Digital Commons Network^™

What Are The Main Limits To Smallholder Livestock Production In The Tropics – According To Farmers?, A. J. Duncan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Livestock production is central to the livelihoods of a billion poor people. Transforming livestock production would have transformative effects on local economies in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Development efforts in the livestock sector have tended to be top-down without enough feedback loops to understand farmer realities and aspirations. This, despite the Farmer First movement that began in the 1990s. The Feed Assessment Tool (FEAST) was developed as a reaction to top down livestock feed development approaches. FEAST facilitates a structured conversation with farming communities about their livestock production system and how it connects with the overall farming system. FEAST …

Legacy Effects Of Intercropping And Nitrogen Fertilization On Soil N Cycling, Nitrous Oxide Emissions, And The Soil Microbial Community In Tropical Maize Production, Lucas P. Canisares, Hanna J. Poffenbarger, Eoin L. Brodie, Patrick O. Sorensen, Ulas Karaoz, Daniel M. Villegas, Jacobo Arango, Letusa Momesso, Carlos Alexandre Costa Crusciol, Heitor Cantarella

Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Publications

Maize-forage grasses intercropping systems have been increasingly adopted by farmers because of their capacity to recycle nutrients, provide mulch, and add C to soil. However, grasses have been shown to increase nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions. Some tropical grasses cause biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) which could mitigate N₂O emissions in the maize cycle but the reactions of the N cycle and the microbial changes that explain the N₂O emissions are little known in such intercropping systems. With this in mind, we explored intercropping of forage grasses (Brachiaria brizantha and Brachiaria humidicola) with distinct …

Management Strategies For Enhanced Beef Production On Suckler Cow Farms, Lief J. Asheim, L. Aass, B. Åby

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

While around two thirds the Norwegian beef is produced on dairy cow farms, meat production on specialized beef farms has increased in recent years. The specialized beef industry consists of suckler cow herds producing calves, and farm operations that purchase weaned calves for fattening. A linear programming (LP) model of suckler cow herds, selling weaned calves at 200 days, was developed to study the influence of certain management strategies on profitability. The data were derived from the records of 31 suckler cow herds from three Norwegian regions. The feed costs for silage (roughly half of the feed), NH3-treated straw, concentrate …

Progardes® Desmanthus: Good For Beef, Good For The Environment, Christopher Gardiner, F. Mwangi, E. Charmley, T. Hall, B. Suybeng, G. Walker

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The project “New pastures to increase livestock productivity across the north” is a four year project with a focus on the pasture legume Progardes^® Desmanthus. The project explores: methodologies of legume establishment in grass pastures; the antimethanogenic properties of Desmanthus; botanical composition; soil sciences; and pasture nutritive value as related to beef production and meat sciences. Northern Australia has a substantial beef industry based predominantly on poor quality native grass pasture in a semiarid tropical environment with highly variable rainfall. This region also has very extensive areas of Vertosol soils with few, if any, well adapted …

Analysis Of Actors And Activities At Dagoretti Livestock Market In Nairobi City, Kenya, Walter Magero Wafula, Oliver Vivian Wasonga

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Pastoralism is the main economic activity in the massive drylands of Kenya, consisting over 70% of the countries’ livestock population. It employs 90% of communities living the arid and semi-arid parts of the country. Although few small-scale livestock markets exist in rural pastoral areas, most of the animals end up in the urban markets with peak demand of livestock-based commodities. Dagoretti livestock market, located in Nairobi City (the capital of Kenya) is the largest and terminal market for pastoralist communities countrywide as well as a source of income to various market actors and government revenue. Despite this immense contribution, there …

Revisiting The Reciprocity Of Human-Ecological Systems: Integrating Extensive Agriculture And Transhumant Pastoralism In The Northern States Of India, Aayushi Malhotra, Sailaja Nandigama

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

India’s primary sector is characterised by the age-old practices of agriculture and pastoralism that have traditionally remained symbiotic in nature. However, these relationships are dwindling in the light of uneven development focus and increasing climatic hazards. The current mode of local development practices is directly affecting the overall environment while simultaneously increasing the vulnerability of the resource-dependent communities. Pastoralism, along with the agricultural enterprise that is expanding with the support of irrigation network, is recognised as a major community-based occupation in the northern region of India. Despite that, pastoralism remains highly neglected in policy circles, whereas agriculture persists to be …

