Digital Commons Network^™

Nutritive Value And Cattle Preferences In An Old Boer Lovegrass Stand Treated With Biosolids In Cananea, Sonora, México, Salomón M. Moreno, Martha R. Martin, Fernando Ibarra, Roque Martínez, Agustín Cabral Martell, Francisco B. Denogean, Rafael Retes

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Boer lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula var. conferta) is an introduced species planted to increase productivity on deteriorated rangelands in northern Mexico. Forage production with Boer lovegrass achieves an increase of two to three fold when compared to native grasses, however, as stands became old, pasture productivity and forage quality declines due to a reduction in available nutrients causing a reduction in grazing capacity and beef production. Previous studies have shown that biosolids enhance seedling establishment, plant growth and increases forage production in the species, but no data is available to measure changes in forage quality and animal performance. This …

Volatile Plant Secondary Metabolites In Eremophila Glabra And Their Influence On Animal Foraging Preference, Stewart M. Jones, Jason Emms, Charles Price

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

One response to global climate change effects on Australia is to investigate the use in sustainable farming systems of native plants, which have evolved to cope in their harsh environment (Monjardino 2009). The Enrich^TM project has screened many Australian native plants for their potential use as methane reducers in ruminants, as anthelmintics, and as nutrition sources systems (Revell 2010). Eremophila glabra is one plant that shows promise in this regard, but first the foraging animal must want to eat it. This decision is assisted by the animal's assessment of the emitted volatile plant secondary metabolites (PSM) (Provenza 2007).

In …

Grazing Behaviour Of Dorper Sheep And Farmed Goats And Their Implications For Natural Resource Management In Western Nsw, Yohannes Alemseged, Ronald B. Hacker, Ian D. Toole, Warren J. Smith, Cathy M. Waters, Gavin J. Melville

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The introduction of exotic herbivores into the semi-arid and arid zones of Australia resulted in dramatic change in the native vegetation (e.g. Noble and Tongway 1986; Friedel et al. 1990). Overgrazing and trampling reduced ground cover and changed species composition from dominance by perennial grasses and shrubs to dominance by annual species over extensive areas (e.g. Gunn 1986), or assisted the encroachment of woody species (Wilcox and Cunningham 1994).

It is particularly in this context that the recent introduction of new sheep breeds, reputedly hardier than traditional Merinos, and the increasing trend to farming or …

Change Of Behavior Of Bos Grunniens In The Alpine Rangeland In The Eastern Tibetan Plateau, Nobumi Hasegawa, Rende Song, Guomei Li, Xumin Cao, Masahiro Tasumi, Sachiko Idota, Akira Fukuda

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Over 6 million yaks (Bos grunniens) are grazed in the alpine rangelands of the eastern Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai Province, China. Degradation of rangelands has been caused by increased numbers of domestic animals following the rise of the human population. In our previous study in northern and southern sites of Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai Province from 2003 to 2006, behavior of yaks and chemical composition of the faeces (Hasegawa et al. 2006; Hasegawa et al. 2008) and vegetation (Li et al. 2006; Song et al. 2006) were investigated and compared between the two sites, …

Microhistological Analysis Of Cows' Diet During A Severe Drought In The Semi Arid Region Of North Patagonia (Argentina), E. Schmale, L. I. Lindström, M. G. Klich

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The continuous use of the livestock fields of the Middle Valley of Río Negro, North Patagonia, Argentina, combined with adverse weather conditions that occur periodically, have contributed to the degradation of rangelands. The historical annual average rainfall regime in the Valle Medio of Río Negro is 303 mm but between 2002 and 2011, the average deficit was 33%. According to the Rural Society of Choele Choel, due to the decreased forage on offer, the existence of cattle in 2011 dropped to 85,000 animals, representing 50% of the normal amount for the area. During these critical times of drought, when grasslands …

Effect Of Grazing Frequency By Dairy Cows On Herb Based Pastures, Soledad Navarrete, Peter D. Kemp, Penny Back, Sarah J. Pain, Julia M. Lee

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Herbage production and quality of perennial ryegrass pastures is often limited over the summer months (Powell et al. 2007). Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) and narrow-leaf plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) are perennial herbs that accumulate high herbage masses during late spring and summer (Powell et al 2007; Li and Kemp 2005). These perennial herbs are being used by farmers to supplement dairy cows over summer. However, there have been many cases of poor plant persistence with current management practices. The aim of this research was to determine the effect of two grazing frequencies (GF; 2 weeks and 4 …

