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SEASONAL CHANGES IN DAILY BEHAVIORAL RHYTHMS OF GOKCEADA SHEEP GRAZED INTO RANGELAND WITH INTENSE PRICKLY BURNET (SARCOPOTERIUM SPINOSUM) COVER

2016    Tolu, Cemil; Alaturk, Firat; Gokkus, Ahmet; Savas, Turker

In this study, seasonal changes in daily behavioral rhythms of Gokeada sheep into the pastures were investigated. The research was conducted at Gokeada Island located at the far-west end of Turkey in Aegean Sea. This study is a part of 3-year rangeland reclamation project. Experiments were conducted into 8 plots surrounded with fences including 3-4 years old 40 head sheep (0.15 ha/sheep) grazed into the rangeland for a year. Prickly burnet cover ratio was found between 71.4-88.2% in reclaimed plots 95.7-94.9% in control plots. The sheep were observed through directs observations with sampling method in day-time. Significant differences were observed in grazing behaviors of Gokeada sheep in different seasons (P< 0.0001). Grazing frequency was high in winter and spring seasons and low in summer season (P= 0.05). The sheep grazed in winter and spring seasons 2 times higher than autumn season. Grazing frequency was quite low in summer season. The sheep grazed in summer season rather in cool hours of the morning and evening. They spent rest of the day with resting and rumination. They spent majority of the day with grazing in winter and spring seasons. It has been concluded in this study that Gkeada sheep, raised almost under wild conditions, were able to self-sustain into the rangeland with dominant prickle burnet cover through efficiently benefiting from prickly burnet in all season.