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There is increasing interest in developing pine silvopasture systems in the Southeast. Goats are a common species used to graze understory vegetation in pine silvopasture systems. Understanding grazing/browsing behavior, animal distribution patterns and damage to pine trees by goats is required to better design silvopasture systems. The objectives of this study were to 1) determine the grazing behavior and distribution patterns of goats in Southern-pine silvopastures, 2) evaluate the possible damage inflicted by goats on different pine species. Cool-season forages [annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), rye (Secale cereale), MaxQ tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus), arrowleaf clover (Trifolium vesiculosum), crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum), white clover (Trifolium repens), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa), and chicory (Chicorium)] were planted in separate subplots within each plot in mixed-pine silvopasture systems (3 plots, 0.4-ha each). Trees in the silvopasture consisted of longleaf (Pinus palustris) and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) species (longleaf:loblolly ratio 0.81) with 113 trees per acre; the trees were 10 yr old (DBH: 12 ± 0.2 cm; height: 7 ± 0.1 m). Thirty Kiko wethers (4 to 6 mo old, BW- 24.3 ± 0.64 kg) were rotationally stocked in the silvopasture plots, beginning early April 2015. Forage subplots within each plot were virtually divided with colorful flags to monitor goats' distribution patterns. Goats had free access to fresh water, mineral supplements, and shelters. After an adjustment period of 2 d, the diurnal grazing behavior (grazing, browsing, loafing, lying, and debarking) and distribution (subplots) patterns of goats were monitored from dawn to dusk from an observation station using binoculars for 2 consecutive d. Observations were recorded on preformatted sheets. For data analysis, observation periods were divided into morning (dawn to 11:00 AM), mid-day (11:15 AM to 3:00 PM), and afternoon (3:15 PM to dusk). Data were analyzed in SAS 9.4 using GLM procedure (explanatory variables: observation period, plot, and season). Goats' loafing behavior was the highest (44%) in the morning, and the grazing behavior was dominant during mid-day and afternoon hours (40%). Goats also showed some debarking behavior (2%), which mostly occurred on longleaf pine (98%). Debarking began at 23.9 ± 1.52 cm from the base of the tree and reached up to 70.4 ± 2.62 cm from the initial debarking point. Nine percent of the debarked trees were severely damaged. The study showed that longleaf pine trees can be susceptible to possible damage by Kiko goats during cool-season grazing even when the trees are 10 yr old, and terminal buds are beyond the reach of grazing animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is increasing interest in developing pine silvopasture systems in the Southeast. Goats are a common species used to graze understory vegetation in pine silvopasture systems. Understanding grazing/browsing behavior, animal distribution patterns and damage to pine trees by goats is required to better design silvopasture systems. The objectives of this study were to 1) determine the grazing behavior and distribution patterns of goats in Southern-pine silvopastures, 2) evaluate the possible damage inflicted by goats on different pine species. Cool-season forages [annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), rye (Secale cereale), MaxQ tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus), arrowleaf clover (Trifolium vesiculosum), crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum), white clover (Trifolium repens), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa), and chicory (Chicorium)] were planted in separate subplots within each plot in mixed-pine silvopasture systems (3 plots, 0.4-ha each). Trees in the silvopasture consisted of longleaf (Pinus palustris) and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) species (longleaf:loblolly ratio 0.81) with 113 trees per acre; the trees were 10 yr old (DBH: 12 ± 0.2 cm; height: 7 ± 0.1 m). Thirty Kiko wethers (4 to 6 mo old, BW- 24.3 ± 0.64 kg) were rotationally stocked in the silvopasture plots, beginning early April 2015. Forage subplots within each plot were virtually divided with colorful flags to monitor goats' distribution patterns. Goats had free access to fresh water, mineral supplements, and shelters. After an adjustment period of 2 d, the diurnal grazing behavior (grazing, browsing, loafing, lying, and debarking) and distribution (subplots) patterns of goats were monitored from dawn to dusk from an observation station using binoculars for 2 consecutive d. Observations were recorded on preformatted sheets. For data analysis, observation periods were divided into morning (dawn to 11:00 AM), mid-day (11:15 AM to 3:00 PM), and afternoon (3:15 PM to dusk). Data were analyzed in SAS 9.4 using GLM procedure (explanatory variables: observation period, plot, and season). Goats' loafing behavior was the highest (44%) in the morning, and the grazing behavior was dominant during mid-day and afternoon hours (40%). Goats also showed some debarking behavior (2%), which mostly occurred on longleaf pine (98%). Debarking began at 23.9 ± 1.52 cm from the base of the tree and reached up to 70.4 ± 2.62 cm from the initial debarking point. Nine percent of the debarked trees were severely damaged. The study showed that longleaf pine trees can be susceptible to possible damage by Kiko goats during cool-season grazing even when the trees are 10 yr old, and terminal buds are beyond the reach of grazing animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]