Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Tangier, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Avenue Ennasr, BP 415 Rabat Principale, Rabat 10090, Morocco.
Department of Veterinary Management of Animal Resources, FARAH, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
Sensors (Basel). 2022 Jan 20;22(3):781. doi: 10.3390/s22030781.
The Global Positioning System (GPS) and sensors technologies are increasingly used to study the grazing behavior of animals. This work was conducted to understand the grazing behavior and energy balance of goats browsing in forest rangeland using GPS and sensors technologies. Forage availability was estimated using the quadrat method during three grazing seasons. Simultaneously, eight indigenous goats were selected to explore their feeding behavior, grazing activities, and energy requirements. The experimental goats were fitted with GPS collars and leg sensors to monitor their grazing activities. At the same time, direct observation was used as a method to study their feeding behavior. Forage availability was higher during spring compared to the summer and autumn seasons. Goats recorded the highest biting rate during summer and autumn (about 22 bites/min). The highest intake rate was recorded during spring (5.6 g DM/min). During spring, goats spent most of their time on grazing (48%) in contrast to the summer and autumn (<31%; < 0.001). They prolonged their lying down time in summer at the expense of standing duration. The time devoted exclusively to grazing (eating) was longer in spring. Walking time in summer and autumn was longer than in spring ( < 0.001). During summer and autumn, the energy balance of goats under grazing conditions was in deficit. Using GPS collars and leg sensors appears to be a useful and easily replicable method to explore and understand the seasonal changes in the grazing areas and activities of goats in a mountainous region. The results could help goat herders and managers to develop feeding and grazing systems while increasing the performance of goats in the Mediterranean forest rangeland.
全球定位系统(GPS)和传感器技术越来越多地被用于研究动物的放牧行为。本研究旨在利用 GPS 和传感器技术,了解在森林放牧区放牧的山羊的放牧行为和能量平衡。在三个放牧季节期间,采用样方法估计饲草的可利用性。同时,选择了 8 只本地山羊来探索它们的采食行为、放牧活动和能量需求。实验山羊佩戴 GPS 项圈和腿部传感器,以监测它们的放牧活动。同时,直接观察被用来研究它们的采食行为。春季的饲草可利用性高于夏季和秋季。山羊在夏季和秋季的采食速度最快(约 22 次/分钟),春季的采食速度最高(5.6 g DM/min)。春季,山羊的大部分时间用于放牧(48%),而夏季和秋季的时间较短(<31%;<0.001)。它们在夏季延长了卧下时间,减少了站立时间。春季山羊专门用于采食的时间更长。夏季和秋季的行走时间长于春季(<0.001)。在夏季和秋季,放牧条件下山羊的能量平衡处于亏损状态。使用 GPS 项圈和腿部传感器似乎是一种有用且易于复制的方法,可以探索和了解山区山羊放牧区和活动的季节性变化。这些结果可以帮助山羊牧民和管理者制定喂养和放牧制度,同时提高地中海森林放牧区山羊的性能。