Livestock Selective Behaviour In Natural Grasslands Challenges The Concept Of Plant Preference In The Elaboration Of A Successful Diet, Olivier J. F. Bonnet, Ian M. Cezimbra, Marcelo Ritzel Tischler, Julio C. R. Azambuja, Michel Meuret, Paulo C. De F. Carvalho

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Conciliating livestock production and conservation of grassland biodiversity is now an imperative. We propose that a way to reach that goal is to take advantage of the natural tendency of herbivores to exploit environmental heterogeneity. However, it would go against the well-rooted concept that mammalian herbivores have invariable preference for some plants. Preference was defined as being “what the animal selects when given the minimum of physical constraints” (Parsons et al. 1994). But after decades of studies, the concept of preference remains particularly inefficient in predicting observed patterns of selection by herbivores (e.g. Newman et al. 1992; Parsons …

Handling Time And Bite Mass Mechanisms In Large Herbivores: Contrasts Between Sward Structure And Grazing Methods, Jean C. Mezzalira, Lidiane Fonseca, Carlos C. Mezzalira, Lenilson Da Fonseca Rosa, Luan C. Pagani, Marco A. Ebbing, Teresa C. M. Genro, Paulo C. De F. Carvalho, Carolina Bremm, Ricardo Souza Arruda Filho, Luis H. S. Correia, Carlos A. Cangiano

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grazing is a time-dependent process where jaw movements of prehension, handling and chewing compete with them (Laca et al. 1994; Ungar et al. 2006). The grazing efficiency is dependent of bite mass and time per bite. Bite mass has been related to sward structure by forage height, structural components (Cangiano et al. 2002). In rotational stocking this effect becomes more pronounced, especially under high grazing down levels. Consequently, there is a progressive reduction in short-term intake rate (Fonseca et al. in press). New management targets should be proposed based on the predominant influence of sward structure …

Management Targets To Maximize Short-Term Herbage Intake Rate, Lidiane Fonseca, Jean C. Mezzalira, Paulo C. Vieira, Lenilson Da Fonseca Rosa, Luan C. Pagani, Paulo C. De F. Carvalho

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Besides grazing, the animals carry a host of other essential activities to their survival, such as rumination, vigilance and idling, and these activities compete with each other in the animal’s daily time (Fonseca et al. 2012). Therefore, any management action that provides an increase in forage intake rate, with a consequent reduction in the time necessary to achieve the daily nutrient requirements, is essential for an animal product-ion success. In this study, four experiments were performed based upon the hypothesis that different sward structures, formed by distinct sward surface heights (SSH) and levels of grazing down influence the short-term …

Dry Matter Intake, Digestibility And Diet Selection By Sheep Grazing On Reseeded And Naturally Regenerating Range Sites At Sheikan Locality, North Kordofan State, Sudan, Sahar Ezzat, Babo Fadlalla

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The aim of this study was to evaluate range quality for sheep from reseeded and naturally regenerating (un-reseeded) range sites at Sheikan Locality, North Kordofan State, Sudan. The study area suffers from over-grazing, excessive tree cutting and frequent cyclic droughts, which have led to a domination of short–lived un-preferred annual plants.

Impacts Of Livestock Preference And Frequency Of Grazing On Production And Nutritive Value Of Pastures In Chile, Oscar A. Balocchi, Ignacio F. López, Juan P. Keim

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Cattle are selective grazers since they only consume some plants or some parts of a plant from the pasture and avoid others. Grazing preference is affected by characteristics of the pasture such as the botanical composition, pasture surface height, herbage mass, phenological stage, digestibility, fibre content, protein and ash content. Three studies were conducted in southern Chile to determine how: 1) grazing preferences of dairy cattle was influenced by pasture mixtures and fertilisation; 2) grazing selectivity was related to tiller features; and 3) grazing leaf-stage influenced pasture quantity and quality. For the first study, fertilised pastures had higher herbage mass, …

Diet Selection By Goats On Rangeland Of North Kordofan State, Sudan, Mohammed F. M. Fatur, Babo Fadlalla, Abdelaziz K. Gaiballa, Abdelrahman E. Babiker

