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Interindividual Differences And Their Consistency In Grazing Cattle Behavior Across Seasons, H. Anzai, M. Shitajikkoku, K. Hani, N. Yamada, M. Hirata

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Interindividual differences and their consistency in behavior were investigated for cattle (Bos taurus) grazing a bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) and centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides) dominated pasture as a herd of about 30 breeding cows with their calves. Behavior of the cows was monitored directly by observers and also using GPS and accelerometer data loggers attached to focal cows for a period of 1–5 days every month during the grazing seasons (from May to October) in 2018 and 2019. The data were converted into behavioral variables (e.g. time spent grazing, ruminating and resting, time spent in particular …

Vegetation Response To Grazing Pressure In The Puna Flat, Nw Argentina, M. Quiroga Mendiola, A. Tálamo

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Puna grasslands are located at a high‐altitude flat plateau in the Northwest of Argentina. It is an arid territory (100 to 300 mm rainfall/year) at 3,000 to 4,000 m a.s.l. The vegetation is scarce, where Andean pastoralist communities produce meat and wool, specialized in llama (Lama glama) and sheep‐breeding, although they do breed multi‐species herds that may also include goats and cattle. There are erosion processes in the Puna, where shepherds and their animals could be synergetic factors with natural very hard climatic conditions. In this work we assess the effect of ovine and lama grazing on the …

Grass Species Density And Biomass Of South African Communal Property Association Farms Differing In Soil Properties, K. E. Ravhuhali, B. Moyo

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Attempts to monitor and mitigate rangeland deterioration in Communal Property Associations projects require some understanding of the knowledge of species composition and distribution. The study was conducted to compare the herbaceous in three selected CPAs projects (Mashung Matlala - Sandy loam, Mawela - clay loam, and Bela-Bela - clay) in South Africa. Mawela and Mashung Matlala CPAs were overgrazed. For species density, basal strike, and biomass, three transects (500m), which served as replicates, were established at two camps of each of the selected CPAs. Variation in herbaceous vegetation parameters was explored through SAS software. Clay soil type had better (P …

The Functional Importance Of Forbs In Grassland Ecosystems, F. Siebert, C. Morris, S. Chamane, N. Ntuli, S. J. Siebert

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Herbaceous vegetation in grassland ecosystems is characterised by grass dominance in a species-rich forb-grass mixture. Forbs (i.e. the non-graminoid herbaceous component) represent the largest proportion of total species- and functional richness, which secure important ecosystem functions. Although grasses remain the most important forage source, certain forb species provide nutritious food sources for herbivores. Moreover, forbs provide food- and habitat sources to enhance invertebrate diversity and hence, agricultural food security through the maintenance of healthy pollinator communities. Important food and medicinal sources for human livelihoods in developing countries are also largely contributed by forbs. However, the dynamics and ecology of forb …

The Effects Of Chemical And Mechanical Control Of Woody Plants On Resprouting And Seedling Production In Communal Rangelands, P. Monegi, N. R. Mkhize, T. J. Tjelele, D. Ward, Z. Tsvuura

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In many African countries, communal rangelands are threatened by woody plant encroachment. We sought to explore potential solutions for communal ranchers that would be cost-effective. We conducted two field experiments to determine (1) the effects of various tree removal treatments (10%, 20%, 50%, 75% and 100%), and herbicide application on resprouting ability and vigour of several woody plant species; and (2) the effectiveness of Tree Poppers® (a weed wrench) as a low-cost mechanical control tool to physically uproot seedlings and saplings of woody species. In the first experiment, we examined 12 plant species from 20 plots (30 m x 30 …

‘Cachena’, A Bovine Rustic Portuguese Extensively Reared Autochthonous Breed: Meat Texture Analysis, M. E. Potes, S. Ricardo-Rodrigues, M. Laranjo, A. C. Agulheiro-Santos, M. Elias

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

‘Cachena’ is one of the world’s smallest bovine breeds. Extremely rustic and wild, they are extensively reared, and fed with natural pastures. Meat valorisation is essential to preserve this breed, with a limited livestock.

