Spatial and temporal characteristics of sheep displacement during grazing

The study of sheep grazing behavior can a provide a basis for grazing management measures. The aim of this study was to explore the spatial and temporal variation in sheep displacement during grazing in Seriphidium desert grassland in Yidatan and Ziniquan sheep farms in Shihezi City. The real-time tracking data of grazing sheep were obtained by using GPS and analyzed by ArcGIS to determine the sheep grazing track and explore the variations in walking speed, time, and slope. The results showed that the walking speed of sheep increased at first, then tended to remain constant, and then decreased and increased in line with the seasonal movement of the grazing season. In the daily variation, the walking speed of sheep showed a trend of initially increasing, then decreasing, and then increasing again. As the slope increased, the velocity changed parabolically. At a slope of 43°, the velocity reached its maximum value. The feeding path and walking speed of grazing sheep were significantly different in different seasons and times, and were closely related to the growth of grassland vegetation and terrain.