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This study was conducted at El Demokeya forest, North Kordofan State, Sudan. The objective was to evaluate goat diet botanical composition as an indicator for pasture quality. Bite counts were obtained from seven goats in protected and open rangeland sites. Percent plant cover in the two range sites were 81.9% and 87.5% respectively. Density was 260.9 and 181.9 plants / m² respectively (P < 0.05). At flowering, goat diet contained 10.8% ± 1.12 and 11.8% ± 5.94 CP in protected and open sites respectively. At seed set CP% was 8.1 ± 1.32 and 8.2 ± 3.01 respectively (P …

How Do Plants Respond To Grazing At A Molecular Level?, Gongshe Liu, Xin Huang, Shuangyan Chen

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grazing is a multiple-component process that includes wounding, defoliation, and saliva depositing. The molecular mechanism for how plants respond to grazing in grassland is a new topic. To address this question, we performed gene expression activities within 2 to 24 hours of grazing and proteomics analysis of rice seedling, examining hundreds of genes and proteins. Some key genes in GeneChips analysis specifically researched were β-amylase, LcSUT1, LcDREB3, and FEH gene. BSA (bovine serum albumin), an important and abundant component in saliva was used to study the saliva-plant interaction in grazing. Combined with corresponding gene and grazing research by …

Faecal Near Infrared Spectroscopy To Measure The Diet Selected And Productivity Of Grazing Ruminants, Rob Dixon, Maryline Boval, Vincent Blanfort, Virginie Decruyenaere, David Coates

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In ruminants near infrared spectroscopy of faeces (F.NIRS) can measure the concentrations of faecal constituents such as N and fibre. It can also directly estimate many diet attributes, including total N, fibre, digestibility and the major plant groups (e.g. monocots versus dicots, and some plant species). In some situations F.NIRS can be used to estimate voluntary intake and liveweight change, but it is difficult to encompass animal effects (e.g. lactation, maturity), pasture availability or mineral deficiencies. Application of F.NIRS, especially in conjunction with other measurements (e.g. metabolizable energy intake calculated from liveweight change, ^{13 …}

Can Grazing Behaviour Support Innovations In Grassland Management?, Paulo C. De F. Carvalho

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grazing is a fundamental process affecting grassland ecosystem dynamics and functioning. Its behavioural components comprise how animals search for feed, and gather and process plant tissues in different spatio-temporal scales of the grazing process. Nowadays, there is an increasing emphasis on grazing management and the role of the grazing animal on ecosystem services, concomitantly with a decreasing emphasis on grazing management generating animal production outputs. Grazing behaviour incorporates both approaches, which are not necessarily dichotomist. It would help in order to support innovation in grazing systems. However, it is unclear how the significant knowledge, developed in this research area since …

Linking Farmer Knowledge And Biophysical Data To Evaluate Actions For Land Degradation Mitigation In Savanna Rangelands Of The Molopo, South Africa, Christiaan J. Harmse, Niels Dreber, Klaus Kellner, Taryn M. Kong

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The over-utilization of semi-arid savanna rangelands in the North-West Province of South Africa has resulted in profound habitat transformations. A common regional indicator of rangeland deterioration is the imbalance in the grass:woody ratio characterized by a loss of grass cover with increased shrub or tree density. This can result in profound reductions of rangeland productivity forcing farmers to apply active or passive actions to improve rangeland condition to mitigate economic losses. This study forms part of the multinational EU-project PRACTICE (Prevention and Restoration Actions to Combat Desertification: An Integrated Assessment) and aims to evaluate locally applied restoration and management actions …

Role Of Fires, Herbicides And Fertilizer In Manipulating Shrub/Grass Balance In Mediterranean Grasslands, Zalmen Henkin

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The decline of traditional pastoral systems has highlighted the problem of managing shrub encroachment in shrublands of the Mediterranean region, especially in marginal habitats. Ephemeral grasslands appear after fire in Mediterranean shrub communities on phosphorus-deficient soils, but natural successional processes rapidly led to their dominance. In a study, aimed at reducing the rate of successional change and extending the period of grassland dominance, phosphorus was applied after fire to improve herbaceous growth and two years later the regenerating Sarcopoterium spinosum shrubs were controlled with selective herbicide. Subsequently, the vegetation in the treated areas was monitored for more than 20 consecutive …

The Development Of A Grazing Rating Index To Identify The Biomass Removed And The Plant Species And Parts Eaten By Grazing Sheep, Felicity Cox, Warwick B. Badgery, David R. Kemp, Gaye L. Krebs

