Agricultural Science Commons^™

Strategies For Assessing Grassland Degradation With Biogeochemical Models, S. Rolinski, S. B. Wirth, C. Müller, B. Tietjen

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Marginal grasslands provide the basis for livestock rearing and rural livelihoods globally, but are subject to permanent degradation from mismanagement and climate change. Global biogeochemical models are so far not able to represent degradation tipping points in marginal grasslands because plant growth is dependent only on bio-climatic conditions and nutrient availability. Due to their central role for sustaining livelihoods, this lack of representation in such models needs to be addressed. We present an idea on processes and interactions to be considered and on the actual implementation of necessary changes. The model for which we exemplarily develop implementation strategies, LPJmL, accounts …

Rangeland Management In Namibia In The Face Of Looming Desertification: Insights From The Freehold Farmers’ Perspective, Katja Brinkmann, Stefan Liehr, Lena Bickel

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

No abstract provided.

Why We Need A Ruminant Revolution: Combating Malnutrition And Metabolic Illnesses To Enable Sustainable Development, Peter J. Ballerstedt, David B. Hannaway, T. D. Noakes

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Animal source foods (ASF) are essential for proper human development and function. Livestock in general, and ruminants in particular, are essential components of our sustainable global food systems. Of significant worldwide impact, diets with higher-than-recommended levels of ASF can correct the symptoms of metabolic illnesses, offering hope in arresting the current worldwide epidemic of diabetes and other metabolic diseases. Most dietary policy and recommendations are based on the ill-founded belief that plant-based, high-carbohydrate diets are “healthy.” High-quality scientific evidence does not support the belief that vegetarian diets are healthier than omnivorous or animal-based diets. A Therapeutic Carbohydrate Reduction (TCR) lifestyle …

Where Is The Livestock Future – Plate- Or Land-Based? The Potential Of Knowledge-Based, Holistic Grazing Concepts For Altering Grazing Livestock Systems, Juliane Horn, Johannes Isselstein

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In those days, livestock production heavily depends on feed grown on arable land. Pork production needs most of arable land to gain one kilogram of human-edible protein, followed by chicken, beef production and the dairy sector. In many European countries there is a sharp decline in livestock grazing. Many dairy farms are under pressure to maximize the total annual milk output per cow resulting in increased herd sizes by occupying a minimum of land and feeding of conserved forage of silage and concentrates. Such practices reinforce the competition for arable land for animal feeding as well as grassland intensification by …

Food Security In Crop, Livestock And Mixed Farming Systems In Mali, C. Reiber, A. Carbajal, S. Traoré, R. Birner, M. Chagunda

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This study evaluates the food security status, its determinants and the coping strategies in crop, livestock and mixed crop-livestock systems in southern Mali. Interviews were conducted with 258 households that were categorized into the three farming systems based on the revenue from livestock and crop production. A linear mixed model was used to analyse the effects of household characteristics on food security using the food consumption score (FCS), household dietary diversity score (HDDS), a modified household food insecurity access scale (mHFIAS) and coping strategies as indicators. Food consumption score was significantly influenced by the farming system with highest FCS for …

Involving Stakeholders In Crop-Livestock Systems Analysis: Innovation Platforms In Burkina Faso And Niger, West Africa, V. Bado, Andre Van Rooyen, C. Umutoni, A. Whitbread

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The development of markets and agricultural productivity need participative research approaches that involve farmers, stakeholders and actors in the value chains of agricultural products and inputs. This study illustrates the use of multi-stakeholder platforms to address critical issues that often curtail effective implementation of development strategies and achievement of objectives. The process used to facilitate stakeholder participation and achieve enhanced understanding of collective actions to achieve objectives is illustrated by case studies in Niger and Burkina Faso. The process that determines the causal relationships among the various problems is also presented; results from the process can be used to determine …

Simulation Of Alternative Plans For Community Based Goat Breeding Program In Arid, Semi-Arid And Mixed Production Systems In Ethiopia, T. Jembere, Barbara Rischkowsky, T. Dessie, K. Kebede, A. Okeyo Mwai, T. Mirkena, A. Haile

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

On station small ruminant researches in Ethiopia were ineffective due to various factors. As alternative, community based breeding program (CBBP) has emerged. In the current CBBPs, sire side selection only (SN1) is practiced. The objective of the present work was to compare SN1 by simulating alternative breeding scenarios for Abergelle (AB), Centeral Highland (CH) and Woyto-Guji (WG) goat breeds in Ethiopia. Three scenarios including selection on dam side (SN2) in addition to SN1, application of genomic selection (SN3) onto SN1 and use of sires from SN1 for mating in additional flocks (SN4) were simulated and compared with SN1 based on …

