Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Livestock Policy In Special Areas, Alberta, Canada, P. L. Strankman

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Special Areas, Alberta, Canada, is a rural municipality of 2.1 million hectares (about 5 million acres) in south-eastern Alberta. It is home to almost 5000 residents, with a unique governance arrangement in Alberta. Most of the farms and ranches utilize a mix of crop and livestock primarily annual cereal and oil seed cultivation and beef cattle. These production units are usually a mosaic of privately-owned land and Crown land leased from the government.

It provides an interesting case study for the local, and national challenges facing western Canadian agriculture. It also provides an opportunity to contrast with different bioclimatic and …

International Grassland Congress Outlook – A Historical Review And Future Expectations, L. R. Humphreys

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Features of the history of the International Grassland Congress are mentioned. Aspects of a number of failed themes in grassland science are described with respect to molecular biology, intensive systems of ruminant production, carbohydrate use in plant growth, plant succession and range condition, and stocking method. Future expectations are focused on meeting a balance of objectives, maintaining reductionist science, taking new initiatives in plant improvement and in the development of animal production systems, and reducing barriers to international trade. The adoption of grassland science depends upon the growth of new learning, especially through cyclical interaction between scientists and farmers.

Propastizal: A Sustainable Range Management Program For Rio Negro Province (Argentina), G. L. Siffredi, F. Boggio, J. Ayesa, H. Giorgetti, A. Kröpfl, L. Villasuso, R. Lini, T. Bassi, D. Bolla, N. Migueles, Martínez Luque, J. Bueno, M. Villablanca, E. Garín, E. Tejeda

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

No abstract provided.

The Application Of Farming System Models To The Problem Of Sustainable Grasslands Management In Northern China And Australia, Randall Jones, D. Michalk, David R. Kemp, J. P. Wu, T. Takahashi, Z. F. Ma, G. Millar

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

No abstract provided.

Energy Analysis For The Sustainability Of An Agro‐Ecosystem In Ningxia Province, China, Huilong Lin, Ruijun Long

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

No abstract provided.

Estilosantes Campo Grande: An Economical And Environmental Success Forage Legume For The Tropics, Celso D. Fernandes, Bela Grof, Rosangela M. S. Resende, Jaqueline R. Verzignassi, Cesar Heraclides Behling Miranda

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

No abstract provided.

Evaluating Alternative Livestock Production Systems Sustainability And Farmer Income In Taipusi Banner, Inner Mongolia, Q. Tian, R. Jones, David L. Michalk, Geoff D. Millar, David R. Kemp, Z. Xu, J. Xie, Y. Zheng

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

No abstract provided.

In‐Herd Diversity Of Lifetime Performances: A Key For The Sustainability Of Livestock Farming System Based On Grassland, Laurence Puillet, D. Sauvant, M. Tichit

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

No abstract provided.

A Practical System For Wa South Coast Cattle Producers To Double Their Production With The C4 Grass, Kikuyu (Pennisetum Clandestinum), Nicole Y. Chalmer

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

No abstract provided.

Forage‐Based Indicators Of Environmental Sustainability Of Dairy Farms In Eastern Canada, V. Bélanger, A. Vanasse, Gilles Bélanger, D. Angers, Guy Allard

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

No abstract provided.

21st Century Pastoralism--Remote Management Innovations For Sustainability In Arid Rangeland Pastoral Production, M. R. C. Ashley, A. J. Bubb, Adrian R. James, Craig D. James, C. H. James

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Management In Maintaining Grassland Sustainability In The Carpathian Mountains From Romania, V. Vintu, C. Samuil, T. Iacob, Gh. Saghin, E. G. Teodorescu

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

No abstract provided.

Rangeland, Ecological Integrity And Sustainability: An Analysis In The Himalayan Mountain Context, Vir Singh, Babita Bohra, Manisha Joshi

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

No abstract provided.

The Use Of Criteria And Indicator Monitoring Of Ecosystem Sustainability To Assess Ecosystem Services On Grasslands/Rangelands, R. Dennis Child, Janette Kaiser, Ralph Crawford

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

No abstract provided.

Conservation Tillage Influence On Topsoil Aggregation And Carbon Content On The Loess Plateau, China, Jing Yang, Yuying Shen, Zhibiao Nan, Yining Niu, Liying Geng

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

No abstract provided.

Irish Grasslands 2010: A Sustainable Environment?, R. P. O. Schulte, N. Culleton

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

No abstract provided.

