<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> The monthly variation of Greek water buffaloes’ grazing behaviour was investigated at the Lake Kerkini National Park in Greece. Direct observations were carried out on six female buffaloes for two consecutive days every month for a one-year period, and the time spent (in minutes) on their grazing-related activities (feeding, moving, wallowing, standing, ruminating, drinking, and lying) was recorded. Moreover, social and aggressive interactions and self-grooming were recorded as number of events. Also, the daily distance travelled by buffaloes was recorded with a handheld GPS. Buffaloes travelled on average 6.9 km/day, and they walked their longest distance in June (10.7 km/day) and their shortest in September (2.9 km/day). They spent more time (P&lt;0.05) on feeding (309.2 min/day) compared to moving (121.7 min/day), wallowing (27.9 min/day), standing (20.2 min/day), ruminating (15.4 min/day), drinking (4.7 min/day) and lying (4.2 min/day). Greek water buffaloes seem to be sociable rather than aggressive animals as they devote to these activities on average 18.2 vs 0.5 events/day. We can conclude that the animals adjust their grazing behaviour to climatic conditions and the availability of forage resources.</p></abstract>

The monthly variation of Greek water buffaloes’ grazing behaviour was investigated at the Lake Kerkini National Park in Greece. Direct observations were carried out on six female buffaloes for two consecutive days every month for a one-year period, and the time spent (in minutes) on their grazing-related activities (feeding, moving, wallowing, standing, ruminating, drinking, and lying) was recorded. Moreover, social and aggressive interactions and self-grooming were recorded as number of events. Also, the daily distance travelled by buffaloes was recorded with a handheld GPS. Buffaloes travelled on average 6.9 km/day, and they walked their longest distance in June (10.7 km/day) and their shortest in September (2.9 km/day). They spent more time (P<0.05) on feeding (309.2 min/day) compared to moving (121.7 min/day), wallowing (27.9 min/day), standing (20.2 min/day), ruminating (15.4 min/day), drinking (4.7 min/day) and lying (4.2 min/day). Greek water buffaloes seem to be sociable rather than aggressive animals as they devote to these activities on average 18.2 vs 0.5 events/day. We can conclude that the animals adjust their grazing behaviour to climatic conditions and the availability of forage resources.

Water Buffaloes grazing behaviour at the Lake Kerkini National Park, Northern Greece

Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece

Department of Range Science (236), Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece

University Forest Administration, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece

Hacquetia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

The monthly variation of Greek water buffaloes’ grazing behaviour was investigated at the Lake Kerkini National Park in Greece. Direct observations were...

Water Buffaloes grazing behaviour at the Lake Kerkini National Park, Northern Greece

Published Online: Aug 12, 2016

Page range: 133 - 142

Received: Dec 16, 2016

Accepted: Apr 15, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/hacq-2016-0015

Keywords
Bubalus bubalis, grazing activities, grasslands, social behaviour

© by Maria D. Yiakoulaki

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Water Buffaloes grazing behaviour at the Lake Kerkini National Park, Northern Greece

Published Online: Aug 12, 2016

Page range: 133 - 142

Received: Dec 16, 2016

Accepted: Apr 15, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/hacq-2016-0015

KeywordsBubalus bubalis, grazing activities, grasslands, social behaviour

© by Maria D. Yiakoulaki

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
Bubalus bubalis, grazing activities, grasslands, social behaviour