Spatio-temporal movements of goat herds in a protected area of Mexico

Abstract

Domestic goats represent an important resource for rural human communities in tropical dry regions of Latin America. Management of this species in extensive systems is a common practice in the Tehuacan-Cuicatlan Biosphere Reserve (TCBR) in Mexico. We analyzed the spatial and temporal variation of movements associated with the foraging behavior of goats in the TCBR. In order to determine the foraging areas and routes, we followed five herds using a satellite GPS collar during the rainy season of 2017 and the dry season of 2018. Herd size varied from 13 to 90 goats. During the dry season, larger herds traveled longer distances. The herds without a goatherd foraged for longer periods during the rainy season. The size of the foraging area in the rainy season varied from 125 to 378 ha and in the dry season varied from 91 to 428 ha. The geographic location and types of vegetation they covered were different. The results of the present study further the knowledge of the foraging habits of goats in tropical dry regions and thus contribute to the generation and establishment of best livestock practices in protected natural areas such as the TCBR.