Sustainability And Optimization Of Rangeland Uses: Issues Of Perspective And Scale, T. L. Thurow

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

No abstract provided.

Cultivating The Next Generation Of Pasture Scientists In Australia, Sarita Jane Bennett

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Current students coming through agricultural faculties in Australian universities have grown up in an era of low wool and meat prices, the introduction and acceptance of no-till farming as the norm and a general decrease in mixed farming landscapes in favour of continuous cropping. Since the collapse of the wool reserve price scheme in 1991, wool prices declined and income on wool producing farms followed suit. R & D during this period has also declined from 5-4% agricultural GDP in 1986 to only 3% in 2005 and has favoured research related to cropping rather than that related to pastures and …

Farmers Teaching Farmers: What Motivates Volunteer Farm Trainers?, Evelyne Kiptot, Steven Franzel

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

This paper assesses the motivation behind the decisions of smallholder farmers to volunteer as farmer trainers despite the fact that they are not paid for their services. Volunteer farmer trainers (VFTs) are trained in livestock feeds and feeding methods by extension officers. They in turn train other farmers within their community without pay but receive training and seeds for setting up demonstration plots. Data collection was through a combination of focus group discussions and individual interviews with 99 VFTs from seven East Africa Dairy Development (EADD) sites in central and Rift Valley regions of Kenya. Findings of the study showed …

Grass-Based Health, Peter Ballerstedt

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

A true discussion of sustainability must focus on improving the condition of humanity. Too often, however, such a discussion is a "dialogue of values that defies consensual definition" (Ratner 2004), with participants implicitly accepting as true numerous foundational beliefs that are factually incorrect or unproven. Dietary policies recommending carbohydrate-based diets are one example. Falsehoods persist despite decades of contradictory re-search results and clinical findings, contaminating a variety of diverse disciplines and discussions. A rational, objective discussion of sustainability in grassland agriculture must confront the issue of public health policy, consider our physical health, the fiscal health of our communities, and …

Impact Of Guinea Grass, Congo Signal And Stylosanthes Hamata On Soil Physico-Chemical Properties And Beneficial Micro Fauna In Mango And Sapota Plantations, B. G. Shivakumar, Narendra S. Kulkarni

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Farming systems are considered to be most important upcoming enterprises to reduce soil erosion and land degradation besides provide timber, fruits, nutritious fodder for live stock population in the poor soil areas (Roy et.al., 2000). Horticulture based farming systems have been recommended as alternate land use systems for sustainable agriculture in semi arid ecosystem for efficient soil plant management and soil fertility management. Studies on micro flora and micro fauna under farming system are required to increase the farming system productivity. Higher species diversity of soil arthropods was observed in grassland system closely followed by the silvipasture …

Should Native Pastures Be Fertilised?, Jo I. Powells, Doug J. Alcock, Luke C. Pope, Denys Garden

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Considerable research has been conducted in recent years demonstrating the ongoing benefits of phosphorus (P) fertiliser in achieving and maintaining higher levels of production from native pastures (Graham 2006; Garden et al. 2003; Lodge et al. 2003; Michalk et al. 2003). However Garden et al. (2003), Hill et al. (2004) and Dorrough et al. (2008) all question the sustainability of this practice by highlighting changes in species composition of these pastures with regard to increasing the introduced annual grass and broadleaf weed components at the expense of the native grasses and forbs but in …

Using Forages To Conserve Water In Semi-Arid Irrigated Cropping Systems, Rick Kellison, V. G. Allen, C. P. Brown, D. L. Doerfert, P. N. Johnson, S. J. Maas, C. P. West

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The Texas High Plains are part of the largest, contiguously irrigated cropland in the USA, and draws water from the Ogallala aquifer. High crop prices, increased demand for maize for ethanol production, and severe drought have increased water depletion rates. Research has shown that integrating forages and grazing cattle into the cotton-dominant cropping system can reduce overall water use (Allen et al. 2012) while still offering farmers positive net returns (Johnson et al. 2013). Integrating forages with row crops also reduces needs for nitrogen (N) fertilizer, rebuilds soil organic matter (Acosta-Martinez et al. 2010), and reduces fossil energy …

The North Wyke Farm Platform: Methodologies Used In The Remote Sensing Of The Quantity And Quality Of Drainage Water, Bruce A. Griffith, Jane M. B. Hawkins, Robert J. Orr, Martin S. A. Blackwell, Phil J. Murray