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Determining the diet selection of grazing animals is inherently difficult and a trade-off exists between obtaining accurate information and interfering with the normal grazing behaviour of an animal. The botanical composition of a grazing animal’s diet may be estimated using one or a number of techniques in combination. A six-point grazing rating index was developed to identify the plant species consumed by sheep grazing within a heterogeneous native grassland and the extent to which each species within a quadrat was grazed. The method was developed to remove error from visual estimates that prevents detection of significant reductions in biomass for …

Behaviour Of Grazing Goats On Tanzania Grassland Under Different Residue Leaf Area Index In Southeastern Brazil, Ana C. Ruggieri, Nailson L. S. Lemos, Victor C. Silva, Naomi C. Meister, Fernando O. Alari

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Defoliation intensity is important for grassland management. While the residue is the result of defoliation, maintaining a remaining leaf area is essential, as leaf area index (LAI) determines forage yield, by increasing percentage of light interception and incident light capture. The understanding of animal behavior is also essential for adopting strategic measures to manage grasslands since the behavioral factor is the link between plant and animal performance. The objective of this study was to evaluate changes of the behavioral characteristics of goats grazing on Tanzania grassland (Panicum maximum cv. Tanzania) under rotational stocking with different residue leaf area index …

Sward Management Targets In Natural Grasslands Of Southern Brazil, Carolina Bremm, Jean C. Mezzalira, Lidiane Fonseca, Carlos A. O. Oliveira, Emilio A. Laca, Carolina S. Silva, Luis H. S. Correia, Paulo C. De F. Carvalho

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The relationship between environment, plant and animal is one of the most important focuses in the ecological and productive context of natural grasslands. The limited knowledge of the complexity of this environment can lead to inappropriate management strategies, determining degradation, biodiversity and productivity losses. This study is based on the concept that the best way to conserve natural grasslands is through adequate management targets.

This study aimed to identify sward management targets that maximize productivity in natural grasslands of Southern Brazil.

The Dilemma Of Using Sward Height As A Management Tool For Intensively Grazed Sheep Pasture In Spring, David R. Stevens, Andrew J. Wall, Bryan R. Thompson, Karren T. O’Neill, Ian C. Scott

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Sward height is often used as a tool for both animal and pasture management, especially when continuously grazing pasture. For example, sward height has been used to define the conditions for optimal feed intake of multiple-bearing ewes, both before and after lambing (Everett-Hincks et al.2005; Morris and Kenyon 2004). Sward height is easily applied by the grazier and so becomes an effective tool. However, changes in the leaf distribution and relative species makeup of the sward both seasonally (Thomson et al. 2001) and in response to grazing management (Webby and Pengelly 1986) mean that the amount of pasture per unit …

Differences In Species Composition Of The Soil Seed Banks Among Degraded Patches In An Agro-Pastoral Transition Zone In Inner Mongolian Steppe, Gaowen Yang, Nan Liu, Hanshu Zhou, Yingjun Zhang

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Degraded grasslands were distributed in patches characterized by fringed sagebrush (Artemisia frigida), narrowleaf stellera (Stellera chamaejasme), shining speargrass (Achnatherum splendens), or white swordflag (Iris lactea) at an agro-pastoral transition zone of the south Inner Mongolian steppe, which have been retrogressive from a Leymus chinensis steppe. A control patch (undegraded) was located close to the four degraded patches. We investigated the size, composition, species richness of soil seed banks, and its relation to the aboveground vegetation. The density of soil seed banks was highest in the white swordflag patch, intermediate in the shining …

A Technique To Evaluate Rangeland Health, N. Barakanova, B. Kirychuk

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

According to pasture law in Kyrgistan, pasture management is executed by local communities. The aim of Community Pasture Management Plans is to decrease risks of reducing pasture quality and to raise pasture resource use sustainability. One of the important parts of a pasture management plan is pasture health assessment. The objective of our work was to develop a rapid and simple technique to assess pasture health for community members and other land managers who live or work on pastures. This tool is the result of a collaborative effort of scientists from different countries. This technique utilizes 6 indicators, which are …

Using Participatory Research, Remote Sensing And Field Surveys To Build A State And Transition Model For The Native Pastures Of Northern Uruguay, Marcelo Pereira Machín

