Digital Commons Network^™

How ‘Pasture For Life (Championing 100% Pasture-Fed Ruminant Products) Has Taken Off In The Uk – From The Bottom Up!, S. J. Gregson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Ten years ago Pasture for Life (PfL) was a collection of around 50 UK farmers who were producing high quality ruminant food products wholly from pasture. They were regenerative farming pioneers and PfL was run by volunteers and funded through various grants. In the past two to three years, membership has increased significantly, nearing 1,000 with almost 150 certified Pasture for Life (100% grass-fed). The organisation is now run by a paid executive and is bursting with energy, conversation, and learning. Members are mainly farmers, but also include butchers, chefs, vets, academics and consumers – all keen to champion the …

Rotational Stocking With Virtual Fences: Effects On Grassland Diet Digestibility, Livestock Performance And Stress Levels Of Heifers, N. A. Grinnell, D. Hamidi, M. Komainda, F. Reisch, J. Horn, I. Traulsen, R. Palme, J. Isselstein

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Virtual fencing is an innovative technology for simplified, less laborious dynamic grazing management and remote animal monitoring. The effect of this novel technology on animal welfare is still a matter of debate. Previous research suggests no differences in stress experience responses of cattle between the two fencing systems on continuously stocked pastures. This study investigated differences in diet organic matter digestibility, livestock performance and fecal cortisol metabolite concentrations of heifers on pastures in a rotational grazing system, fenced with a virtual fence (Nofence, Batnfjordsøra Norway) compared to heifers fenced with a traditional electric wire fence. The study was conducted in …

Drone And Digital Camera Imagery Estimate C3 And C4 Grass Ratios In Pastures, J. A. Bush, C. D. Teutsch, S. R. Smith, J. C. Henning

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The following study investigates the accuracy and practicality of exploiting the color dichotomy present between C3 and C4 grass species to estimate their respective proportions from drone or camera captured imagery. Understanding the proportions of C3 and C4 grasses in pastures is vital to sound decision making for livestock production. The ability to monitor these proportions remotely will also allow for large scale monitoring as well as detection of changes in botanical composition over time and in response to weather events, management, or climate change. A free green canopy cover (GCC) analyzing software, Canopeo, was used to quantify green plants …

Choosing The Best Online Platform, L. L. Baxter, A. Best

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Social media is a powerful tool that enables forage-livestock researchers and Extension specialists to connect with a wide audience of producers, Extension personnel, colleagues, and industry partners. This presentation in the thematic session on “Understanding the role of social media and digital resources in forage education and promotion” will provide an overview of popular social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube) and discuss how to transform impactful research and Extension programming into effective social content before leading into the panel discussion.

Genetic Modification – Applications For Forage And Grassland Production Systems, J. R. Caradus

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Genetic modification has been extensively used in crops for 25 years but has rarely been a technology used to advance trait expression in forage and grassland species. The exceptions are the use of herbicide tolerance and low lignin traits in alfalfa which are currently commercially available. In crop species genetic modification has been a valuable option for delivering improved economic and environmental outcomes through providing solutions for many of the challenges facing mankind. There are a many beneficial characteristics that genetic modification has the potential to provide in forage and grassland species. Managing these in the environment and understanding consumer …

Stoloniferous Forage Legumes For Sustainable Mixed Pastures In The Tropics, R. M. Boddey, C De P Rezende, J. Marques Pereira, C. A. Dos Santos, Animal Husbandry Station Of The Extreme South Of Bahia, Brazil, I. O. Ramalho, R. M. Macedo, B. C. G. Homem, D. R. Casagrande, S. Urquiaga, B. J. R. Alves

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Brazil has over 80 million ha of tropical pastures formed with species of Brachiaria (syn. Urochloa), mostly grazed by beef cattle and with low fertilizer inputs, especially nitrogen. Recent investigations by our team show that stoloniferous legumes such as forage peanut (Arachis pintoi) and Desmodium ovalifolium are able to persist in mixed swards with Brachiaria brizantha (cv. Marandu) if grazing height is regulated (maximum 30 cm) so that radiation can reach the soil surface allowing stolons to take root. These legumes can persist in mixed pastures and produce milk or animal weight gains similar to the application …

