Digital Commons Network^™

Endangered Sustainable Innovation: Indigenous Milk Hygiene And Preservation Techniques By Maasai Too Valuable To Lose, J. Y. Laffa, C. R. Mcculloch, D. Schoder

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The indigenous Parakuyo Maasai communities of Tanzania are traditional pastoralists who depend on fresh cow’s milk as a staple food. However, the arid climate and a lack of clean water challenge milk production and conventional milk hygiene practices.

By conducting informational interviews in eight Parakuyo Maasai regions and 13 districts of Tanzania we sought to identify the key indigenous plants preferred and establish their traditional manner of use. A semi-structured questionnaire was designed to: (i) determine the plants used, (ii) the parts used, (iii) methods of preparation and utensil smoking, (iv) therapeutic applications and associated health benefits of these plants, …

Developing A Glossary Of People-Focused Terms Related To Rangelands And Grasslands, Dana Kelly, Katherine I. Johnsen, Chris Magero, Tungalag Ulambayer, Ann Waters-Bayer

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Excellent glossaries on rangelands and grasslands have been developed by the Society for Range Management (SRM), the International Grassland Congress (IGC) and the International Rangeland Congress (IRC). However, these are largely confined to biophysical and technical terminology and contain very few concepts referring to social, institutional and policy aspects of using rangelands and grasslands. After the 10^th IRC in Saskatoon, Canada, in 2016, an informal group started to develop a glossary of such “people-focused” terms. The short and non-academic definitions are meant to improve communication and understanding by users/practitioners in rangeland and grassland management, policymakers, teachers, students, journalists and …

Could Cheese Be The Missing, Hard, Stable Currency To Fortify Self-Sufficiency Of Pastoralist Communities?, D. Schoder, J. Y. Laffa

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Traditional pastoral existence in Africa has always necessitated close, sustainable interaction with a harsh natural environment. Pastoralists, such as the indigenous Parakuyo Maasai of Tanzania traditionally depend on fresh cow’s milk as a staple. They are among the few African ethnic groups that still live as small, socially intact associations close to nature. Unfortunately, fresh milk is difficult to store and inevitably, times of plenty fluctuate with the times of hunger that threaten cultural retreat. Milk storage is particularly challenging in an arid climate without refrigeration and at such times, survival takes precedence over prosperity. We describe an ongoing pilot …

Comparative Analysis Of Cbrm Cases In Kenya, Ethiopia And Tunisia, I. N. Nganga, L. W. Robinson, B. Eba, F. Flintan, E. M. Ontiri, M. Sghaier, N. H. Abdu, S. S. Moiko

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In various countries, development and conservation organizations and national policymakers have been experimenting with ways of applying the community-based natural resource management approach to the unique social and biophysical characteristics of pastoralist rangeland settings, with mixed results. We carried out comparative case study research on community-based rangeland management (CBRM) in a variety of settings in Ethiopia, Kenya and Tunisia with the objective of identifying what kinds of strategies and methods work in which social and ecological contexts. We used an “options by context” approach guided by a research protocol that includes key variables and descriptors for characterizing the implementing organization’s …

Comparative Analysis Of Agri-Food Systems For Extensive Livestock In The High Pyrenees And Creation Of A Multicriterian Tool For Its Evaluation, Laia Motos, Federica Ravera

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The main objective of this study is to compare the different agri-food systems of extensive livestock (ecological and conventional) of big and small ruminants (cattle and sheep respectively) in high Pyrenees. This objective is formulated by looking at the general lack of knowledge of the population regarding the functionality of these systems, the changes of management that have been introduced in the recent years, especially in terms of commercialization, and the different capacity of response of extensive livestock systems to climate change and other socio-economic complementary changes. Attributes and indicators have been selected for the comparative evaluation of livestock systems, …

Analysis Of Rangeland Perceptions Among Potential Land Redistribution Beneficiaries In South Africa: How Well Do Potential Emerging Farmers Know Their Rangelands?, S. Zantsi

