Fodder provision to goats and sheep to reduce grazing pressure on natural vegetation
Type: Technologies
Creation: 2014-07-21 16:36 Updated: 2019-03-18 15:52
Compilers: Michalakis Christoforou
Reviewers: Fabian Ottiger, Alexandra Gavilano
Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment
- Country: Cyprus
- Region/ State/ Province: Limassol
- Further specification of location (e.g. municipality, town, etc.), if relevant: Pissouri
- Map: View Map
Description of the SLM Technology
Short description of the Technology
Use of different types of fodder in order to reduce grazing impact on natural vegetation
Detailed description of the Technology
Goats graze on almost all plants even on thorny shrubs. The pastoralist in the past (some still do now a days) use to spread seeds on the grazing area in order to provide fodder for the animals. Another method is to provide fodder within the farm using dry seeds of wheat, barley, soya etc which can be stored in big silos.
Purpose of the Technology: The purpose of this technology is to provide to the animals with the food they need in order to minimize or even stop them from grazing on the wild flora such as shrubs, trees and annual plants. Within the study area, most of the vegetation is vanished and only traces of plant species can be found. Even the thorny shrubs like Callicotome villosa and Rhamnus oleiodes are suffering from overgrazing.
Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Fodder can be provided in-farm and out-farm. In-farm fodder is provided using a silo in which dry fodder can be store, mixed and deliver to the animals mechanically. Out-farm fodder is provided seasonally since the seeds should be seeded and plants must grow up before eaten by the animals
Natural / human environment: By providing fodder to the animals in-farm, grazing is avoided since the animals remain within the farm. This way, animal diseases transmission from one farm to another can be minimized. Also, animals may travel a long distance to find food whose energy miight be less than the energy they use.
Seeding on the hills will attract the goats and stop them from grazing on other wild plant species. Minimizing grazing will allow to the vegetation to recover and grow up providing good aesthetic view and also shelter for the wild animals. Furthermore, vegetation increase will contribute to the decrease of soil erosion and the increase of organic matter.
Photos of the Technology
- 📍 Pissouri, Limassol
- 📷 Michalakis Christoforou