Public Policies For The Development Of A Sustainable, Forage-Based Cattle Sector In Colombia, Argentina, And Costa Rica: A Comparative Analysis, S. Burkart, M. Diaz, Moreno Lerma

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Projected increases in global food demand highlight the importance of Latin America as one of the major future food suppliers, particularly regarding animal-source foods such as beef or milk. Despite the importance of the cattle sector for the region, its negative environmental impacts are numerous and the shift towards sustainability is perceived as slow and uncoordinated. This study aims to identify achievements and difficulties in the implementation of public policies for a sustainable cattle sector in Colombia, Argentina, and Costa Rica, for which policies focused on the use of silvo-pastoral systems and forage-based solutions are prioritized. Based on the review …

Grasslands, Rangelands, Pastoralists – What Do We Mean?, D. M. Kelly, Ann Waters-Bayer, K. L. Johnson, Maryam Niamir-Fuller, Chris Magero, Tungalag Ulambayer

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The terms grasslands and rangelands are often confused, but the terms used to describe the people who live and manage these areas are even more confusing. The myriad of words used about these people includes: pastoralists, farmers, ranchers, herders, transhumants, indigenous peoples, nomads, graziers, gauchos. The terms used vary across the world, and meanings vary across time and space. One definition of pastoralists is “livestock-keepers who specialise in taking advantage of variability, managing grazing itineraries at a variety of scales so that livestock feed better than without a herder” (Krätli 2019). The United Nations Decade of Family Farming defines farmers …

Challenges Of Grassland Policies Implementation In Kenya And The Sustainable Development Goals, N. Daari

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Since independence, Kenya has found herself at the crossroads caused by economic recession, criminality, corruption and ineptitude leadership that has led to persistent household extreme poverty. It is time now to search for solutions to address the challenges facing sustainable livelihood development in Kenya. This study, therefore examines the challenges of grasslands related policies and their implementation in Kenya and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A review study of the literature on grasslands and rangelands related policies and laws, SDGs frameworks, government and academic literature was carried out. The study results show that; Kenya has faced challenges of grasslands policies …

The Impacts Of Collective Action In Common-Pool Resources ——Evidence From The Field Of Grassland Use, Wang Jizhe, Liu Min, Nie Zihan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The deterioration of common-pool resources is a serious issue faced by over the world now. How to manage public resources sustainably is extremely urgent. Collective action plays an important role in the sustainable management of common-pool resources. It creates a common goal that makes resource users not only concern their individual interests, but also the collective interests, in order to avoid the common-pool resource dilemma. The extent of collective interests that resource users concern affects their decisions in collective action, which further impacts the sustainable use of common-pool resources. We use a grazing experiment to observe and measure collective action. …

Physically Adjusted Ndf: Integrating Forage Physical Form With Diet Complexity On The Farm, P. J. Kononoff, M. B. Hall

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Physical form of forages and their neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content are crucial in ruminant diets for maintaining a healthy rumen and a productive animal. A challenge has been in taking the concept from its research base and applying it successfully in varied diets. A new system for physically adjusted NDF (paNDF) offers an option. It takes into account the forage, NDF, starch and other components in the diet and uses the Penn State Particle Separator on farm to assess total mixed ration particle size to provide recommendations on directions to move the diet to maintain a healthy rumen. This …

Building Partnerships To Address Social And Technological Challenges To Enhance Farm Profitability And Improve Water Quality Through Better Grassland Management, C. C. Stafford, R. A. Clark, L. Ritchie, J. Dudding, G. Pent, J. Fike, J. Benner, C. Swanson, S. Baker, T. Mize, V. Temu, K. Payne, D. Gill, D. Mullins, R. Mcguire, C. Teutsch, W. Thomason, A. Grev, P. Blevins, T. P. Clarke, M. Poore, M. Booher, T. Stanley, G. Halich, J. Bovay, S. Jones, K. Love, A. Hilliard, A. Byington, E. Mullins, I. Haugen

