Changes in heathland vegetation under goat grazing: effects of breed and stocking rate

Published source details Celaya R., Jáuregui B. M., Garcia R. R., Benavides R., Garcia U & Osoro K. (2010) Changes in heathland vegetation under goat grazing: effects of breed and stocking rate. Applied Vegetation Science, 13, 125-134.
Share Tweet Email

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Change type of livestock Action Link
	Reduce number of livestock Action Link

Change type of livestock

A replicated, randomized, before-and-after trial between 2002 and 2006 in a heathland in northern Spain (Celaya et al. 2010) found that plots grazed by cashmere goats had higher cover of dwarf heather species but lower herbaceous species cover and number of plant species than those grazed by celtiberic goats. After four years, cover of dwarf heather species was higher in plots grazed by cashmere goats (32%) than in plots grazed by celtiberic goats (15%). However, cover of herbaceous species was lower in plots grazed by cashmere goats (cashmere: 30%; celtiberic: 47%), as was the number of plant species (cashmere: 23 species/plot; celtiberic: 26 species/plot). There were no significant differences in plant height (17 cm vs 13 cm), or western gorse Ulex galli cover (8% vs 11%) between plots grazed by cashmere or celtiberic goats. In 2002, six 0.6 ha heathland plots were fenced. Each plot was randomly allocated to be stocked with celtiberic goats (12 goats/ha) or a cashmere goats (15 goats/ha). In each plot 100 random points were used to survey vegetation cover. Plant height was measured using a sward stick every 10 cm along a 50 m transect in each plot.

(Summarised by: Phil Martin)
Reduce number of livestock

A replicated, randomized, before-and-after trial between 2002 and 2006 in a heathland in Northern Spain (Celaya et al. 2010) found that reducing livestock numbers increased the cover of western gorse Ulex galli and the height of plants. After four years cover of western gorse was higher in lightly grazed plots (18%) than in heavily grazed plots (9%). Plants in lightly grazed plots were taller (27 cm) than in more heavily grazed plots (17 cm). There were no differences between lightly and heavily grazed plots in the cover of dwarf heather species (43% vs 34%), tall heather species (9% vs 6%), or herbaceous plant species (25% vs 27%). In addition there were no differences in plant species richness between lightly and heavily grazed plots (27 vs 28 species). In 2002 six 0.6 ha heathland plots were fenced. Each plot was randomly allocated either a high (15 goats/ha) or a low (7 goats/ha) grazing pressure. In each plot 100 random points were used to survey vegetation cover. Plant height was measured using a sward stick every 10 cm along a 50 m transect in each plot.

(Summarised by: Phil Martin)