Landscape heterogeneity influences on sheep habits under extensive grazing management in Southern Patagonia

摘要

InSouthernPatagonia,continuousgrazingwithfixedstockingratesinlargepaddocksprevailsovergrazingsystemssubjectedtoregularevaluationsandrotationalrests.Becauseofthis,sheepextensivesystemsneedtechnologiestoimprovetheirproductionlevelsundersustainablemanagement.Inthiscontext,theaimofthisworkwastoprovideknowledgeofsheephabits(diet,dailyactivityandspatialdistributionpatterns)insevenpaddocksataproductionscalethroughouttheyearinSouthernPatagonia.Theareaisanextensiveecotonebetweenforestandsteppe,characterizedbyaruggedlandscapewithvalleysandmountains.Threevegetationtypesweredistinguishedineachpaddock:forest,steppeandwetland.Afteratwoyearstrial,sheepshowedanimportantarrayofstrategiesforfacingrestrictionsimposedbyclimateandlowforageavailability.Astrongdietaryselectivity,ahighpercentageoftimeallocatedtograzing,largeexploredareasandopportunisticselectionofvegetationtypesexplainedthecapacityforreproductionunderSouthernPatagoniaharshconditions.Theapplicationofanintensifiedmanagementinvolvingpaddocksubdivisionandseparationofvegetationtypesshouldconsiderhowsheepgrazingstrategiesarelimited.