FACTORS INFLUENCING THE GRAZING BEHAVIOR OF SHEEP IN A MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE

The diurnal pattern of grazing of sheep was studied in summer in 2 Mediterranean environments in 3 experiments. In the first experiment with Border Leicester × Merino sheep, it was found that in a given day the times of beginning and ending the major morning and afternoon grazing periods and the time spent grazing, were influenced by time of dawn or dusk, temperature, humidity and the time spent grazing the previous night. The temperature was found to influence the timing of events throughout the day but humidity mainly had an effect in the midday and afternoon. Six breeds of sheep were compared in a second experiment (Romney, Dorset Horn, Cheviot, Suffolk, Southdown and Border Leicester). There were significant differences between the breeds in the diurnal pattern of grazing, in grazing times and in responses to environmental conditions. The Cheviots and Suffolks differed from the other breeds because they began earlier in both the morning and afternoon. The Suffolks grazed for longer in all the grazing periods and differed significantly in grazing time from sheep of all other breeds. In a third experiment, sheep reared in a dry tropical environment (Abydos) behaved differently over 3 summers to sheep raised in a Mediterranean environment with dry summers (Baker's Hill). The main differences were in response to temperature and humidities in the morning and to length of day in the afternoon. The differences diminished with time. Generally, afternoon (pm) activity was more influenced by immediate grazing activity (night grazing time and morning (am) grazing time) than was the morning behaviour, but there were exceptions. © 1979.