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Sound rangeland management is one of the key factors for a successful and viable commercial livestock production in grass fed production systems. However, such knowledge is perceived to be lacking in small-scale livestock farmers, who farm on degraded and overgrazed communal rangelands despite being regarded as prime beneficiaries of the land redistribution programme in the stalling South African land reform. Largely, it is also not known in details how much the potential future commercial farmers know about their rangelands. This study analyses perception of the prime land redistribution beneficiaries—potential emerging farmers, who were surveyed randomly in three South African provinces. …

An Analysis Of Community-Based Values Informing Land Management On The Midwestern Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Of Kansas, Usa, Heidi Mehl, Diana L. Restrepo-Osorio, Melinda Howard, Cynthia Annett

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The focus of this study is to examine the interface between land management practices and values within a tribal community in rural midwestern North America. The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation (PBPN) reside on a tribal reservation with a checkerboard distribution amongst private, non-tribal landowners. Previous studies have indicated that landowners may have different value-systems leading to variations in land-management practices. This can impose discontinuous land management in areas within shared biological boundaries, such as watersheds, especially between tribal and non-tribal entities. Preliminary spatial analysis in and around the PBPN landscape determined that the tribally-managed lands present more vegetative cover per …

A Policy Brief On Adopting The Somali Camel For Enhanced Profitability And Pastoral Resilience In Northern Kenya, Simon G. Kuria, A. O. Adongo, S. Murithi, O. K. Koech, J. T. Njoka, P. Kamande

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Persistent drought and high temperatures in Isiolo and Marsabit counties of northern Kenya repeatedly devastate livestock herds particularly cattle making the pastoralists less resilient, more vulnerable to climate change and poor. To address this challenge, an IGAD funded project promoted adoption of Somali camel breed, trained farmers on improved management and also estimated potential profitability of rearing the camel. Through the project, trainers were trained and facilitated to train 240 peri-urban Somali camel producers in Isiolo and Marsabit on breeding, health, routine husbandry and marketing. Impact study documenting positive stories of change was conducted at the end. Producers who hitherto …

Red Clover Improves The Energy To Protein Balance Of Lucerne-Grass Herbage, X. Godin, Gaëtan F. Tremblay, P. Seguin, S. Bittman, D. Hunt, J. Hakl, G. Bélanger, M.-N. Thivierge, A. Bertrand, M. Thériault, A. Claessens

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Low ratio of readily fermentable carbohydrate to soluble protein concentrations in lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) leads to inefficient use of herbage N by ruminants. To improve the energy to protein balance in lucerne-grass herbage, four proportions of lucerne:red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) were compared in mixtures with and without grasses: timothy (Phleum pratense L.) and tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus Schreb. Dumort.) in Quebec (QC, Canada). In the first post-seeding year, red clover proportion averaged (across grasses and four harvests) 0, 37, 59, and 74% in herbage mixtures. Increasing the proportion of red clover caused a slight …

Structural Features Of Condensed Tannins Influence Their Antimethanogenic Potential In Forage Plants, S. Verma, J.-P. Salminen, S. Wolffram, F. Taube, R. Blank, A. Susenbeth, C. Malisch

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Despite years of research on the antimethanogenic potential of condensed tannins (CT), their large-scale application is inhibited by a substantial variability in previous studies with regards to their impact on ruminant nutrition. This variability mainly results from the complexity of CT structures, and their impact on methane emissions is often unaccounted for. Hence, this study (a) evaluated the variability in antimethanogenic potential across six forage species, (b) linked methane emissions to tannin activity, and (c) determined the impact of CT structural features on methane abatement. Six forage species were grown in a greenhouse under controlled environmental conditions, namely, sainfoin ( …

Alfalfa Insect Update: 2021 Growing Season, Lee H. Townsend

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Alfalfa weevils (AW) and fall armyworms (FAW) were newsmakers for very different reasons during the 2021 alfalfa growing season. An AW control failure with a pyrethroid in Kentucky drew attention to practices to manage insecticide resistance. A regional outbreak of FAWs resulted in significant damage to alfalfa and grasses along with a reminder of the unpredictable nature and difficult detection of this pest. While there are several effective FAW control options, it is challenging is to detect infestations in time to act.

