Research Results - (PDF, 101 mb) - USAID
Research Results - (PDF, 101 mb) - USAID
Research Results - (PDF, 101 mb) - USAID
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Range <strong>Research</strong> for Increasing Small Ruminant<br />
Production in Morocco<br />
Principal Investigator<br />
Utah State University<br />
Brien Norton<br />
Brien Norton, Department of Range Science, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, 84322-5230<br />
Collaborating Scientists<br />
John Malechek, Co-Principal Investigator, U.S.<br />
Hamid Narjisse, Co-Principal Investigator, IAV<br />
Ahmed El Aich, IAV<br />
Omar Berkat, IAV<br />
U.S. Institution<br />
Department of Range Science, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, 84322-5230<br />
Collaborating Institution<br />
Institute Agronomique et Veterinaire, Hassan II,B.P. 6202 Rabat-Instituts, Morocco<br />
Summary<br />
Alfa grass (Stipa tenacissima),a dominant<br />
species of most of the semi-arid steppe in North<br />
Africa, has an adaptive chemical reaction to<br />
defoliation that reduces palatability of the<br />
regrowth and protects it against grazing. Defoliation<br />
increased wax and silica content of the<br />
regrowth which in turn depressed digestibility<br />
and palatability.<br />
Supplementary feeding is necessary over<br />
the summer and early autumn for sheep and<br />
goats grazing native range land in order to<br />
maintain or increase body weight. Preliminary<br />
results from a feeding trial indicate supplementation<br />
was profitable and that a less expensive<br />
energy supplement than barley should be found<br />
if possible. A second year of a grazing study to<br />
determine intake, diet composition, and diet<br />
quality of small ruminants grazing Stipa<br />
tenacissimaproduced anomalous results, requiring<br />
further analysis before reporting.<br />
A clipping intensity study of two Stipa<br />
species growing in pots revealed that S. barbata<br />
was more tolerant to defoliation than S.<br />
tenacissimabecause of its more rapid rate of<br />
regrowth. Alfa grass, while not a very desirable<br />
rangeland species, is ecologically valuable in<br />
stabilizing against erosion. It is a poor colonizer<br />
and seed producer. A long-range study seeks to<br />
learn more about seedling establishment, seed<br />
dormancy, and longevity.<br />
Three years of data have been gathered<br />
on the plant demography and community<br />
dynamics of the white sage ecosystem. Data are<br />
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