Dry Matter Yield and Grazing Capacity of Kermes Oak (Quercus coccifera L.) Scrublands for Pure Hair Goat (Capra hircus L.) Breeding in Turkey`s Western Mediterranean Region

摘要

It is forbidden to graze goats in state forests in Turkey. Despite this ban, villagers graze their goats in state forests because certain tree and herb varieties that grow in state forests provide an important source of nutrition for goats. With the action plan, it prepared in 2008, the department of forest administration announced that goat grazing would be allowed in state forests. The prepared plan does not include any scientific information as to where and how many goats would be allowed to graze. This study has determined the green herbage and dry matter yield of kermes oak (Quecus coccifera L.), which constitutes a significant source of nutrition in the raising of pure hair goats, the capacity of a unit area for grazing and the number of pure hair goats that can graze per unit area. Measurements taken at 6 periods (April 15, May 15, June 15, July 15, August 15, September 15 2008) have resulted in an herbage yield of 2410.0, 4418.3, 5746.6, 6350.0, 6363.3, 6366.6 kg ha-1, respectively (p<0.05) and a dry matter yield of 772.0, 1911.3, 3093.3, 3610.0, 3649.3, 3689.4 kg ha-1, respectively (p<0.05). Accordingly, the number of pure hair goats that can be grazed in an area of 1 ha covered completely by Kermes Oak, for a period of 1 year, varies between 1 and 5 goats. Since June 15, is the most appropriate period for grazing, the highest number of pure hair goats that can be grazed in an area of 1 ha covered completely by kermes oak, for a period of 1 year, is 4. The number of pure hair goats that can be grazed in a unit area varies depending on the land coverage of kermes oak and the ratio of its blend with other tree varieties.