Hand-plucked samples of herbage and shrubs (N equal to 78) browsed by Sarda goats during two years, in spring and summer, were analysed to assess their chemical features. Moreover, on the basis of bite-counting method results, the whole botanical diet and chemical compositions were calculated. The chemical composition of herbaceous species, mostly annuals, changed markedly between spring and summer: an increase in dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) was concurrent with a decrease in crude protein (CP). Condensed tannin content (CT), measured by the Folin-Ciocalteau method, was low (less than1.5 per cent) in herbaceous species, and steady from spring to summer. On average, relatively small changes in DM and CP were recorded for ligneous species, whereas CT tended to increase from spring to summer.