Evaluation of grazing behavior and diet selection of Marghoz breed goat in rangeland of Kurdistan province (Case study: Ghorveh)

In this study, palatability percentage and preference index of plant species that are being grazed by Marghoz breed goats was measured in two different phenological stages (vegetative growth and flowering) in mountainous rangelands of Kurdistan. The palatability and preference index of 30 species in both of phenological stages were investigated using free grazing system and the method of time consumption. One way ANOVA and post-hoc tests were used to compare the palatability and also preference index between the species in each phenological stage separately. In addition, paired sample t-test was applied to compare the palatability and preference index of each species between the two phenological stages. The results showed that Tragopogon montanua and Poterium sanguisorba had the highest preference value at the vegetative stage with an average of 2.66 and 2.25, respectively. While, in the flowering stage, Lathyrus satives and Cherophyllum macrospermum had the highest preference value of 3.16 and 2.39, respectively. In addition, there was a significant variation of preference values between the two stages. Some species showed increasing, decreasing or constant preference values between the two stages. There was a significant variation of palatability between species in each phenological stage and between the two phenological stages. As the goat grazed flowering stems of toxic species such as Ephorbia heliscopia and invasive species such as Hultemia persica,so they can be used as a biological measure to control toxic and invasive species in the rangelands.