Factors influencing the utilization of woody species by cattle and sheep in grazing systems

Abstract

Grasslands with associated shrubs and forests represent an important sector of agricultural production and provide indispensable ecosystem services and economic activity for farmers worldwide. Although sheep and cattle diets are principally composed of herbaceous species, these animals also consume woody plant resources even when herbaceous species are available. Given the importance of livestock production in these mixed ecosystems, a thorough understanding of the factors that contribute to the utilization of woody species by sheep and cattle is fundamental to the proper management of these systems to preserve their functionality and productivity. This review examines recent research in grassland-shrub-forest systems in order to report on the current understanding of the grassland-tree/shrub-animal interactions and to propose possible areas of further study.