Short-Term High-Performance Pastures In Temperate Eastern Australia, Rob Eccles

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In exclusively rain-fed/grass-fed grazing systems, Short Term High-Performance Pastures (HPP) are used in specialised finishing paddocks to produce high-quality feed, enabling livestock to maximise their genetic production potential and meet market carcass specifications at the youngest age possible. This strategy not only achieves premium prices but also requires just 8% of a breeding enterprise’s land to finish animals. Described are the range of species choices and combinations used in different environments of the Australian Eastern high rainfall zone, the reasons these species are used and the options available to meet animal requirements strategically. Instead of a monoculture of fodder crops, …

Restoring Value To Grassland Initiative: To Maintain The Environmental And Economic Value Of Grasslands And To Promote Their Social And Cultural Functions, Liz Wedderburn, Alexandre Ickowicz, Rogerio M. Mauricio, M. Quiroga Mendiola, M. Blanchard, Le Thi Thanh Huyen, B. Hubert, J. Lasseur, V. Blanfort, J.-P. Müller

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock (GASL), a multi-stakeholder partnership started in 2013 includes nine action networks (ANs). The networks are the working engine of GASL and are tasked with implementing activities, reports, providing evidence, guidelines and information on good practices demonstrated by the livestock sector. This paper outlines the activities of the network AN2 “Restoring Value to Grassland”, the purpose of which is to “maintain, restore and enhance environmental and economic value of grasslands, while promoting their social and cultural functions globally”. Since 2014, AN2 workshops have been held annually with scientists and stakeholders from rangeland/grassland biomes in Latin …

A Systematic Review Of Ecological And Production Outcomes Under Rest-Grazing Systems, S. E. Mcdonald, R. Lawrence, R. Rader

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

With increasing pressure on grazing lands throughout the world, there is a growing need to balance sustainable management of livestock to meet food production and environmental impacts. Grazing management practices that incorporate periods of planned rest between grazing events (RG) may achieve both ecological and production goals simultaneously. We conducted a systematic review of global literature that compared ecological and production outcomes of RG systems with either continuously grazed (CG) or ungrazed (UG) areas. In addition, we evaluated the extent to which ecological and livestock production outcomes have been assessed simultaneously in these studies and identified future research needs. A …

Use Of Remote Sensing To Guide The Assessment Of Temperate Grassland Degradation In The Territory, M. Martinez

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The methodology Participatory Rangeland and Grassland Assessment (PRAGA), in its baseline phase, more specifically in stage 4, suggests remote sensing to assess at landscape scale. In order to determine the sites to be evaluated, grassland pixels of the Modis sensor were taken into account. Within it, three types of soils were differentiated: superficial, medium and deep, according to the previous existing cartography (2).

Within each soil type, pixels with significant trends (ἀ < 0.05), positive and negative (bright and hot), for the period 2000 -2017, were searched for both, IPSE and RESTREND. Therefore, 6 pixels of the Modis sensor were selected for each landscape.

From the field evaluation it appears that the greatest difference between the bright and hot trends was the height of the forage, and that both are pasture conditions …

On The Move – Do Domestic And Wild Ungulate Species Distributions Overlap In The Mongolian Gobi?, L. M. Michler, P. Kaczensky, O. Ganbaatar, A. C. Treydte

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In the Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area (Great Gobi B), wild and domestic ungulates seasonally share the forage of the semi-desert and desert habitat. Around 130 herder families are grazing their livestock, mainly goats and sheep, in the protected area in winter. Wild ungulates of global significance in Great Gobi B include the reintroduced Przewalski’s horse (Equus ferus przewalskii),which had previously been extinct in the wild. To determine potential habitat overlaps between Przewalski’s horses and livestock, we mapped the movements of 19 livestock herds monitored via GPS collars and ranger observations of Przewalski’s horse herds over a …

Conservation And Utilization Of Grassland Resources For Sustainable Livestock Production In Different Agro-Climatic Zones Of India, Om Singh

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The competent authority has approved the modifications in the Centrally Sponsored Fodder and Feed Development Scheme (CSFFDS), within the budget provision for the year 2012-13. The modifications are (i) Including a new component of ‘Establishment of Fodder Banks’ under the CSFFDS within the budget provision, for the financial year 2012-13 (i) The Central share for the component of Establishment of Fodder Block Making Units under the SDFFDS has been increased from 50% to 75% for the financial year 2012-13 for Cooperatives or Milk unions or Federations, and for State Government to facilitate harvesting and storage of surplus fodder in areas …

The Importance Of Campos Ecosystem As A World Food Producer And As A Provider Of Ecosystem Services, Walter Ayala, D. Bendersky, J. Paruelo, P. Rovira

