The dietary preferences of domestic ruminants (cattle, sheep and goats) on Sahelian and Sudano-Sahelian ranges. I. Bibliographical review on goals and methods to study botanical composition of diets (consumed on pastures)

Abstract

The too frequent lack of Sahelian rangelands management is unanimously denounced. Unfortunately, in addition to difficulties encountered to implement the most urgent measures (exclosure, reduction of stocking rate, forestry, planting, and so on) the technical standards of an optimal management are not well-known. It is thus important to adjust methodologies in order to study “animal-vegetation” relationships and to establish the technical references necessary for a better management. The botanical composition of the diet takes part in knowledge to get in this field. The author sets out the main methods used in temperate or tropical regions to characterize diet of animals grazing low-productivity pastures.