Spatial-temporal movements of grazing goats

Grazing behaviour can be an important input in animal management practices. However, human presence can alter grazing behavior. The objective of this study was to monitor grazing behaviors in goats via use of GPS collars. Fourteen Spanish wether goats were fitted with GPS collars and released into a 14-ha paddock. Collars that recorded a fix every 5 min were deployed for 2 wk during the early summer (max = 32°C, min = 22°C). Fixes from 1 h after sunrise (07:00 h) until 1 h before sunset (19:30 h), resulting in 2,730 fixes, were analyzed for grazing behaviors, which included distance traveled and turning angles, using a repeated measures analysis. Distance traveled was calculated from two consecutive fixes and turning angle involved three consecutive fixes. Turning angle was then categorized into four quadrants. If turning angle was between -45° and 45°, then direction was forward; between -135° and 135°, backward; between 45° and 135°, right; between -45° and -135°, left. Hour of the day greatly affected (P