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The Campos ecosystem represent one of the largest grassland areas on the world, with great biodiversity in plants and animals. It contributes to improve world food security, based on ruminant livestock production, providing animal protein to feed more than 160.000.000 people. The research agenda for Campos ecosystem demands attention on the productivity and increasing variability phenomena, overgrazing, biodiversity standards and water contamination among other factors. It provides services including genetic resources, carbon storage, control of soil erosion, nutrient recycling, water production with low nutrient concentration and pest control. Overall, there is available technology to improve long-term livestock productivity and preserve …

The Hunt For The “Holy Grail”: Condensed Tannins In Perennial Forage Legumes, John R. Caradus, Christine R. Voisey, G. R. Cousin, D. R. Woodfield, A. Blanc, M. B. Roldan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A recent advance using molecular biology has identified a transcription factor or master switch that can ‘turn on’ the condensed tannin pathway present in white clover, and with the appropriate promoters allows biologically significant levels of condensed tannin expression in leaf tissue. In vitro tests have demonstrated that the condensed tannins produced in white clover leaves can bind protein at a pH 6.5, as found in the rumen, and then release them at pH 2.5, the pH in the abomasum, before entering the small intestine for amino acid absorption. Additional tests have demonstrated that these condensed tannins can reduce methane …

Understanding The Effects Of A Tannin Extract On Forage Protein Digestion In The Rumen And Abomasum Using A Dynamic Artificial Digestive System Coupled To A Digestomic Approach, T. Sayd, C. Chambon, A. Torrent, S. Blinet, L. Theron, V. Niderkorn

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Improving the use efficiency of dietary protein in ruminants is a major challenge to decrease feed supplementation and significantly decrease nitrogen (N) losses to the environment. The aim of this study was to characterize the effects of tannins on protein digestion in the rumen and in conditions simulating the abomasum, using a dynamic in vitro digestive system coupled to a digestomic approach. Three ruminally-cannulated sheep fed with alfalfa hay were infused daily with a solution of tannins, while three other sheep were infused with water (control). Standardized ruminal fluid was introduced into the digester, which simulated the transit of digesta …

Identifying Forage Quality Eastern Gamagrass [Tripsacum Dactyloides (L.) L.] Genotypes From A Wild Regional Collection, D. M. Hollowell, Jesse Ira Morrison, B. S. Baldwin

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Eastern gamagrass is a perennial warm-season grass native to North America and endemic to the eastern United States. The species is highly valuable as both a forage and hay crop. In 2012, 171 wild-type eastern gamagrass accessions were collected from the southeast, mid-Atlantic and Atlantic coast regions. Each accession was relocated to Starkville, MS (33.423585, -88.792394) and established in a long-term nursery. Accessions were analyzed for ploidy level and during 2013-2014 were further evaluated for desirable forage characteristics including: cold tolerance, delayed maturity, rust resistance, and digestibility. Fourteen elite individuals were identified from the original collection and were propagated for …

Sowing Rate Effects On Biomass Production Of A Forage Oat In The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, C. T. Liu, H. B. Zhang, J. Q. Deng, Yuying Shen

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Oat (Avena sativa L.) has been a quality forage for the livestock husbandry in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. But farmers tend to use high sowing rates to avoid forage production risks, which does not always give the optimum yield. An field experiment was carried out to explore the response of dry matter production of forage oat Jiayan No.2 to sowing rates in three locations of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau: Tianzhu county (TZ), Haiyan county (HB) and Hongyuan county (HY).The five sowing rates were set as 30 , 60 , 90 , 150 and 240 kg·ha^-1. Sowing rates had a …

Shelf Life Potential And Microbial Load Of Varying Mixtures Of Grass-Legume Pellets: A Dry Season Feed, O. A. Aderinola, S. T. Oyewole, D. O. Okunlola

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The effects of storage duration (0, 6 and 12 weeks), storage medium (plastic container, polythene bag and jute sack) and varying mixture of grass-legume (60% Panicum maximum (6Pm); 30% Panicum maximum + 30% Lablab purpureus (3Pm3Lp); 40% Panicum maximum + 20% Lablab purpureus (4Pm2Lp); 40% Panicum maximum + 20% Stylosanthes hamata (4Pm2Sh) and 30% Panicum maximum + 30% Stylosanthes hamata (3Pm3Sh)) on shelf life and microbial load of grass-legume pellets were examined in the derived savanna zone of Nigeria (Latitude 8⁰N, Longitude 4⁰E) using a 3 x 3 x 5 factorial arrangement using completely randomized design …