Forward Of Kentucky Alfalfa And Stored Forages Conference [2022], Jimmy C. Henning, S. Ray Smith, Christopher D. Teutsch

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

No abstract provided.

Phenotypical Characters Associated With The Loss Of The Seed And The Production Of Biomass In Panicum Coloratum Var. Makarikariense, Maria F. Moresco Lirusso, Mónica B. Sacido, Guillermo R. Pratta, Silvina A. Felitti

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Since the beginning of humanity, plants have been manipulated by humans by artificial selection to obtain changes in their characteristics. This progress has been achieved through the domestication of the species. Panicum coloratum is a species of summer perennial grass, megathermic, tolerates waterlogging, cold and slightly saline soils. It is of African origin and used as fodder in various parts of the world. In Argentina around 130.500 hectares are sown, the most widespread varieties are: var. coloratum, and var. makarikariense Goossens. Its characteristics of determined flowering and ununiform ripening within the panicle, added to a very low retention of …

The Role Of Bacteria And Fungi On Forage Degradation In Vitro, Gilberto V. Kozloski, D. C. Rösler, C. A. Pozo, L. E. Leonardi, Mariana P. Mezzomo

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The study was conducted to evaluate the interactive role of bacteria and fungi on forage degradation in vitro. Samples of Cynodon spp. were incubated in a 48-h in vitro gas assay with incubation medium containing or not antimicrobial substances. Treatments were: antibiotic (Ab), antifungal (Af), negative control (i.e. without antimicrobials) or positive control (i.e. with both Ab and Af). Three replicate assays were conducted and, in each assay the gas volume was measured at 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h of incubation. Data of cumulative gas production in each flask in each assay was fitted to …

Performance Of Rotational Grazing Of Urochloa Hybrid Cv. Cayman In The Caribbean Region Of Costa Rica, M. Hernández-Chaves, R. Van Der Hoek, S. Abarca-Monge, R. Soto-Blanco, J. Arango

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In Costa Rica pasture-based grass is the basis for both dairy and beef production. The Caribbean region with a rainfall exceeding 3000 mm has four seasons: dry (Feb-May), rainy (May-Aug), less rainy (Sep-Oct) and intermediate (Oct-Feb). Many pastures are dominated by Ischaemum ciliare (“Retana”), of poor nutritional quality and permanently grazed with low stocking rates (one animal per ha). To assess the potential of combining improved grasses with rotational grazing, a trial with Urochloa hybrid cv. Cayman was implemented at the INTA research station in Guápiles, Limón province, during four years (2014 to 2018). An intensive pasture management system based …

Making The Case For Rangelands To Become The Poster Child Of The Sdgs: How Rangelands Provide Fertile Ground For An Interconnected Approach To The Three Pillars Of Sustainable Development, B. Jones

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a collection of 17 ambitious goals set by global leaders to transform the world by 2030 and create a sustainable future for all. They are founded on the three pillars of sustainable development – environmental, economic and social sustainability, or as they are more colloquially known, “people, planet and profit”. Creating a better world requires an integrated approach that simultaneously improves livelihoods and reduces inequalities whilst dramatically reducing environmental damage.

This paper argues that rangelands are an ideal arena for showcasing the SDGs because they are, by their very nature, interconnected landscapes in which …

Intellectual Property Protection – Stimulating Or Constraining Innovation And Technology Transfer?, John R. Caradus, C. A. Tumilson, J. Y. Lin

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grassland farming is becoming more technically advanced leading to improvements in productivity, environmental outcomes and animal welfare. As a result, farmers have an increasing range of new innovations being made available to them. The question examined here is whether widespread uptake of new innovations by farmers is more effective when driven by marketing through dedicated paths to market where the intellectual property (IP) is controlled or through multiple paths to market where there is no IP control?

