,et al.  A case study of beef-cattle grazing in a Mediterranean-type woodland , 2000, Agroforestry Systems.

[19]  Eugene D. Ungar,et al.  Suitability of Mediterranean oak woodland for beef herd husbandry , 2005 .

[20]  J. Jacobs,et al.  Quantitative measurement of food selection , 1974, Oecologia.

[21]  E. Bork,et al.  Cattle habitat selection and associated habitat characteristics under free-range grazing within heterogeneous Montane rangelands of Alberta , 2013 .

[22]  Eugene D. Ungar,et al.  Inference of the Activity Timeline of Cattle Foraging on a Mediterranean Woodland Using GPS and Pedometry , 2010, Sensors.

[23]  Individual Animal Selection Has the Potential to Improve Uniformity of Grazing on Foothill Rangeland , 2006 .

[24]  E. Schlecht,et al.  A spatio-temporal analysis of forage availability and grazing and excretion behaviour of herded and free grazing cattle, sheep and goats in Western Niger , 2006 .

[25]  Eugene D. Ungar,et al.  Foraging behaviour of beef cattle in the hilly terrain of a Mediterranean grassland , 2012 .

[26]  M. Schütz,et al.  Importance of alternative food resources for browsing by roe deer on deciduous trees: The role of food availability and species quality , 2006 .

[27]  E. Schlecht,et al.  The use of differentially corrected global positioning system to monitor activities of cattle at pasture , 2004 .

[28]  D. Bailey,et al.  Management strategies for optimal grazing distribution and use of arid rangelands. , 2004, Journal of animal science.

[29]  An index for description of landscape use by cattle , 2003 .

[30]  O. D. Marco,et al.  Energy expenditure due to forage intake and walking of grazing cattle , 2001 .

[31]  Plant species selection by free-ranging cattle in southern Bolivian tropical montane forests , 2010, Journal of Tropical Ecology.

[32]  Z. Henkin.  Cattle grazing and vegetation management for multiple use of Mediterranean shrubland in Israel , 2011 .

[33]  M. McInnis,et al.  Cattle distribution patterns and vegetation use in mountain riparian areas. , 2003 .

[34]  D. Bailey.  Identification and Creation of Optimum Habitat Conditions for Livestock , 2005 .

[35]  K. Osoro,et al.  Grazing behaviour and performance of lactating suckler cows, ewes and goats on partially improved heathlands. , 2008, Animal : an international journal of animal bioscience.

[36]  Scott A. Shearer,et al.  Monitoring cattle behavior and pasture use with GPS and GIS , 2000 .

[37]  A. Nastis,et al.  Foraging behaviour of cattle and goats in oak forest stands of varying coppicing age in Northern Greece , 2005 .

[38]  A. Dolev,et al.  Energy cost of cows' grazing activity: Use of the heart rate method and the Global Positioning System for direct field estimation. , 2006, Journal of animal science.

[39]  A. Elgersma,et al.  A note on eating behaviour of dairy cows at different stocking systems - diurnal rhythm and effects of ambient temperature , 2006 .

[40]  R. Estell,et al.  Potential mechanisms to increase shrub intake and performance of small ruminants in mediterranean shrubby ecosystems , 2008 .

[41]  Thomas B Farver,et al.  A Body Condition Scoring Chart for Holstein Dairy Cows , 1989 .

[42]  A. Brosh,et al.  Diet composition and energy balance of cows grazing on Mediterranean woodland , 2006 .

[43]  David Ganskopp,et al.  Landscape nutritional patterns and cattle distribution in rangeland pastures , 2009 .

[44]  D. Ganskopp,et al.  Manipulating cattle distribution with salt and water in large arid-land pastures: a GPS/GIS assessment. , 2001, Applied animal behaviour science.