"Estimation Of The Primary Net Production Above Ground Through Remote Sensing In A Pastoral System Of The Colombian Altillanura.", R. A. Díaz, M. Álvarez, O. Pérez, J. Bernal, M. Arango

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The primary net production above ground (ANPP) represents the main forage resource that supports the bovine production systems and its valuation is essential to help in the decision making on the management of the pastures. The ANPP has been estimated by periodic biomass courtesy, but with the use of the remote sensor integrated into the efficiency model formulated by Monteih (1972), it has been possible to estimate this biophysical parameter more efficiently at different scales and at low cost. The objective of this study was to estimate the PPNA based on a model of efficiency in the use of light …

Closing Feed Gaps By Winter Forage Production In Limpopo: What Is The Potential?, S. A. Lamega, M. Komainda, M. P. Hoffmann, J. J. Odhiambo, K. K. Ayisi, Johannes Isselstein

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In southern Africa, livestock productivity in mixed crop-livestock systems is constrained by forage supply towards the end of the dry period. Opportunities to improve forage availability to close the temporal feed gap counteracting negative effects on production as well as on environment need to be explored. A promising option might be the planting of cover crops (CC) during the winter period. Hence, a field experiment was conducted in the Limpopo province (South Africa) during the autumn-winter period of 2019 at two sites (Syferkuil, Thohoyandu) with contrasting climatic conditions and soil type. We selected multi-functional C3 species – winter rye ( …

The Morphological, Crude Protein And In-Vitro Dry Matter Degradability Characterisation Of Nine Native Grass Species For Veld Restoration In Semi-Arid Environment, N. H. Msiza, K. E. Ravhuhali, H. K. Mokoboki, Sydney Mavengahama

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Pasture production is dependent on results from favourable conditions that allow for stimulation of tillers and absence thereof does not promote the development of tillers. The study sought to investigate the comparative characterisation of the morphology, crude protein and in-vitro dry matter degradability (DMD) of nine native grass species (Anthephora pubescens, Cenchrus ciliaris, Chloris gayana, Dactylis glomerata, Digitaria eriantha, Eragrostis curvula, Festuca arundinacea, Panicum maximum & Themeda triandra), subjected under controlled conditions. Plants were assessed for germination percentage, chlorophyll, number of leaves and tillers, crude protein and in-vitro dry matter degradability (DMD). Data on these parameters was analysed …

Isolation And Identification Of Lactic Acid Bacteria Strains And Their Effects On The Fermentation Quality Of Elephant Grass (Cenchrus Purpureus) Silage, Azizza Mala, Babo Fadlalla, Zhihao Dong, Junfeng Li, Tao Shao

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This study aims to isolate and identify lactic acid bacteria and examine their effects on the fermentation quality of elephant grass silage. The isolated strains were identified based on morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics as well as 16S rRNA analysis. Three strains namely Pediococcus acidilactic (AZZ5), Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. Plantarum (AZZ4), Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. Argentoratensis (AZZ6) were isolated from elephant grass silage. Isolation of the microbes was done by serial dilution method. Three LAB and one commercial bacteria Lactobacillus Plantarum, Ecosyl MTD/1(CB)) were used as additives to fresh material of elephant grass. To follow the fermentation quality during ensiling, …

Nutritive Composition And In Vitro Dry Matter Digestibility Of The Most Browsed Forage Species By Lactating Camels, Lucy W. Ikanya, J. G. Maina, C. K. Gachuiri, W. O. Owino, José C. B. Dubeux Jr.

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Camels are both grazers and browsers of a broad spectrum of forages. The objective of this study was to identify and to determine the chemical composition of the most preferred forage species by lactating Somali camels in Laikipia County, Kenya. Lactating Somali camels and their calves were observed during the wet and dry seasons while browsing for a period of two weeks. The forage species were ranked based on the bite count. The most browsed forages identified through observation were sampled for identification by the local and scientific names and laboratory analysis. They were analyzed for proximate composition, detergent fiber …

Farmer Perceptions Of Adopting Novel Legumes In Traditional Maize-Based Farming Systems In The Yucatan Peninsula, Jacques Fils Pierre, Luis Latournerie-Moreno, René Garruña-Hernández, Krista L. Jacobsen, Carrie A. M. Laboski, Lucila De Lourdes Salazar-Barrientos, Esaú Ruiz-Sánchez