The role of IP in stimulating the development, manufacture and sale of new technologies is hotly debated. For plant breeders and patent owners, …

High Altitude Rangelands And Pastoralism In Bhutan: Using Sustainable Development Goals To Address Land Degradation And Poverty, J. E. Millar, K. Tenzing

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Semi-nomadic pastoralists in Bhutan live in high altitude rangelands where they seasonally migrate with yak and cattle herds from 3,000m to 5,000m. Population increase, overgrazing and climate change in eastern Bhutan have led to severe land degradation, winter fodder shortage and reduced milk production per head for herding families. This paper describes how Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were used to design a rangeland rehabilitation and livelihoods improvement program with herders in Merak district from 2016 to 2019. The aim was to restore degraded rangelands, improve pastures, develop savings schemes, resolve conflicts and increase conservation knowledge. The approach involved gender sensitive …

Conversion Of Forest To Agro-Silvo-Pastoral System – Montado – In Mediterranean Environments, J. Potes, F. Jorge, T. Montes, D. Palha

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The Mediterranean environment regions are characterized by climate and soil specificities that justify low productive capacity for primary production when compared to other environments on earth. The Mediterranean forests are essentially formed by trees and shrubs. The shrubs are the perfect fuel to feed the forest fires that occur in a natural and cyclical manner in these environmental conditions. Therefore, the Mediterranean Systems of Agriculture have evolved to control the shrubs and the extensification of the systems because of low productivity. Sustainability is achieved by increase of productivity through improvement of the soil and irrigation. The application of these principles …

Carbon-Sensitive Pedotransfer Functions For Plant Available Water, Dianna K. Bagnall, Cristine L. S. Morgan, Michael Cope, Gregory M. Bean, Shannon Cappellazzi, Kelsey Greub, Daniel Liptzin, Charlotte L. Norris, Elizabeth Rieke, Paul Tracy, Ezra Aberle, Amanda Ashworth, Oscar Bañuelos Tavarez, Andy Bary, Roland Louis Baumhardt, Alberto Borbón Gracia, Daniel Brainard, Jameson Brennan, Dolores Briones Reyes, Darren Bruhjell, Cameron Carlyle, James Crawford, Cody Creech, Steven Culman, William Deen, Curtis Dell, Justin Derner, Thomas Ducey, Sjoerd Willem Duiker, Miles Dyck, Benjamin Ellert, Martin Entz, Avelino Espinosa Solorio, Steven J. Fonte, Simon Fonteyne, Ann-Marie Fortuna, Jamie Foster, Lisa Fultz, Audrey V. Gamble, Charles Geddes, Deirdre Griffin-Lahue, John Grove, Stephen K. Hamilton, Xiying Hao, ‪Zachary D. Hayden, Julie Howe, James Ippolito, Gregg Johnson, Mark Kautz, Newell Kitchen, Sandeep Kumar, Kirsten Kurtz, Francis Larney, Katie Lewis, Matt Liebman, Antonio Lopez Ramirez, Stephen Machado, Bijesh Maharjan, Miguel Angel Martinez Gamiño, William May, Mitchel Mcclaran, Marshall Mcdaniel, Neville Millar, Jeffrey P. Mitchell, Philip A. Moore, Amber Moore, Manuel Mora Gutiérrez, Kelly A. Nelson, Emmanuel Omondi, Shannon Osborne, Leodegario Osorio Alcalá, Philip Owens, Eugenia M. Pena-Yewtukhiw, Hanna Poffenbarger, Brenda Ponce Lira, Jennifer Reeve, Timothy Reinbott, Mark Reiter, Edwin Ritchey, Kraig L. Roozeboom, Ichao Rui, Amir Sadeghpour, Upendra M. Sainju, Gregg Sanford, William Schillinger, Robert R. Schindelbeck, Meagan Schipanski, Alan Schlegel, Kate Scow, Lucretia Sherrod, Sudeep Sidhu, Ernesto Solís Moya, Mervin St. Luce, Jeffrey Strock, Andrew Suyker, Virginia Sykes, Haiying Tao, Alberto Trujillo, Laura L. Van Eerd, Nele Verhulst, Tony John Vyn, Yutao Wang, Dexter Watts, David Wright, Tiequan Zhang, Charles Wayne Honeycutt

