Relation entre disponibilités en herbe, ingestion et activités alimentaires de béliers au pâturage

The objective of this works was to evaluate a proper supplementation based on the seasonal availabililty of food to improve the sustainability of herbivore livestock systems. First feeding behaviour and food intake in grazing of five local rams in a native plain grassland in the north-east of Algeria were studied for three consecutive seasons: autumn, winter and spring. Meanwhile, the botanical composition and nutritional value of both the grazed meadow and the simulated animal bites (method of hand plucking) were evaluated. The identification of plant species ingested, however was done in springtime, the only season suitable for this operation. Animals preferred asphodel (Asphodelus microcarpus) (70 %), followed by legumes (20 %) and grasses (10 %). During the three seasons, the rams have selected a ration of better quality than the available forage (15.2 % CP, 0.79 UFV/kg DM and 14.5 % CP, 0.71 UFV/kg DM for spring). The amount ingested daily was maximum in spring (1.24 kg) and minimum in winter (689 g) probably related to the food available during the two seasons (627 vs. 97 kg DM/ha). It shows that the winter and autumn are the peak times for these animals in extensive systems for which a quantity supplementation is necessary. From a qualitative point of view, a protein deficiency is observed during the three seasons especially for fattening animals.C'est dans le but de juger d'une complémentation adéquate en fonction du disponible alimentaire, lui- même fonction des saisons et dans la perspective d'améliorer la durabilité des systèmes d'élevage utilisateurs d'herbe, que on a entrepris ce travail en étudiant le comportement alimentaire et l'ingestion au pâturage de 5 béliers de race locale pâturant une prairie naturelle de plaine du nord-est algérien, et ce, durant trois saisons consécutives: automne, hiver et printemps. Parallèlement, la com- position botanique et la valeur nutritive aussi bien de la prairie pâturée que des rations simulées par coup de dent des animaux (méthode de hand plucking) ont été évaluées. L'identification des espèces végétales constituant les rations ingé- rées, n'a cependant eu lieu qu'en période printa- nière, propice à cette opération. Les animaux ont ainsi privilégié la consommation de l'asphodèle (Asphodelus microcarpus) (70 %) en première position, puis des légumineuses (20 %) et enfin des graminées (10 %). Outre, durant les trois saisons, les béliers ont sélectionné une ration de meilleure qualité que le fourrage disponible (15,2 % matières azotées totales, MAT; 0,79 unité fourragère viande, UFV/kg MS et 14,5 % MAT; 0,71 UFV/kg MS pour le printemps). La quantité ingérée a été maximale au printemps (1,24 kg) et minimale en hiver (689 g) sans doute en relation avec le disponible alimentaire durant les deux saisons (627 vs. 97 kg MS/ha). Il en ressort que l'hiver et l'automne constituent la période creuse pour ces animaux en système extensif pour qui une complémentation en quantité s'avère nécessaire. D'un point de vue qualitatif, un déficit protéique s'observe durant les trois saisons surtout pour des animaux à l'engraissement

Essai d’une complémentation alimentaire au flushing et au steaming de brebis ouled djellal par la caroube

This study aims to substitute a concentrate containing whole carob food to the concentrate containing barley. It concerned fifty ewes, randomly divided into two groups : a control group that received supplementation based on a ration R1 containing wheat bran (30 %) and barley grains (70 %) in the flushing and steaming, while experimental group received at the same time a ration R2 containing wheat bran (30 %) and whole carob (70 %). The impact of this complementation was evaluated by body condition score at mating, before lambing, reproductive performance and lamb growth. The body condition scores in breeding were significantly identical between the two groups (3.33 vs. 3.48) and at lambing (2.87 vs. 2.94). Similarly, growth rates of lambs were not significantly different (p>0.05). Thus, the energy supplements (barley vs. carob) can be substituted.La présente étude a pour but la substitution d’un concentré à base de caroube entière à un concentré à base d’orge. Elle a concerné cinquante brebis, réparties aléatoirement en deux lots: un lot témoin ayant reçu une complémentation à base d’une ration R1 constituée de 30 % son de blé et de 70 % d’orge en grains au flushing puis au steaming, et un lot expérimental qui a reçu un concentré R2 à base de 30 % de son de blé et de 70 % de caroube entière. L’impact de cette complémentation a été évalué par les notes d’état corporel (NEC) à la lutte et à la mise bas, les performances de reproduction ainsi que la croissance des agneaux. Les NEC ont été significativement identiques entre les deux lots à la lutte (3,33 vs. 3,48) et à la mise bas (2,87 vs. 2,94). De même, les vitesses de croissance ont été significativement similaires (p>0,05). Ainsi, les compléments énergétiques (orge vs. caroube) peuvent se substituer

Influence of the Type of Energy Supplementation (date stones <em>vs</em> Barley) on Fattening Performances and Carcass Characteristics of Fattening Berber Lambs

When local resources are available, their promotion in the feed of growing animals may reduce production costs and secure the fattening system. However, maintaining zootechnical performances remains a precondition. An experiment was carried out on four groups of ten lambs. Each animal received isoproteinic rations containing date stones as substitutes for barley grains in variable proportions at the rate of 0, 15, 30 and 45% of the dry matter. The rations were distributed ad libitum by adjusting the quantities offered. The diet had a significant effect on weight performances (P 0.05). Date stones can entirely substitute barley grains in rations of fattening sheep without affecting its performances

Flammability of some companion species in cork oak (Quercus suber L.) forests

Key message The high flammability of some companion species in Quercus suber forests, estimated in laboratory tests, could potentially generate an increase in fire vulner_x0002_ability and in fire risk. & Context Recurrent wildfire is one of the main causes of forest degradation, especially in the Mediterranean region. Increased fire frequency and severity due to global change could reduce the natural resilience of cork oak to wildfire in the future. Hence, it is important to evaluate the flammability of companion species in cork oak forests in the particularly dry bioclimatic conditions of North Africa. & Aims This study aimed to assess and compare flammability parameters at laboratory scale among ten companion frequent species in cork oak forests. & Methods Fuel samples were collected in a cork oak (Quercus suber L) forest in the southern part of the mountains of Tlemcen (Western Algeria). A series of flammability tests were carried out using a Mass Loss Calorimeter device (FTT ®). A cluster analysis to classify flammability of the selected species was conducted using the K-means algorithm. & Results The results revealed differences in the four flamma_x0002_bility parameters (ignitability, sustainability, combustibility and consumability), in both fresh and dried fine fuel samples from Quercus suber, Pinus halepensis, Quercus ilex, Quercus faginea, Erica arborea, Arbutus unedo, Pistacia lentiscus, Calicotome spinosa, Juniperus oxycedrus and Tetraclinis articulata. Application of the K-means clustering algorithm showed that C. spinosa, T. articulata, J. oxycedrus and P. halepensis are highly flammable because of their high com_x0002_bustibility and sustainability. & Conclusion The findings identify species that could poten_x0002_tially increase the vulnerability of cork oak forests to forest fires