Horticulture Faculty Publications

Intercropping constitutes the traditional farming system practice used in various forms for maize production in the Yucatan peninsula. Although practiced for centuries, problems persist with competition for water, nutrients and light between crop species in traditional farming systems. Furthermore, little is known about farmers’ perceptions regarding changes to traditional maize-legume intercropping systems and their interest in novel crop adoption to increase yields in the system while maintaining the practice. The objective of this study was to investigate the maize-based traditional cropping system by assessing the underlying motives and concepts of farmers to practice intercropping in the Yucatan Peninsula and to …

The Regulation Of Plant Vegetative Phase Transition And Rejuvenation: Mirnas, A Key Regulator, Tajbir Raihan, Robert L. Geneve, Sharyn E. Perry, Carlos M. Rodriguez Lopez

Horticulture Faculty Publications

In contrast to animals, adult organs in plants are not formed during embryogenesis but generated from meristematic cells as plants advance through development. Plant development involves a succession of different phenotypic stages and the transition between these stages is termed phase transition. Phase transitions need to be tightly regulated and coordinated to ensure they occur under optimal seasonal, environmental conditions. Polycarpic perennials transition through vegetative stages and the mature, reproductive stage many times during their lifecycles and, in both perennial and annual species, environmental factors and culturing methods can reverse the otherwise unidirectional vector of plant development. Epigenetic factors regulating …

Forage Yield And Nutritive Quality Of Haulm From Dual-Purpose Cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata L Walp) Cultivars For Dry Season Feeding In Nigeria, N. J. Anyanwu, Olufemi S. Onifade, Jimoh A. Olanite, V. I. O. Olowe, B. O. Boukar, I. I. Ekpe

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The availability of high quality forage especially during the dry season remains a major challenge to ruminant livestock production in Nigeria and many parts of West Africa. Due to the prevailing mismatch between livestock population and supply of feed resources in the arid and semi arid Nigeria, the humid forest zone represents a potential source for crop residues, especially during the dry season due to longer rainfall duration and suitable climate. This study was conducted to evaluate forage yield and nutritive quality of haulm from selected dual purpose cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) cultivars in the humid rain forest …

Influence Of Seeding Rate On Growth Performance And Yield Of Early Maturing Sorghum, Ismail S. Selemani, O. B. Ngonyani

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Heavy grazing pressure in Tanzanian semi-arid rangelands coupled with climate change and variability has resulted into severe decline in forage production and changes in vegetation composition. To increase forage biomass production in the face of climate change and variability, climate resilient fodder crops such as early maturing sorghum have been recommended in arid and semi-arid regions. However, paucity of information on the best agronomic practices especially the optimal seeding rate and row spacing fostered the need to carry out research on growth performance and yield of early maturing sorghum. The experiment was conducted at Magadu Dairy Farm to assess the …

Comparison Of Four Maize Cultivars (Zea Mays L.) As Winter Forage In Sudan, Rihab El Zubair

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Winter forage availability in Sudan is constrained by lack of a suitable annual winter forage crop. The main forage crop grown is Abu70 (Sorghum bicolor) which is a summer crop that yields 7.6-8.4 t/ha in summer but much less in winter. There is, therefore, need for a winter high yielding forage crop that exceeds Abu70 in productivity and quality. This study was aimed to evaluate four forage maize cultivars as potential winter crops in central Sudan in terms of productivity and quality. An experiment was conducted using four maize forage cultivars. The experiment lasted for two consecutive seasons …

Title Evaluation Of Yields And Nutritive Composition Of Dual Purpose Sweet Potato Vine Cultivars For Forage Use, R. S. Kenana, A. I. Hoka, N. Ondabu, F. Ondabu, J. Mercy

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The sweet potato vine (SPV) is a widely grown but underutilized feed resource for livestock. The vines have desirable characteristics suitable for fodder production due to high contents of protein and digestible energy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the yield and nutritive composition of five dual purpose cultivars based on vine production for forage use. The experimental design was arranged in randomized complete block design where six cultivars of sweet potato were established in plots of 2.5m x 2.5m in three replicates. The cultivars used were; Kenspot 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. An improved forage type …

Diet Selection By Goats At Kalemando, North Darfur, Sudan, Abdelrahim I. H. Mansoor, Babo Fadlalla

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Pressure on rangelands of Sudan has increased in the last few decades due to increase in human population and in animal numbers. The rangelands were also impacted by climate change, desertification, agricultural expansion, mining, and overgrazing. Decreased amounts of rainfall have impoverished the natural rangelands. Goats are capable of grazing on semi-desert regions characterized by low rainfall and scarce grazing plants. It is therefore necessary to know and enhance plant species preferred by goats to properly manage the rangelands. The present study was conducted at Kalemando, North Darfur State during the rainy season of year 2017 when most plants were …