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

With 2.1 million acres of pastureland and 1.25 million acres of hay land in Virginia, the rural Virginia landscape is predominately grassland. These lands form the base of the $3.96 billion-dollar livestock and dairy industry in Virginia. Managing these livestock in a profitable manner for farmers and beneficial to the environment is important. A cultural tradition with roots in colonial times has been to run animals in large fields year-round throughout Virginia. Livestock often graze from spring until fall (about 220 days), and farmers feed hay the remainder of the year. Spikes in the cost of fuel, fertilizer, and equipment …

Challenges Of Stray Cattle On Integrated Crop-Forage Resources In India, Pal Mahendra Singh

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Field survey was conducted covering 1000 residents of district Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand states of India in January 2022 including farmers, school teachers, students and residents of town and cities to study the ‘challenges and threats of stray animals on crop-forage resources in India. The survey indicated that 97.5, 75.6, 60.0, 77.8%, and 68.9 respondents had strong opinion that stray cattle were the serious threat to crops-forage resources, biodiversity, road accidents, transmitting harmful diseases and human-wildlife conflict, respectively, while 85.5, 67.7, 62.7,76.2 and 70.5% respondents gave their consent to solve stray cattle by opening of cowsheds, strict government policies, mass …

Operational Model Of The Alliance For Grassland Renewal, C. A. Roberts, J. G. Andrae

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Novel endophyte tall fescue was developed over 20 years ago, and novel endophyte cultivars are among the most innovative cultivars developed in recent decades. Yet adoption of novel endophyte technology is slow. In order to expedite adoption, a diverse group of stakeholders self assembled as the Alliance for Grassland Renewal, a nonprofit organization that includes colleagues from the sectors of industry, university, government, and production. Since 2012, the Alliance has held workshops for producers, educators, and industry across the southeastern US, where tall fescue is the predominant pasture grass. Also since 2012, the Alliance has monitored and reported endophyte purity …

Economic Value Of Improving Feed Efficiency Of Beef Cows On Pasture, J. T. Biermacher, J. K. Rogers, D. Lalman, A. Holder, R. S. Walker

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Dry matter intake of beef cows is based on a percentage of body weight, so as mature cow size increases, intake increases. Feed efficiency, or the amount of feed required to produce gain or maintain production, has a direct impact to the producer. That is, as mature cow weight increases, yearly maintenance costs increases due to higher feed costs. However, variation in feed efficiency exists within population. Some large cows consume the same or less dry matter as a smaller cow, but produce a larger calf. Conversly, some smaller cows consume the same or more as a large cow but …

Spring Triticale Forage Yield And Nutritive Value As Affected By Location And Maturity In Wisconsin, Y. Newman, K. Jarek, P. Holman, M. Akins, E. Schreifer, R. Zogbaum

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Spring triticale (X Triticosecale Wittm.) has a nutritional value that is like other spring cereal grain forages and presents a wide range in value and potential for ruminant feed (Emile et al. 2007). As varieties are improved, they may compete with oats as a spring forage source. A multi-location evaluation was conducted during 2021 in Wisconsin (Spooner, Marshfield and Lancaster) to evaluate spring triticale varieties harvested at two maturities (boot and mature stage) for yield and nutritive value. Treatments included six spring triticale varieties (AR-1, AR-2, AR-3, AR-4 and a local oat (WI-O) and triticale (WI-T) variety. Response variables measured …

Environmental Co-Benefits Of Improved Forages In Smallholder Dairy Systems Of Kenya, A. Notenbaert, S. Mwendia, S. Burkart, P. Karimi, E. Mwema

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Livestock play a major role across Kenya, especially in smallholder mixed farms through provision of household nutrition and income through milk and meat. Equally, fertilization of cropland benefits from livestock manure, and livestock often act as insurance and saving. Despite the opportunities and benefits livestock production presents, livestock systems are also key drivers of environmental degradation, including increased nutrient loads, GHG emissions, water use, grassland degradation and land-use conversion. Low livestock productivity, largely due to use of low-quality crop residues and natural grasses often not endowed with nutrients key for animal performance, limits the potential positive contributions of livestock and …

A Library In A Library: A Brief Case Study On An Academic And Public Library Partnership, Mitchell Scott

