University of Tehran Journal of Range and Watershed Managment 5044-2008 66 1 2013 03 21 Relation between Dominant Watershed Processes and River Morphological Changes )Case Study: Firoze-shahjoob River( Relation between Dominant Watershed Processes and River Morphological Changes )Case Study: Firoze-shahjoob River( 59 72 35329 10.22059/jrwm.2013.35329 FA Sayed Hamzeh Hosseini M.Sc. Student in Rangeland Management Department, Tarbiat Modares University Reza Erfanzadeh Assistant Professor, Rangeland Management Department, Tarbiat Modares University Paria Kamali M.Sc. Student in Rangeland Management Department, Tarbiat Modares University Journal Article 2011 03 09 The study on the livestock dietary and preference value of different species are essential for<br />rangeland management. Therefore, this study was carried out to evaluate the preference indices<br />of 14 plant species in Kahnuj, during two different phenological stages (vegetative growth and<br />after-seed-dispersal). The close observation method was used to measure the preference index<br />for three age classes of Rainian goat (one, three and five years). The results showed that main<br />and interaction effects of goat age, plant phenological stage and the kind of plant species on<br />preference values were significant. Older goat consumed a higher time to graze in the study<br />area. Stipa capensis had the highest preference index and Rhazya stricta had the lowest. The<br />preference index of most plant species was significantly variable between two phenological<br />stages. In addition, in each phenological stage, the preference value of plant species was<br />significantly different. In the vegetative growth stage that annual plant species were abundant,<br />goats mostly focused on these plant species for grazing. However, in the after-seed-dispersal<br />stage in which the annual cover decreased, goats (particularly older ones) focused on shrubs for<br />browsing. As a result, Rainian goat is a grazer in the normal situation and he can be a browser<br />in the hard condition. It was suggested that the cover of Taverniera cuneifolia to be increased in<br />the study area in order to compensate the deficiency of forage in long term. Artificial foraging<br />is useful to reserve the performance of goats (particularly younger ones) in short term. The study on the livestock dietary and preference value of different species are essential for<br />rangeland management. Therefore, this study was carried out to evaluate the preference indices<br />of 14 plant species in Kahnuj, during two different phenological stages (vegetative growth and<br />after-seed-dispersal). The close observation method was used to measure the preference index<br />for three age classes of Rainian goat (one, three and five years). The results showed that main<br />and interaction effects of goat age, plant phenological stage and the kind of plant species on<br />preference values were significant. Older goat consumed a higher time to graze in the study<br />area. Stipa capensis had the highest preference index and Rhazya stricta had the lowest. The<br />preference index of most plant species was significantly variable between two phenological<br />stages. In addition, in each phenological stage, the preference value of plant species was<br />significantly different. In the vegetative growth stage that annual plant species were abundant,<br />goats mostly focused on these plant species for grazing. However, in the after-seed-dispersal<br />stage in which the annual cover decreased, goats (particularly older ones) focused on shrubs for<br />browsing. As a result, Rainian goat is a grazer in the normal situation and he can be a browser<br />in the hard condition. It was suggested that the cover of Taverniera cuneifolia to be increased in<br />the study area in order to compensate the deficiency of forage in long term. Artificial foraging<br />is useful to reserve the performance of goats (particularly younger ones) in short term. https://jrwm.ut.ac.ir/article_35329_da4acfefb2221c216a17f481ac878cbd.pdf