Forage production and quality of shrublands improved by mechanical means

Reduction of shrub cover in Mediterranean shrublands is considered as a method of optimizing forage and animal production. In this study, forage production and quality in cleared, slashed and not treated (control, 55% shrub cover) shrublands were compared dming the spring seasons of 1992, 1993 and 1994. The improvements were done in October 1991 and pastures remained ungrazed until spring of 1992. Clearing and slashing of shrub vegetation resulted in higher amounts of available herbaceous forage and useable browse; also both browse and herbs in the improved shrublands were easily accessible because of the open structure and the lower height of the sprouting shrubs. Grazing animals (sheep and goats) had a higher bite rate (bites/min) in the treated shrublands than in the control. Quality of the forage selected by animals was better (Ρ ≤ 0.05) in the treated shrublands than in the control; diets were significantly higher in crude protein content and more digestible than those in the control pasture but lower in neutral detergent fibre and lignin contents. It is concluded that reducing of woody vegetation in dense shrublands results in increased forage production (available herbage and useable browse) and improved forage conditions for small ruminants.