Library Professional Development Committee

Academic libraries, of all sizes, have often struggled with the role that they should play in providing a leisure reading collection to the students, faculty, and staff that use their collections. Some academic libraries, especially those affected by recent reductions to their library collection budgets, question whether they should invest limited collection dollars in leisure reading materials that cannot be aligned with curriculum or research support. Other academic libraries wrestle with how to provide leisure reading or how much to provide. Do they rely on approval plans, or library staff and patron selections or both? Do they provide print (often …

A Library In A Library: A Brief Case Study On An Academic And Public Library Partnership, Mitchell Scott

2024 R&I Day

Academic libraries, of all sizes, have often struggled with the role that they should play in providing a leisure reading collection to the students, faculty, and staff that use their collections. Some academic libraries, especially those affected by recent reductions to their library collection budgets, question whether they should invest limited collection dollars in leisure reading materials that cannot be aligned with curriculum or research support. Other academic libraries wrestle with how to provide leisure reading or how much to provide. Do they rely on approval plans, or library staff and patron selections or both? Do they provide print (often …

Making Love Easier: Automating Communication For Better Relationship Building For Web Archives, Emily Collier

2024 R&I Day

Starting in Fall of 2023, Ruth Bryan and Emily Collier began researching sustainability for the Web Archiving Program, which led them to building communication channels with the University of Kentucky Office of Public Relations and Marketing Web Content Development group. By tightening this channel, we hope to initiate the archival mindset right at the moment of content creation, as well as limit gaps in our web archives collection as the PR team is directly involved in monitoring sites that go live and expire. Part of this tightening of communication has been finding ways to automate alerts when changes are made …

Academic Libraries And Use Of Ai Tools For The Creation Of Course Materials, Makayla Wells

2024 R&I Day

This is a poster presentation shared at the 2024 Research and Innovation Day.

Biodiverse Forage Mixtures For Bees And Beef Cattle, J. O. C. Kubesch, S. P. Greiner, G. J. Pent, J. L. Reid, B. F. Tracey

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Introduction: Beef cattle performance in the southeastern US is limited by tall fescue (TF) toxicosis. Native warm season grasses (NWSGs) can provide alternative forage for cattle and reduce TF toxicosis. Pollinator populations, especially bees, also have been declining across North America. Introducing native wildflowers into tall fescue grasslands might improve pollinator populations. An ongoing grazing experiment in central Virginia USA is testing the feasibility of integrating wildflowers and native grasses as a way to generate ecosystem services.

Objectives: This study sought to determine whether including native grasses and wildflowers in tall fescue pasture systems could improve beef heifer performance.

Methods: …

Winter Performance Of North American Bos Grunniens Offered Hay Harvested From Different Forage Species, Jeff Lehmkuhler, G. Dike, M. Mccarty

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Bos grunniens or the domesticated yak was brought to North America in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. In Asia, yaks have been observed to lose 25% or more of their body weight over the winter in the high mountain altitudes. Little research has been conducted with the domesticated yak and their nutritional needs. Maintaining positive weight change during the winter is expected to improve the profitability and viability of yak production systems in North America. An on-farm study was conducted near Wellington, KY, USA to investigate the winter performance of yaks and hay type. Four outdoor grass lots approximate …

An Example Of An Outreach Program For Horse Pasture Management And Education, Krista L. Lea, S. Ray Smith

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Kentucky boasts over 30,000 horse farms that house over 200,000 horses. The University of Kentucky Horse Pasture Evaluation Program began in 2005 to assist horse owners and managers in improving pasture quality and quantity. This program collects detailed botanical composition and tall fescue analysis to provide horse owners and managers with a comprehensive picture of pasture composition and field by field recommendations on management practices that will improve each pasture. Samples of tall fescue are also collected and analysed for endophyte presence and ergovaline concentration to evaluate tall fescue toxicity risk. Management recommendations include tall fescue mitigation or elimination strategies. …

Warm-Season Annual Grasses As Pinpoint Grazing Opportunities, Rocky Lemus, J. A. White