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Currently accepted pedotransfer functions show negligible effect of management-induced changes to soil organic carbon (SOC) on plant available water holding capacity (θAWHC), while some studies show the ability to substantially increase θAWHC through management. The Soil Health Institute's North America Project to Evaluate Soil Health Measurements measured water content at field capacity using intact soil cores across 124 long-term research sites that contained increases in SOC as a result of management treatments such as reduced tillage and cover cropping. Pedotransfer functions were created for volumetric water content at field capacity (θFC) and permanent wilting point (θPWP). New pedotransfer functions had …

Long-Term Sustainability Implications Of Diverse Commercial Pollinator Mixtures For The Conservation Reserve Program, Amanda J. Ashworth, Taylor Adams, Alayna Jacobs

Plant and Soil Sciences Graduate Research

The persistence of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) seed mixtures following planting is crucial for the long-term support of pollinator habitat; however, the role of disturbance regimes and their interactions in supporting this ecosystem service are largely unknown. This study set out to evaluate how ecological disturbances (prescribed burn, light disking, or fallow control) and commercially available diverse species mixtures (‘Hamilton’, ‘Bamert’, and ‘Holland’) affect pollinator habitat and the flowering period of commonly used CRP species mixtures. Specifically, three pollinator species mixtures were assessed for plant stand dynamics (plant density, yield, and dual-use pollinator-lignocellulosic feedstock potential); the resulting soil properties; and …

Evaluating Split Timing Fertilizer Applications For Improving Bread Baking Quality Of Soft Red Winter Wheat In Kentucky, Ammar Al Zubade, Krista Jacobsen, Tim Phillips, Mark Williams, David Van Sanford

Plant and Soil Sciences Graduate Research

There is growing interest among farmers to locally produce high protein and strong gluten wheat that is suitable for bread making and meet the demand of local artisanal bakers in Kentucky. The warm and humid weather in southeast region is ideal for soft red winter wheat (SRW) production which characterized by low protein content. The technique of splitting nitrogen (N) fertilization according to the growth stages has been suggested to improve protein content and its composition. This study evaluated the effect of split N application on yield and baking quality traits of two SRW wheat cultivars grown in the eastern …

Taxonomic And Phylogenetic Diversity Of Pitcher Plant Bogs In Georgia's Coastal Plain, Melanie Flood

Theses and Dissertations

Diversity studies via floristic survey and taxonomic metrics have proven essential for discerning community composition and biodiversity, however, phylogenetic analyses are necessary to reveal underlying evolutionary change and potential community assembly patterns. Pitcher plant bogs are highly diverse, highly understudied habitats that contain numerous listed and at-risk plant and animal species of Georgia.

In this study I investigated the taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of pitcher plant bogs by asking the following questions:

1) What is the taxonomic diversity of pitcher plant bogs,

2) What is the dispersion of phylogenetic diversity within bog habitats, and

3) Does taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity …

The Planted Catalog: The Role Of The Botanical Garden In Botany, Douglas Tuers

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

This article will investigate the role of the botanical garden in botany. What its role is and how it fills it. This article will take the Missouri Botanical Garden as a case study, drawing heavily from archival material compromised mostly of letters between Henry Shaw and the prominent botanists of his day. This study also draws on the prominent histories of the Missouri Botanical Garden. The analysis use the philosophical tradition around reference in logic and language. This study argues that the botanical garden is a bridge between locality and herbaria. The order of the flora travels to the locality …

Livestock Farmers And Researchers Perceptions About Ecosystem Services Provided By Rio De La Plata Grasslands, Daniela Schossler, Carlos Nabinger, Pablo Boggiano, Diana L. Restrepo-Osorio, Claudio Ribeiro