‘Cachena’’s meat is tender, juicy, low-fat, and highly appreciated due to the association of animal, terroir and producer, balanced by the ecosystem’s sustainability.

The aim of this study was to increase the weight of Longissimus dorsi (LD) and Psoas major (PM) muscles, without depreciating their sensory quality.

Two groups of 16 animals were slaughtered: (A) 9-17 months old animals with 140-225 kg slaughter live weight (SLW); …

Assessing Feed Gaps On Smallholder Livestock Farms In Limpopo: Production System And Coping Strategies, S. A. Lamega, M. Komainda, M. P. Hoffmann, J. J. Odhiambo, K. K. Ayisi, J. Isselstein

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Smallholder farms in southern Africa are predominantly mixed crop-livestock systems and often characterized by low productivity. Therefore, providing sufficient forage becomes a challenge that results first in feed gaps, i.e. the difference between the demand for and supply of forage, and secondly, in nutrient mining of the soil due to the overuse of the resources. However, the availability of forage follows potentially seasonal patterns. Hence, a key entry point for any intervention strategies for improvement is an assessment of forage quantity and quality throughout the year. Against this background, we investigated six locations, smallholders’ cattle production systems and their adaptation …

Forage Quality Of Cereal–Common Vetch At Different Age And Proportions, J. L. Zaragoza-Ramirez, P. A. Martinez-Hernandez, Ma. De L. Reyes-Medel

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Cereal plant age at harvesting and the proportion of vetch in the harvested forage from cereal-common vetch mixtures might influence total forage quality. The objectives were to determine forage of a forage mixture cereal-vetch, from cereal harvested at two development stages and vetch at different proportion. Cereals were oats and triticale, cultivars: Chihuahua, Bicentenario and Siglo XXI, the last two were triticale; cereal development stages at harvest were: 50% flowering and hard grain. Vetch was harvested at two development stages: 100% flowering and pod formation, while vetch proportions in the forage mix were: 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0. Forage …

Forage Yield Of Oat On The Four Altitude Regions Of The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, H. B. Zhang, C. T. Liu, J. Q. Deng, X. L. Yang

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Forage oat (Avena sativa L.) for livestock in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau may be used biomass under widely different altitude conditions. To assess the effect of altitude on the biomass of oats, we conducted an experiment to explore the adaptability of forage oat Jiayan No. 2 in different altitudes for better agronomic traits and higher forage yield. Four regions included Hezheng county (2207 m a.s.l) and Tianzhu county (2407 m a.s.l), Gansu province, Haiyan county (3042 m a.s.l), Qinghai province and Hongyuan county (3460 m a.s.l), Sichuan province were selected, and agronomic data as well as dry matter yield were determined. …

Forage Production And Grazing Behaviour Of Beef Cattle In Agrosilvopastoral Systems In Brazil During The Dry Season, M. Pereira, P. Zawada, J. Werner, M. M. Macedo, R. G. Almeida, U. Dickhoefer

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

We aimed at evaluating the microclimate, canopy structure, and grazing behaviour of cattle on Brachiaria sp. pastures within continuous pasture (CON), integrated crop-livestock (ICL), and crop-livestock-forestry (ICLF) systems in Brazilian dry season. Forage accumulation was monthly assessed in four paddocks per system from May to August 2019. To characterize the microclimate, air temperature and relative humidity were measured every hour and temperature-humidity index calculated. Grazing behaviour of 12 Nellore heifers per system (mean bodyweight 355 standard deviation±32.6 kg) was recorded by chewing sensors on nine continuous days (1 d adaptation + 8 d measurement) of three 15-d periods. Four animals …