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

There is a need to determine the use of annual warm-season grasses (AWSGs) such as forage sorghum (FS), millets (M), sudangrass (SG), and sorghum-sudangrass hybrid (SSH) can be integrated for grazing or hay production when utilized with appropriate grazing management strategies. The objective of the study was to screen new cultivars with the potential for resistance to sugar cane aphid (SCA, Melanaphis sacchar) for biomass production and nutritive value in a one-cut system. Treatments consisted of 30 cultivars that included FS, SG, SSH, and millets (M). Treatments were replicated three times in a randomized complete block design. Cultivars influenced …

Yearling Beef Cattle Grazing Diverse Summer Annual Swards, K. Mercier, Christopher D. Teutsch, S. R. Smith, K. H. Burdine, E. S. Vanzant, E. L. Ritchey

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Utilizing summer annuals is often regarded as “a breakeven proposition at best” due to high establishment costs. This study investigated using botanical diversity to increase forage yield or animal performance to improve the economic feasibility of grazing summer annual forages in western Kentucky, USA. Sorghum-sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor x S. bicolor spp. drummondii)-based treatments included a monoculture, a three-species mixture (two grasses, one legume), and a 12-species mixture (five grasses, four legumes, two brassicas, and one forb). Angus-cross yearling beef calves (329, 366, and 297 kg in 2017, 2018, and 2019, respectively) grazed summer annuals in 2017-2019 for an …

Opportunities Of Grazing Personality Genetics For Steep And Rugged Rangelands, Moreno Garcia, T. M. R. Maxwell, R. Dynes, H. Zhou, J. Hickford

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Globally, extensive pastoral grazing systems are facing multiple pressures, including to address emerging public concerns about environmental impact and animal well-being. This may require new regulatory constraints to be met, while maintaining the economic viability of the systems. One novel approach to addressing these challenges is to capitalize on naturally occurring differences in livestock behaviors, specifically differences in grazing personalities, to assist the production systems deliver more effective and responsible use of rangelands. Herbivores may exhibit consistent grazing behaviors over time and across spatial contexts, which differ among individuals and between groups leading to distinctive grazing patterns known as grazing …

Adaptive Multi-Paddock Grazing Of Cover Crops In Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems In Mediterranean Regions: A Review, G. A. Musto, A. Swanepoel, J. A. Strauss

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Small-grain farming systems in Mediterranean climatic regions are characterized by poor quality soils, high climate variability, and resulting heavy agrochemical reliance. The integration of continuously grazed monocrop pasture phases has improved soil fertility, crop productivity, and mitigated financial risk. However, emerging sustainability issues such as herbicide resistance, inputs costs rising disproportionately to product prices, and increasing climate variability and predictability, drive the need for ongoing innovation in crop-livestock integration. The option of growing multi-species cover crops as a dual-forage and service crop is evaluated within Mediterranean climate contexts. Furthermore, the option of subjecting the cover crops to adaptive multi-paddock (AMP) …

Forages For Horses Revamped, C. Gelley, E. Lyon, H. Zynda, S. Mastellar, E. Share, B. Hendershot, D. Kreager, G. Wilson, R. Purdin, J. Hampton, J. Morris, T. Wiseman, L. Beers, M. Sulc

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The Forages for Horses program began in Ohio in1998 as a collaboration between the Ohio Forages & Grasslands Council and Ohio State University Extension. Over time, additional collaborations with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Ohio Department of Agriculture and local Soil and Water Conservation Districts expanded the program. At its inception, one to three educators would partner to provide eight hours of in-person lectures followed by a pasture walk to better the management practices of equine enthusiasts. From 2021 through 2022, the curriculum was adapted for a hybrid classroom and included three 90-minute live webinars featuring nine different presentations followed …

Seed Quality Testing For Novel Endophyte Technology, N. S. Hill

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Fungal endophyte (Epichloë coenophiala (Morgan-Jones & W.Gams)) in Kentucky-31 tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbyshire) produces ergot alkaloids that adversely affect livestock. Novel endophyte-infected tall fescue cultivars, with agronomic enhancing properties without livestock toxicity, are commercially available but producer perception and adoption of the technology has been apprehensive. Educational programs by the Alliance for Grassland Renewal were developed to promote use of the novel endophyte technology. Standards of endophyte quality in seed for existing and new novel technologies were established and used to educate producers and ancillary professionals in Alliance-sponsored schools. Surveys of the presentation on seed quality …