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The perception and valuation that livestock farmers have about ecosystem services provided by natural pastures is of fundamental importance to their management decisions and the conservation of this resource. This work aims to reveal results of a project carried out in Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay using the TESSA (Toolkit for Ecosystem Service Site-based Assessment) methodology to compare the perceptions of different ecosystem services among livestock farmers and researchers. The methodology was participatory workshops, two by country, one with livestock farmers participating in the Grassland Alliance (at least 50% of natural grassland in the livestock production system) and another with …

Factors Influencing Adoption Of Rangeland Rehabilitation Technologies By Agro-Pastoralists In The Arabian Peninsula: Evidence From Analysis In Saudi Arabia And Qatar, Boubaker Dhehibi, Arash Nejatian, Abdul Aziz Niane, Azaiez Ouled Belgacem

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Rangelands are the main land use in the Arabian Peninsula and cover about 50% of total area. They are under continuous heavy grazing pressure due to underlying social and economic causes as well as institutional effects. ICARDA in collaboration with the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) has developed and introduced different rehabilitation techniques including resting, planting native range species and water harvesting in different countries of the AP such as Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia (KSA) and Yemen. However, the adoption of these techniques by end users was not evaluated. In this context, a research has been conducted in Saudi Arabia …

Effectively Reaching The Equine Community In Kentucky, S. L. Musen, Krista L. Lea, S. Ray Smith, R. J. Coleman

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Since 2009, Extension Specialists and County Extension Agents from the University of Kentucky in the Southeast United States have conducted an annual educational event; the Kentucky Equine Farm and Facilities Expo field-day. These annual field-days have provided practical, hands-on demonstrations and seminars for 135-250 members of the equine community per event. Participants have been a mix of horse owners in relation to farm size, number of horses and business vs. recreation. Many participants have not been previous consumers of Extension educational programming. One of the major draws of the Farm and Facility Expo field days has been the host sites, …

Application Of The Tessa Methodology In A Pilot Protocol For Participatory Evaluation Of Ecosystem Services And Agents Of Change In The Pampa Grasslands. Method Description And Lessons Learned, Daniela Schossler, Carlos Nabinger, Pablo Boggiano, Diana L. Restrepo-Osorio, Claudio Ribeiro

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The Toolkit for Site-Based Assessment (Landscape) of Ecosystem Services (TESSA) is intended to be an accessible guide for low-cost methods to assess the benefits that people receive from nature at particular sites in order to generate information that can be used to influence decision-making (Pehl et al 2015). However, TESSA does not have defined protocols for grasslands ecosystems. This article focuses on the description and discussion of the lessons learned in the participatory workshops that include engaging with policy and decision-making actors. The work consisted of identifying 1) the area occupied by each coverage or use, 2) the threats and …

Analysis Of The Attitude Of Farmers Towards Innovations In The Management Of Grasslands In Poland, P. Goliński, A. Van Den Pol-Van Dasselaar, A. Paszkowski, B. Golińska

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Innovations in the management of grasslands in Poland are important to preserve them as a source of different ecosystem services. In the farmers point of view the most promising is forage production for herbivores, particularly dairy cows. Individual farmers have different opinions about innovations. To stimulate innovations in grassland-based farming systems in Poland, it is important to determine the drivers for their promotion and to define the barriers to overcome problems by their implementation. Analysis of the attitude of Polish farmers towards innovations on grasslands were conducted within the H2020 Inno4Grass project. The majority of respondents were young and had …

Adaptive Rotational Grazing And The Story Of The Regrazed Grass Plant, L. M. Porensky, H. Wilmer, D. J. Augustine, J. D. Derner, M. Fernández-Giménez, David D. Briske, Carm Stakeholder Group

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Livestock stocking rates and decisions about how to move animals in time and space impact plant responses to livestock grazing. We report on a ranch-scale collaborative experiment comparing adaptive rotational grazing management to season-long continuous grazing during a 4.5-month grazing period during the growing season. As part of this project, stakeholders and scientists worked together to articulate their hypotheses about the mechanisms linking rotational grazing with expected vegetation outcomes. Several stakeholders expected rotational grazing to enhance the production and diversity of grazing-sensitive perennial grass species. The main hypothesized mechanism underlying this expectation was that rotation grazing should reduce regrazing of …