Forage Accumulation And Quality Of Three Contrasting Ecotypes Of Tall Fescue (Schedonorus Arundinaceus) Managed Under Frequent Defoliation, J. Mattera, O. Scheneiter, I. Cattoni, E. Pacente, P. Barletta, O. Bertín

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In the past, tall fescue ecotypes were compared under intermediate management defoliation frequency, but now has station, Argentina (-33 ° 56 'S, -60 ° 33' W) in autumn 2016, on a typical Argiudoll soil. The treatments were cultivars representing three ecotypes of tall fescue: (i) - Mediterranean (cv. Flecha), (ii) - Intermediate (cv. Royal Q 100) and (iii) - Continental (cv. Lujan INTA). Each plot consisted of 7 rows 6.0 m long, 0.2 m apart (8.4m² plot size) arranged in a randomized complete block design with 4 replicates. The first cut was done at the end of September when …

Farmers’ Perceptions On Different Forage Types In Southern Highlands Of Tanzania, B. Nzogela, S. W. Mwendia, A. J. Mwilawa, J. Kizima, J. Bwire, A. O. Notenbaert

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Feed and forages take the bulk of inputs required in livestock production. Inadequate forages in quality and quantity in sub-Saharan Africa is responsible for low livestock productivity. Addressing livestock feed requirements presents quick wins in livestock productivity compared to breeding and health. In a Climate Smart Dairy project implemented in Tanzania, we demontrated several forage options to farmers including, two cultivars of Pennisetum purpureum, two Urochloa hybrids, Chrloris gayana and Tripsacum andersonii (control). Where applicable, the grasses were intercropped with either one of the following forage legume, Desmodium intortum, Lablab purpureus or Stylosanthes guiyanensis. Fourteen forage treaments …

Examining The Impact Of Patch Burning On Livestock Grazing Patterns In Edwards Plateau, Texas, W. G. Gao, J. P. A. Angerer, X. B. W. Wu, D. T. Tolleson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Production of sheep, goat, and cattle are major agricultural enterprises on West Texas rangelands, especially in the Edwards Plateau. In this region, the use of fire as a management tool was suppressed until recently. Although previous studies have been conducted to evaluate cattle use of burned versus unburned patches, there has been a lack of studies where combinations of livestock species grazing together on patch burned areas have been evaluated. The objective of this study is to examine grazing patterns of cattle, sheep and goats, both spatially and temporally, on areas where patch burning has been implemented. The study site …

Evaluation Of Morphogenesis And Yield Of Three Pennisetum Purpureum Varieties In South-West, Nigeria, Victoria O. A. Ojo, T. A. Adeyemi, D. K. Oyaniran, G. A. Akinade, Olufemi S. Onifade

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This experiment, conducted at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria evaluated the morphogenesis of three varieties of Pennisetum purpureum used in this study, which were the local, purple, and FI variety at different stages of growth. The plants were established through vegetative plant parts (stems) sourced from a previously established plot and planted using 1 m × 1 m spacing on plots measuring 4 m × 5 m. The plants were fertilized with split doses of poultry manure at 4 t/ha (equivalent to 120 kg N/ha). The experiment was laid out as a Randomized Complete Block Design. Data on …

Effects Of Stages Of Growth On Dry Matter Yield And Nutrient Composition Of Red Clover In The Year Of Establishment In Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, T. T. Akpensuen, J. T. Amodu, O. A. T. Namo, R. J. Tanko

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

An experiment was conducted in Jos, Nigeria to evaluate the effects of stages of growth on dry matter yield and nutrient composition of Red clover (Trifolium pratense var. AberClaret) in the year of establishment. The treatments were five (5) stages of growth (5, 9, 13, 17 and 21) weeks after sowing (WAS). The five stages of growth were replicated five times in a Latin Square Design. The land was divided into twenty five plots of 3 m X 3 m each. The spacing between each plot was 1m along the rows and columns. Growth components and DM yield were …

