(2019-10-21) S.A. Kadi; F. Gani; A. Mouhous; H. Guermah; R. Fiouane; F. Djellal
The objective of this study is to compare the pasture use and to evaluate the diversity of plant
species grazed by goats in two different ecosystems: mountainous vs. Saharan range. For this, a
questionnaire survey was conducted among 100 farmers in Tizi-Ouzou (mountainous region) and another
100 in Bechar (Saharan region) during the same period (15 March-17 May). In Tizi-Ouzou, the goat’s diet is
almost (98%) based on grazing + supplement to the trough while in Bechar this practice is noted in 85% of
the farms. In Tizi-Ouzou, this grazing takes place largely on the forest rangelands, maquis, natural
meadows and fallows while in Bechar the goats graze especially in the ergs, regs and beds of Wadis. The
main grazed plant species in the Tizi-Ouzou region are: Rosa sempervirens, Phillyrea angustifolia, Myrtus
communis, Asphodelus microcarpus, Sinapis arvensis, Hedysarum flexuosum, Pistacia lentiscus,
Calycotum spinosa or Cytisus spinosus, Rubus fruticosus, Inula viscosa or Dittrichia viscosa, Erica arborea
and Lavandula stoechas. In Bechar, on the other hand, goats graze mainly: Cotula cinerea, Panicum
turgidum, Stipagrostis pungens, Diplotaxis harra, Euphorbia guyoniana, Atriplex halimus, Tamarix gallica,
Suaeda mollis, Artemisia herba alba, Zizyphus lotus, Helianthemum lippii, Retama retam, Moltkiopsis ciliata,
Erodium triangulare. Pasture is almost the goat's diet in both regions. It should be noted the rich biodiversity
of grazing species in the Saharan range which is at the same level or even better than the mountainous
region in this study.