Early Morus alba introduction in Italy was done for silkworm feeding and for tutoring vines. Cattle use the upper part of the branches and sheep graze the sward and the lower leaves of the trees. With this system, both animal species require supplementation in the critical seasons, with hay or silage produced on farm or purchased. Further more, livestock numbers are being reduced in Italy due to the European Union policies, and farms prefer to specialise in sheep. Some of them even prefer to switch completely to wildlife for hunting or tourism.
Sheep require a pastoral system with green forage easily available in summer.
The aim of this research was to compare traditional and alternative management systems of Morus alba and their effects on animal diets in Central Italy. Materials and Methods Twelve hectares of Morus alba cv. Several experiments were conducted on that association and data were recorded for twelve years. The present article refers to data collected in the last trial, carried out between 1996 and 1999, thus, in a mature plantation. Reseeding was done every 4-5 years.