Effects Of Maturity And Drying Method On The Nutritive Value Of Tropical Grasses In Nicaragua, Rocky Lemus, R. Van Der Hoek, Y. C. Newman, M. Mena, K. A. Albrecht

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Tropical grasses are key components for both grazing and conserved forages in sustainable livestock systems (beef and dairy) in Central America. The objective of the study was to evaluate grasses used in Nicaragua and their nutritive value contribution as preserved forage during the dry season under different drying methods. Five tropical bunch grasses (Andropogon gayanus, Hyparrheniarufa, Urochloabrizantha, Megathyrsus maximus, and Cenchruspurpureus) were sampled across different farms in Nicaragua in 2014 and 2015 using three replications. Forage samples were collected at 2, 4, 6, and 8-wk maturity as well as season long samples. Samples drying …

State And Transition Models In Space And Time – Using Stms To Understand Broad Patterns Of Ecosystem Change In Iceland, I. C. Barrio, D. S. Hik, T. A. Mulloy, J. Thorsson, K. Svavarsdóttir, B. Marteinsdóttir, I. S. Jónsdóttir

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Managing ecological systems sustainably requires a deep understanding of ecosystem structure and the processes driving their dynamics. Conceptual models can lead to improved management, by providing a framework for organizing knowledge about a system and identifying the causal agents of change. We developed state-and-transition models (STMs) to describe landscape changes in Iceland over three historical periods with different human influence, from pre-settlement to present days. Our models identified the set of possible states, transitions and thresholds in these ecosystems and their changes over time. To illustrate the use of these models for predicting and improving management interventions, we applied our …

Soil Water Movement In A Watershed In The Chilean Patagonia, J. Ivelic-Sáez, P. Cisternas, J. Dörner, J. Arumí, J. Valenzuela, E. Muñoz, S. Valle, H. Alonso, R. López, H. Uribe

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Magallanes region, located southern Chile, contains about 1.9 million sheep heads, in about 5 million hectares of rangelands. However, forage production is concentrated in small wetlands meadows called locally “Vegas” that only represent about 300.000 hectares. Those ecosystems that sustain patagonian ranches, produce 20 times more forage biomass than the surrounding natural rangelands. Patagonian vegas have concave topography with a hydrophyte (wet) center, and mesic slopes and xeric highlands of Festuca gracillima. Although the moisture content is controled by topography, there is scarce information about the movement of water through this concave topography. Also, the spatial variability of the …

Effects Of Banana Peels On Chicken Weight Gain And Egg Production In The Urban And Peri-Urban Areas Of Aksum City, Ethiopia, H. G. Araya, S. G. Gebrekristos, W. V. Oliver

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

High feed cost of running urban-animal-agriculture and huge city wastes are challenges of the growing towns in modern Ethiopia. Egg production microenterprise is steadily growing due to its low initial investment and ready market in urban and peri-urban areas. However, cost of egg production is high due to the rising cost of corn, the main feed ingredient in poultry rations. Using banana peels, which forms a great proportion of city waste in Ethiopia, is seen as a way of not only reducing the waste, but also as an alternative low-cost feed supplement that could help enhance egg production by small-holder …

Sheep Grazing Patterns For Better Land Management: Adjusting Gps Tracking Protocol, J. Castro, L. M. Godoy, J. P. Castro, M. Castro

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Small ruminant livestock systems in northeast Portugal are an extensive activity based on daily grazing paths across the landscape. The flocks use multiple patches of multiple land cover types in different ways throughout the year. Shepherd and flock interactions determine the resting and feeding spots utilized by sheep and goats according to the biotic and abiotic conditions. Information about the herding home range is central to managing the land use and vegetation cover and optimizing sheep and goats' productivity in traditional systems. This study's main objective is to contribute to calibrate a shepherding GPS protocol to monitor sheep flocks based …

