Comparison of the behaviour of goats and sheep on an eroded hill pasture

Abstract

In contrast to sheep, which have traditionally been farmed on New Zealand hill pastures, goats have gained a reputation as causing soil erosion. To investigate this difference a trial was conducted during spring and summer of 1991/92 observing the behaviour of cashmere-producing goats ( Capra hircus) and Romney sheep ( Ovis aries) on an eroded hill pasture. A fixed remote-controlled video camera was used to record the animals' behaviour while on the eroded area. Tapes were later viewed and time and animal activity recorded. During the spring, two observation periods, 8 weeks apart, were conducted on five does, each with twin kids at foot, and five ewes, each with twin lambs at foot. During the summer the behaviour of ten weaned kids was compared with that of ten weaned lambs. Does and kids spent significantly ( P<0.05) more time on the eroded area than ewes and lambs. The predominant activities of the does and ewes when on the erosion during spring observations were lying and standing. Lying, standing and grazing the edge of the eroded area were the main activities of the kids and lambs during all observation periods. The mean number of kids on the erosion at any one time was greater ( P<0.001) than the number of lambs in both spring and summer. It was concluded that differences in the behaviour of goats and sheep, in relation to their presence on existing surface erosion, do exist. It was apparent that the potential of goats to exacerbate existing surface erosion was greater than that of sheep, particularly when kids were at foot.