Botanical and turf management evaluation in goat pastures established from Pannonian natural and abandoned arable land

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In animal husbandry, there is not a lot of available research on grazing by goats on grassland with different features. Based on this, the following research questions have been formed: What effect does grazing by goats have on different vegetation? How does vegetation react to grazing by goats under different grazing pressures? How do goats change the composition of vegetation in abandoned areas over a period of a few years? Which grasslands are the most useful for turf management? What grazing pressure is necessary to maintain natural vegetation? The differences are important to make grazing by goats efficient, so that goat farmers can apply grazing pressures that optimise the condition of the area in order to avoid degradation. To respond the questions, three goat pastures was studied in Somogy County, Hungary near Kaposdada and Kaposszerdahely. Different traits were used to evaluate the vegetation of these habitats. I: In Kaposszerdahely, where an abandoned arable field was converted into a goat pasture which is a cultivated pasture. II: In Kaposdada where there was natural grassland, which had low grazing pressure (1 animal/ha). III: In Kaposdada where there was overgrazing area (4 animals/ha). The studies were carried out for 4 years: coenological surveys were conducted in June 2015–2018 in 2 × 2 m quadrats. The vegetation of the areas was assessed in terms of turf management and nature conservation categories. Biomass investigations were applied in June and in September annually. In parallel with coenological recordings, 2 × 2 m. The forage values of various lawns were calculated by Balázs method. Based on the results, grazing by goats had a positive effect on sustaining the forage value of grassland in the typical Pannonian sample area. All sample areas had a high proportion of weeds and disturbance tolerant species, which is characteristic of this vegetation type. However, if we do not consider the nature conservation value and we would consider the grazing value of the species, the area was valuable for turf management, the proportion of grasses was significant, papilionaceous also occurred, although not in high proportions, and even the proportion of herbs was significant. The sample area I developed a semi-natural condition during the study period and overall, after 7 years. Also, in the case of forage values, the semi-natural area was a good pasture with a high animal carrying capacity. In the goat pasture, woody and shrub species were minimal or missed, confirming that these areas should be grazed by other animals, including sheep, based on their animal carrying capacity.