Journal of Rangeland

This study was conducted to evaluate the preference value of plant species for goats of Mamasani breed in rangelands of Bavanat city in the northern of Fars province. In this regard, by timing method (chronometer) preference value of plant species was measured for three age classes of livestock (one, three and five years old). In order to evaluate the effects of livestock age, plant species and their interactions on preference value of plant species Tow  Way ANOVA test was applied, so the animal age and plant species were the independent factors and preference value was the dependent factor of the model’s input. Also One Way ANOVA test was used to examine the effect of interactions between age and plant species on preference value. The results showed that the age of the animal, plant species and their interactions have significant effects on preference values of plant species. For young animals species of Prangos ferulaceae and Poa pratensis had the highest pereference value and first class of palatability and for older animal species of Gundelia tournefortii, Acer cinerascens, Prangos ferulaceae and Poa pratensis had higher classes of palatability (I and II). Also the species of Prangos ferulaceae, Acer cinerascens, Poa pratensis and Artemisia aucheri had suitable preference values for all three age classes of the animals. In general, these results indicates poor statues in vegetation composition of the experimental field in autumn, and species such as Acer cinerascens and Artemisia aucheri and litter of species such as Prangos ferulaceae would have a key role in providing food for animals of this region.