In brief, during the spring all the herbage species were lush,
with a lot of twigs and tender leaves, making them highly nutritious.
All these contributed to the increased intake and digestibility
of herbage by sheep, which did not exhibit herbage
selection. In the summer, as precipitation increased, herbage
growth also accelerated, leading to increased biomass and fiber
level. The palatability of the pastures decreased somewhat,
resulting in a slight reduction of herbage intake and digestibility.
With the onset of winter, there was hardly any plant growth,
ending up with coarse stems and stubbles that were rich in fiber
and poor in nutrients. Under these circumstances, sheep attained
a minimum of nutrition during the winter