Botanical composition of sheep diet in two contrasting environments at Tierra del Fuego steppe (Argentina)

Abstract

The botanical composition of the diet of sheep in two contrasting environments of the fueguian steppe was compared by means of a microscopic analysis of feces, during the spring and summer 2006. In both areas of study, grasses showed to be the most important group in the diet of both locations and of both seasons, followed by native dicotyledonous. In addition, it was found that in the abandoned pasture of Cullen ranch, the intake of Hieracium pilosella, an invasive species, is high. Management strategies should be targeted to the conservation of grasses which are the life forms that are most susceptible to over grazing disturbance. Besides, these results contribute to the stage of advancement of the invasive species H. pilosella in the fueguian steppe and to the knowledge of the incorporation of this species in the diet of livestock, and possibly in the diets of native herbivores.