Ewe Daily-Weight Gain Grazing Leucaena Leucocephala-Megathyrsus Maximus Cv Mombasa Silvopastoral System And Tropical Native Unimproved Range, L. K. Trejo-Arista, Enrique Cortés-Díaz, P. A. Martínez-Hernández, J. A. Cadena-Meneses

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Silvopastoral systems are a viable option to increase livestock productivity, The silvopastoral arrangement of Leucaena leucocephala associated with Megathyrsus maximus CV Mombasa (LMS) is successfully cultivated in tropical environments.. The objective of the study was to determine ewe daily-weight gain grazing LMS and a tropical unimproved native range. Two LMS were tested: high and low leucaena densities, 4700 and 2383 plants/ha, respectively. Grazing was rotational, lasted 150 d (rainy season) at equivalent stocking rate of 59 ewes/ha/150 d. Experimental design was a completely random design with three replications, the experimental unit was a 192 m² plot. Variables measured on …

Assessing The Potential Of Diverse Forage Mixtures To Reduce Enteric Ch4 Emissions, C. Loza, S. Verma, S. Wolffram, A. Susenbeth, R. Blank, Friedhelm Taube, Ralf Loges, M. Hasler, C. S. Malisch

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Enteric methane (CH₄) is a main source of agriculture-related greenhouse gasses. Conversely, pasture is increasingly demanded by customers due to both perceived and real benefits regarding animal welfare, environmental aspects and product quality. However, if implemented poorly, CH₄ emissions can increase, thus contributing to climate change. One promising option to reduce enteric CH₄ emissions are plant specialized metabolites (PSM), and particularly tannins. Consequently, we conducted two complementary experiments to determine to what extent enteric CH₄ emissions can be reduced, and how this affects milk yields: a) an in vivo experiment with grazing Jersey cows, where …

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 …

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 …

Irrigation Management Strategies For Fodder Beet (Beta Vulgaris L.) Crops, Edith N. Khaembah, John M. De Ruiter, E. Chakwizira, S. Maley, M. J. George

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The production of fodder beet (Beta vulgaris L.) in New Zealand is concentrated in the South Island, and often requires irrigation to achieve high yields. Development of efficient irrigation management strategies requires information on the effect of timing and rate of irrigation on crop growth. A field study was conducted on a moderately deep soil at Chertsey, Canterbury, New Zealand, to evaluate crop growth responses to five irrigation managements: Rain-fed (control), weekly replacement of full evapotranspiration (FullET-weekly), and 50% of evapotranspiration replaced weekly (HalfET-weekly), fortnightly (HalfET-2weekly) or 3-weekly (HalfET-3weekly). Irrigation to replace ET was adjusted to account for rainfall …

Maintain Forage Yields In Long- And Short-Term Grasslands In Norway, I. Sturite, T. Maeland, M. Höglind

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Various reasons have been invoked explaining the low renovation activity in Norwegian grassland farming: swards are often located in marginal areas, ploughing and reseeding gives low or no yield in the renovation year, and it may be unprofitable to establish a new sward. The establishment of new leys can also prove difficult in seasons with unfavourable weather conditions. Thus, farmers prefer long-term or permanent swards as opposed to ploughed and reseeded swards. The hypotheses of this study is that under equal management conditions, permanent and temporary swards (leys) that are reseeded frequently are equally productive. We present results from an …

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 …

Regeneration Of Old Ungrazed Old Man Saltbush (Atriplex Nummularia) Stands In South-West Australia, S. J. Bennett, S. G. Low, D. Collins, V. Crouch

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Many old man saltbush (Atriplex nummularia) stands were sown in the grainbelt of Western Australia for soil regeneration and salinity management up to 25 years ago, but have not been effectively grazed subsequently, such that the main feed available for sheep is above grazing height. The aim of the study was therefore to see if it was possible to return the old man saltbush stands to a productive grazing stand.

Two sites were chosen that had been sown up to 25 years previously in Goomalling and Corrigin, in the south-west of Western Australia. The sites were split into …

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 …

Grass-Legume Mixtures For Diversified And Profitable Forage Production, M. A. Islam, D. Ashilenje

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grass-legume mixtures can improve forage yields, nutritive value, and net economic benefits. A replicated experiment was conducted from 2013-2017 at the University of Wyoming Sheridan Research and Extension Center to determine forage yield, nutritive value, and gross margin for meadow bromegrass (Bromus riparius Rehm.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.), and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) mixtures and monocultures. Treatments included 50-50% and 70-30% mixtures of meadow bromegrass with each legume and 50-25-25% mixture of meadow bromegrass with two legumes and 50-16.7-16.7-16.7% mixture of meadow bromegrass, alfalfa, sainfoin, and birdsfoot trefoil. Grass monocultures received …