DIETARY PREFERENCE AND GRAZING BEHAVIOR OF SHEEP ON CENCHRUS-CILIARISPASTURE IN A SEMIARID REGION OF INDIA

Dietary preference and grazing behaviour of male hoggets (6-8 months o ld) grazed on Cenchrus ciliaris pasture were continuously monitored fr om 08:30-17:30h at weekly intervals from December to March. Population distribution (%) and preference index of Cenchrus ciliaris and Crotal aria burhia forb and dead litter were 21.11, 2.01; 6.31, 8.41 and 9.32 , 1.60 respectively. Daily rhythmic periodicity in grazing pattern of hoggets was observed with two major periods of active grazing at 08:30 -12:50 and 14:20-17:30. Increase in environmental temperature from Dec ember (20.6 degrees C) to March (31.2 degrees C) resulted in a decreas e (P < 0.05) in the length of the grazing period from 8.36 to 7.40 h a nd an increase in the length of the resting period from 24 to 80 minut es. The study revealed that Crotalaria burhia needed to be protected i n bush cleaning operations owing to its preference by sheep during sum mer. Furthermore, grazing periods of animals should be increased durin g the dry season in order to achieve optimal production. (C) 1997 Else vier Science B.V.