Resumen

CATAN, A.  y  DEGANO, C. A. M.. Botanical composition of goats' diet in the semiarid region, Argentine. Quebracho (Santiago del Estero) [online]. 2007, n.14, pp.15-22. ISSN 0328-0543.

The aim of this work was to determine the seasonal variation of botanical composition and diversity of the goats' diets grazing during the day, in a forest of the Chaco semiarid region, Argentina. This area has clearly defined seasons, dry during the winter-spring and wet during summer-autumn. The goats are a very important resource in the region because of their good adaptation. The trial was conducted with 2,5 animals/ha, grazing during the day, and kept at corral in the night. The botanical composition of diet was determined using the microhistological method of feces; diversity Index was estimated using Shannon and Weaver Index, and the preference Index was estimated using Krueger Index. The herbage components of the diet were organized as: dicotyledonous herbs, grasses, woody species and epifitic species. The dicotyledonous herbs were preferred by the goats in the wet seasons, and grasses and woody species were preferred in dry seasons. The diversity index suggests the specialistic behavior of goats in the dry season, and generalistic behavior in the wet season, in function of availability of forage.

Palabras clave : Goats; Diet; Microhistology; Diversity index.

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