Restoring Rangelands For Nutrition And Health For Humans And Livestock, I. Öborn, A. Bargués Tobella, G. Bostedt, A. Hörnell, P. Knutsson, K. Lindvall, D. Mpairwe, S. Mureithi, G. Nyberg, Y. Nyberg, B. Schumann, A. Turinawe, T. Vågen, D. Wakjira, L. Winowiecki, E. Wredle

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Drylands cover 40% of the global land area and host 2 billion people, of which 90% live in low- or middleincome countries. Drylands often face severe land degradation, low agricultural productivity, rapid population growth, widespread poverty, and poor health. Governance structures and institutions are often eroded. Livestock-based livelihoods, largely depending on seasonal migration are common. Pastoralist communities and their land are highly vulnerable to climate shocks, while there are also changes in land tenure, insecurity/conflicts and rapid infrastructure development. Drylands Transform is an interdisciplinary research project revolving around the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The project aim is to contribute …

Effect Of Seeding Rates On Productivity And Quality Of Alfalfa In Northern Area Of Korea, Jong Geun Kim, C. Liu, S. N. Wei, Y. F. Li, E. C. Jeong, H. J. Kim

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Alfalfa cultivation in South Korea is not common. There are many reasons, but low productivity has been extremely limited. Although alfalfa growth was poor due to boron deficiency in the soil, the problem has recently been solved. Nevertheless, the cultivation of alfalfa is not expanding. About 200,000 tonnes of alfalfa hay are imported every year. Therefore, this study was conducted to find a way to replace imported hay by expanding alfalfa cultivation in Korea. Alfalfa (P5444) was sown in northern part of South Korea (Pyeongchang). Alfalfa was sown in September 2018 with different seeding rates (20, 30 and 40 kg/ha) …

Effect Of Prompt-Delayed Packaging And Ensiling Time On Fermentation And Aerobic Stability Of Soybean Curd Residue, Ajmal Wali, Takeshi Tsuruta, Naoki Nishino

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Wet soybean curd residue (SCR) obtained from two tofu factories (F1 and F2) was anaerobically stored with or without added beet pulp (BP). Sealing was performed on the day of tofu production (prompt sealing [PS]) or 2 days after SCR was piled and unprocessed (delayed sealing [DS]). Predominant lactic acid fermentation was observed regardless of the sealing time and BP addition. Acinetobacter spp. were the most abundant (> 67%) bacteria in pre-ensiled SCR, regardless of the factory and sealing time. In PS silage, the abundances of typical lactic acid-producing bacteria, such as Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, and Streptococcus spp. reached …

Effect Of Native Grassland Intensification Over Cattle Performance, N. Caram, F. Casalás, M. Cadenazzi, R. Zanoniani, P. Boggiano

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The objective was to evaluate the effect of different levels of intensification in native grassland over cattle live weight gain (LWG), stocking rate (SR) and average daily gain (ADG) in Uruguay. The study was carried out in 7.8 ha in Paysandú, between winter 2015 and autumn 2019. Experiment was a randomized complete block design, with 4 replicates. The four treatments applied were native grassland (NG), NG overseeded with Trifolium pratense (6 kg.ha^-1) and Lotus tenuis (6 kg.ha^-1) + 40 kg.ha^-1 of P₂O₅ (NGO), NG fertilized with 60 kg.ha^-1 of N + …

The Diversity Of Poisonous Plant Patches In The Arid Rangelands Of Namaqualand, South Africa, T. Jamalie, M. I. Samuels, C. F. Cupido, F. L. Müller, W. L. Engelbrecht, T. Dube, R. S. Knight

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The Namaqualand region in South Africa is part of the richest arid biodiversity hotspot in the world. Plant distribution and diversity here are impacted by various biophysical and anthropogenic factors. In these landscapes, poisonous plant patches, which pose serious threats to livestock, are widespread but their contribution to the regions biodiversity are not fully understood. This study assessed their plant diversity and compared its matrix. This study was conducted in the semi-arid to arid Steinkopf pastoral area located in Namaqualand where livestock is still herded daily. Twenty-five paired sites were selected based on the dominance of poisonous plants within the …

