Abstract
This study investigated grazing capacities of maquis scrubland and preparation principles of grazing management in forest resources. Kermes oak (Quercus coccifera L.), which is widespread as a main shrub species in maquis vegetation in Turkey, and pure hair goats (Capra hircus L.) feeding on shoots and leaves of this shrub were selected for study. The study was conducted in two stages. Green leaf and shoot samples were taken from kermes oaks in the first stage and the amount of green herbage yield (g∗m−1) and dry matter yield (kg∗ha−1) that may be obtained per unit area from these samples was identified. The considered amount of dry matter consumed by pure hair goats daily and the number of goats being fed within 1 year on land of 1 ha according to different land coverage rates of kermes oaks (goat head∗ha∗yr) were calculated. In the second stage, grazing capacities of sample areas where kermes oak spread were identified and compared with the grazing plan prepared by the forestry administration for this area. Forage yield variance according to land coverage rates of maquis scrublands should be considered when determining optimum animal numbers for grazing per area for sustainable goat farming.
Highlights
Twenty-seven percent of the overall surface of Turkey is covered with forests and the forest land in the country is 21,537,091 ha
Whereas, according to the grazing plan prepared by the forestry administration, the number of goats is high (+8,844 goats) in 8 villages, namely, Buyukgokceli, Buyukhacilar, Buyukkisla, Guneyce, Harmanoren, Igdecik, Kucukkisla, and Kucukhacilar, this study shows that 5 villages (Buyukgokceli, Buyukkisla, Guneyce, Igdecik, and Kucukkisla) demonstrated to do overgrazing according to the grazing plan are utilized below the optimum capacity
Integration of pure hair goats in forestry production system is inconceivable without applying proper grazing management
Summary
Twenty-seven percent of the overall surface of Turkey is covered with forests and the forest land in the country is 21,537,091 ha. Out of this forest asset, 77% is high forest (16,662,379 ha), while 23% is coppice forest (4,874,712 ha) [1]. Wood production was adopted as the sole objective in the management of forest resources for the last 50 years and production of nonwood forest products and other services provided by forests were not included. Having adopted the principle of multiple uses in the planning of forest resources in recent years, the production of nonwood forest products (water, recreation, wildlife, hunting, etc.) began to be included in the forest management plans in addition to wood production [4]. Besides the ecological importance of scrublands, they are of considerable economic importance for supporting livestock by providing nutritious food during critical periods such as summer, when grasses and forbs are dry, and winter, when snow covers the mountain rangelands [7,8,9]
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