Some woody forage plants are a significant source of nutrients for small ruminants grazing Mediterranean systems during
summer. We quantified DMI (g kg- ’ BW”.75 day- ‘>, DMD (o/o) and utilization of nutrients of oriental hornbeam (Carpinus
orient& Mill.) and manna ash (Fraxinus ornus L.) browse by goats and sheep. Intake and digestibility were numerically
higher for goats fed both browse species, but significant difference (P < 0.05) was found only in oriental hornbeam. Sheep
fed oriental hornbeam consumed similar (P < 0.05) amounts of N to goats and higher (P < 0.05) amounts of manna ash.
Goats digested N more efficiently (55.7 vs. 41.7%; P < 0.05) than sheep and N retention was greater for oriental hornbeam
(4.7 vs. 2.6gday-‘; P < 0.05) but similar with manna ash (2.7gday-’ vs. 3.8gday-‘; P > 0.05). No significant
differences were detected for DE and DE minus urinary energy between goats (1.9Mcalday-’ and 1.6 Mcalday- ‘,
respectively) and sheep ( 1.9 Meal day - ’ and 1.7 Meal day - I, respectively). Foliage of oriental hornbeam and manna ash
have the potential to be an effective source of protein for small ruminants during the dry Mediterranean summer.