Are mouflon O vis gmelini musimon really grazers? A review of variation in diet composition

Mouflon, traditionally classified as grazers, exhibit significant dietary flexibility, incorporating forbs and shrubs into their diet when grass availability is limited. A review of 33 field studies across diverse habitats revealed that while grass constitutes an average of 35% of their diet (ranging from 0 to 91%), forbs and shrubs can dominate in certain seasons or regions, such as the Kerguelen Archipelago and Teide National Park, where forbs reached up to 83%. This challenges the strict grazer classification, suggesting mouflon are better described as variable grazers. The study combined dietary data from rumen content and feces with environmental characteristics using co-inertia analysis, highlighting the species' adaptability to forage availability variations. Further research is needed to understand the digestive implications of browse inclusion on population dynamics.

Marchand, P., Redjadj, C., Garel, M., Cugnasse, J.-M., Maillard, D., & Loison, A. (2013). Are mouflon Ovis gmelini musimon really grazers? A review of variation in diet composition. Mammal Review, 43(4), 275–291. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/mam.12000