Isotopic Δ15N Signature Of Grass-Alone And Grass-Legume Tropical Pastures To Estimate Sources Of Nitrogen To Grasses In Farmer Managed Pastures, Daniel M. Villegas, J. Velasquez, J. Arango, K. Obregon, Idupulapati M. Rao, G. Rosas, A. Oberson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Vast areas of tropical forest have been converted into pastures sown with introduced grasses (Urochloa spp.). The majority of pastures exist in some stage of degradation, which has dramatic ecological and economic consequences. Our objective was to determine isotopic ¹⁵N signature of grass alone and grass-legume pastures to estimate sources of nitrogen (N) to grasses in farmer managed pastures. This work contributes to enhancing the sustainability of tropical pastures in forest margins through the integration of legumes. The overarching hypothesis tested was that legumes associated with grasses will improve nutrient supply via symbiotic fixation and mobilization of soil …

Influence Of Grazing Intensity On Nutrient Concentrations In Grass Tissue: Evidence From Two Savannah Grass Species, C. Munyati

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

High grazing intensity can accelerate the recycling of animal nutrients on savannah rangelands through the deposition of dung and, subsequently, nutrient mineralisation, uptake and concentration in grass tissue. The actual magnitude of this influence can vary depending on the grazing system. This study derived grazing system-dependent magnitudes of the influence of grazing intensity on concentrations of major (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na) and trace (B, Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Se, Zn) animal nutrients in above ground grass tissue. Two grass species were examined: Brachiaria nigropedata, a decreaser, and Eragrostis lehmanniana, an increaser. For the …

Seasonality And Grazing Management Effect On Growth And Nutritional Composition Of Herbage On Semi-Natural Grasslands Grazed By Dairy Cows In Southwest Germany, E. Velasco, S. Perdana-Decker, J. Werner, U. Dickhoefer

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Natural and semi-natural grasslands represent an attractive forage source for cows in organic dairy farming. Throughout the grazing season, however, diverse factors such as climatic conditions, botanical composition, as well as grazing and herd management, can influence growth and nutritive value of forage on grasslands. We aimed at investigating the influence of seasonality and grazing management in forage growth and nutritional quality in seven commercial organic dairy cattle farms during the grazing season 2019 in South Germany. Therefore, forty exclusion cages (1 m²) were installed on pastures, which were under three different grazing systems: rotational, short-grass, and continuous …

Effect Of Cutting Stage And Turning Frequency On Nutritive Value And Digestibility Of Two Tropical Forages, M. M. Chiphwanya, F. C. Chigwa, H. D. C. Msiska

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In Malawi, feed shortage during the dry season (June-October) is a critical factor affecting smallholder dairying. Though suitable improved forages were long introduced, important parameters that indicate forage and hay quality for dry season feeding have been less well studied. This study evaluated the effect of cutting stage and turning frequency at drying of two tropical forages on nutrient composition and digestibility. A 2³ factorial experiment laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design was conducted in Mzuzu milk shed area. Centrosema pubescens and Chloris gayana were established on four plots (5m x 3m) each by 24 dairy farmers; two …

Effect Of Cutting Height On Productivity And Quality Of Alfalfa In Northern Area Of Korea, Jong Geun Kim, C. Liu, S. N. Wei, Y. F. Li, E. C. Jeong, H. J. Kim

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Alfalfa is a very important forage for livestock feeding. In particular, due to the high crude protein content, it is widely used as a dairy cattle feeds. However, the cultivation of alfalfa is quite limited and main source is imported hay in Korea. There are many reasons, but most importantly, low productivity due to lack of boron in the soil. This experiment was conducted to expand domestic production and use of alfalfa. Alfalfa was sown in the fall of 2018 at 30 kg/ha seeding rate. Alfalfa was harvested four times (3 May, 2 July, 11 September and 13 October) in …