Temporal variation in nutritive value of forage in kermes oak shrublands.

This study was carried out to determine the seasonal floristic composition of grasses, forbs, and shrubs in a kermes oak (Quercus coccifera L.) shrubland in Chalkidiki, Greece, to estimate their nutritive value and to relate it to the nutritional requirements of small ruminants. All the herbaceous and woody species that were present in the study area were identified and collected at the beginning of each season. The samples were categorized into grasses, forbs, and shrubs. Dry matter (DM), ash, ether extract (EE), neutral detergent fiber assayed with heat stable amylase (aNDF), crude protein (CP), in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), calcium (Ca), and phosphorus (P) contents were determined. Forty-three plant taxa were identified (30 forbs, 7 grasses, and 6 shrubs). Forbs had higher mean values of ash (94.7 g/kg DM), CP (120.9 g/kg DM), Ca (16.9 g/kg DM), P (1.2 g/kg DM), and IVDMD (590.5 g/kg DM) compared to grasses (72.5 g/kg DM, 86.5 g/kg DM, 3.9 g/kg DM, 0.9 kg-1 DM, and 517.8 g/kg DM), and shrubs (44.5 g/kg DM, 79.9 g/kg DM, 11.0 g/kg DM, 0.7 g/kg DM, and 494.7 g/kg DM), respectively. Cool-season grasses can offer sufficient nutrients to grazing animals during autumn and winter, while shrubs support them during spring and winter. • 43 plant taxa were identified in a grazed by goats kermes oak shrubland in Greece. • Shrubs support the nutrition of grazing goats during spring and winter. • Cool-season grasses offer enough nutrients to grazing goats in autumn and winter. • Forbs have higher in vitro dry matter digestibility than grasses and shrubs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]