Abstract
AbstractLarge areas of marginal lands in temperate areas are covered by heath-gorse vegetation. These communities have very poor nutritive value and high combustibility and goats, due to their browser behaviour, should be the most appropriate domestic species for their sustainable management. Two breeds of goats were managed: Cashmere goats (34 kg LW) under two stocking rates, high (12 animals/ha) and medium (6 animals/ha), and local Celtiberian goats (45 kg LW) only under high stocking rate. Replicates in three blocks were set up. Live weight changes were studied during two consecutive (2002 and 2003) grazing seasons. Significant differences between breeds in live weight changes were observed. These differences varied along the grazing season, increasing in the last period (September-November) in both years. Results indicate a better adaptation to these severe conditions of Cashmere goats, which have lower body weight than local goats.
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