Forage intake, digestibility and performance of cattle, horses, sheep and goats grazing together on an improved heathland

摘要: A mixed herd of five cows, mares, 32 ewes and goats was managed with their offspring during two consecutive years in a paddock (22.3 ha) 76% heathlands 24% improved pasture area, the aim studying differences ingestive behaviour performance. Diet composition, dry matter intake (DMI) digestibility (DMD) were estimated on three occasions using alkane technique, all animals periodically weighed to calculate bodyweight (BW) changes per livestock unit (LU). Goats selected higher proportions shrubs than other herbivore species (P < 0.001). Overall, daily DMI 0.001) equines (218 g/kg BW0.75) ruminants (174, 121 80 BW0.75 for cattle, sheep, respectively), whereas DMD lower (569 DM) compared (733–791 DM). During first half grazing season (from late April mid-July), dams’ BW LU did not differ between species. However, summer–autumn losses observed sheep (–89 g/day) cattle (–534 g/day), being intermediate horses (–254 g/day). For overall season, showed greater = 0.056) gains (338 cows mares (178 Regarding offspring, lambs (3612 Calves presented kids (2647 vs 1909 g/day.LU), foals (2385 g/day.LU). Therefore, under these conditions partially heathlands, most productive looking at diet selection digestibility, could complement or herds by achieving more efficient utilisation heathland vegetation, increasing productivity hectare. By contrast, horses, having high levels grass intake, compete utilisation.