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Native grasslands cover 55% of the agricultural lands of Uruguay. Balancing conservation, agricultural production and human well-being is a major management challenge. Adaptive management approaches have been developed for leased land, underpinned by a newly developed state and transition model (STM). The model was tested in northern Uruguay, in the Department of Paysandú, covering an area of 8300 ha. Floristic surveys were used to define five states, based on the relative cover of key plant species and functional types. Each state was characterized in terms of livestock density, sheep/cattle ratio and years since last ploughing. Aboveground Net Primary Production (ANPP) …

Geology Of Nacogdoches, Texas: Texas Academy Of Science March 1, 2020, R. Larell Nielson, Mike Read, Mindy Faulkner, Hannah C. Chambers, Jessica O'Neal

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Toward A Method Of Collaborative, Evidence-Based Response To Desertification, Brandon T. Bestelmeyer, Joel R. Brown, Jason W. Karl, Jeffrey E. Herrick, Kris M. Havstad

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Over generalized narratives about how desertified ecosystems will respond to restoration actions may result in wasted resources, missed opportunities, or accelerated degradation. Evidence-based collaborative adaptive management (CAM) could solve this problem by providing site-specific information that is trusted by users and enables learning opportunities. Although calls for CAM are increasing, many recommendations remain abstract and difficult to operationalize in specific projects. We review some general challenges for managing desertification in rangelands and draw upon recommendations in the recent literature to develop a 6-step method of CAM to address desertification. The method draws upon our ongoing experiences and makes novel connections …

Morphological Acclimatation And Canopy Structure Characteristics Of Arachis Pintoi Under Reduced Light And At Full Sun, Raquel S. Barro, João C. Saibro, Alexandre C. Varella, Igor J. Carassai, Carlos Nabinger, Gilles Lemaire

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The canopy structure is a key variable to determine the adaptive potential of forages and it influences the radiation use efficiency (RUE) under different light conditions. The light extinction coefficient calculated from the Beer-Lambert formula (k) shows the canopy architecture and light interception patterns of plants and thus their potential ability to convert light energy (photosynthetically active radiation-PAR) into plant biomass (Hirose 2005). Under shade, forages may experience changes in plant morphology and canopy structure. Many authors reported those changes and relate them to modifications in light quantity and quality (Varella et al. 2010). The magnitude of these morphological …

Canopy Height And Its Relationship With Leaf Area Index And Light Interception Of Tropical Grasses, Janerson José Coêlho, José C. B. Dubeux Jr., Erick Rodrigo Da Silva Santos, João Manoel Carneiro Leão Neto, Márcio V. Da Cunha, Mércia V. F. Dos Santos, Alexandre C. L. De Mello, Mário De A. Lira

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Photosynthetic tissues, mainly green leaves, are the major component of forage growth and development. The amount of these tissues in a forage plant is influenced directly by the cutting management, which is based on cutting frequency and stubble height. It is usual to recommend as a management practice to cut (or graze) the forage whenever it reaches a given stubble height. Brougham (1956) stated that, when the forage canopy is intercepting 95% of the photosynthetic active radiation, this is the critical leaf area index (LAI), which means the forage is near its maximum growth rate without shading itself. There is …

Leaf Epidermal Descriptors Of Forage From Caatinga, Ne Brazil, Mércia V. F. Dos Santos, Osniel F. De Oliveira, Márcio V. Da Cunha, José C. B. Dubeux Jr., Alexandre C. L. De Mello, Joelma Da S. Souza, Mário De A. Lira

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In the Brazilian semi-arid region, the predominant vegetation is the Caatinga, which has a diversity of plant species, some endemic and presenting forage potential. The characterization of the plant anatomy is important for animal diet studies, using a microhistological technique (Scott and Dahl 1980) for estimating the diet botanical composition from ruminant faeces. This paper determined leaf epidermal descriptors for Caatinga species using microscopic slides.

Persistence Of Red Clover (Trifolium Pratense L.): Relationships Between Plant Population And Forage Yield, Fernando Ortega, Andrés Quiroz, Leonardo Parra, Juan Levío, Muriel Melo

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is an important forage species in temperate regions of the world; in Chile, it is a valuable resource for animal production and for the seed industry. However, the main limitation of this species worldwide is the lack of persistence related to the high mortality of plants due to a complex of multiple biotic and abiotic factors (Ortega 1996; Taylor and Quesenberry 1996). Therefore, in 1989, a red clover breeding program was started at INIA Carillanca Research Center, Chile, with the main objectives of improving the survival of plants, forage yield and persistence. Since then, …