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The North Wyke Farm Platform(NWFP) for agri-environmental research in temperate grassland was established in the UK in 2010 (Orr et al. 2011). Here we describe the instrumentation and methodologies used to monitor the quantity and quality of drainage water at a total of 15 H-flumes draining 5 sub-catchments within three farmlets. Each of 15 flume laboratories is supplied with 3 kW of mains power and connected to both fibre optic and UHF (Ultra High Frequency) radio networks for data exchange. The radio data network also provides telemetry for rain gauges and soil temperature/moisture probes located away from the flumes …

Botanical Composition And Nutritive Value Of Grazing Lands From Organic And Conventional Agrosilvopastoral Production Systems Of Tropical Southeastern Mexico, Claudia Delgadillo Puga, José Bernardo Sánchez Muñoz, José Nahed-Toral, Miguel Ángel Orantes Zebadua, José Luis Cruz Lopez, Mario Cuchillo Hilario

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

In the current situation of agriculture, organic livestock farming has been not only adapted to ameliorate undesirable impacts on environment but also it is challenged to hold or improve agricultural yields obtain-ed by conventional agriculture. In the Mesoamerican biological corridor, a region recognized with an abundant diversity, almost all animal husbandry is based on extensive grazing and traditional agrosilvopastoral systems (Nahed-Toral et al. 2009; Nahed et al. 2010). Furthermore, the conversion of natural jungle areas to new farmland through deforestation is a prevalent problem for biological conservation. Therefore, precise knowledge for suitable agriculture and livestock product-ion are needed …

Integrating Beef And Cotton Production Reduces Irrigation Needs In The Texas Southern High Plains, C. Philip Brown, V. G. Allen, Rick Kellison, P. Green, C. J. Zilverberg, P. Johnson, V. Acosta-Martinez, C. P. West

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The Texas High Plains is a semiarid agricultural region located in the central south plains of the United States. This area exemplifies semiarid regions where water is becoming scarce. Crop production depends heavily on irrigation primarily from the Ogallala aquifer at non-sustainable rates of use. Irrigated monoculture cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is the dominant crop but grazing livestock in this once vast grassland is re-emerging as the aquifer declines. Environmental benefits of integrated crop and livestock systems have been suggested. We compared a cotton monoculture with an integrated cotton-forage-beef stocker steer system over 10 yr to determine effects on …

Integrated Crop Livestock Systems--A Key To Sustainable Intensification In Africa, A. J. Duncan, S. A. Tarawali, P. Thorne, D. Valbuena, Katrien Descheemaeker, Sabine Homann-Keetui

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Mixed crop-livestock systems provide livelihoods for a billion people and produce half the world’s cereal and around a third of its beef and milk. Market orientation and strong and growing demand for food provide powerful incentives for sustainable intensification of both crop and livestock enterprises in smallholders’ mixed systems in Africa. Better exploitation of the mutually reinforcing nature of crop and livestock systems can contribute to a positive, inclusive growth trajectory that is both ecologically and economically sustainable. In mixed systems, livestock intensification is often neglected relative to crops, yet livestock can make a positive contribution to raising productivity of …

Forage Systems Effect On Forage-Fed Beef Production, Guillermo Scaglia, Basu Bhandari, Jeffrey M. Gillespie, Jim J. Wang

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Locally produced forage-finished beef offers high value while enhancing economic, environmental, and social sustainability. It enhances environmental quality and the natural resource base, and makes good use of resources both on and off-farm. On the farm, it makes the most of the ability of cattle to convert grass to meat in a low-input system, making efficient use of solar energy, improving soil nutrient cycling, conserving soil and water, and limiting reliance on non-renewable resources (DeRamus 2004). Although the major causes of increased greenhouse gas emissions are due to population growth and industrialization, agriculture contributes to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions through …

The Evolving Beef Industry And Its Sustainability In Western China, J. P. Wu, Z. M. Lei, L. P. Zhang, X. R. Wang, S. G. Zhao, C. Q. Zhang, G. H. Sun, S. G. Li

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The beef industry in China has started to develop since the 1980s. Since then, its production system has been evolving significantly from subsistence production towards business operation in farmer households. As demands continue to grow, China will become the largest beef consumption country in the world by the year of 2025. The beef production in China’s western agriculture regions is gaining significant role in the beef industry of China. Utilization of corn stover and other agriculture aftermath is seen as the competitive advantage of development of the beef industry. Over the last 30 years the beef production efficiency has been …

Survey Of Pasture Species And Management, Manure Management, Milk Production And Reproduction On Pasture-Based Dairy Farms In Florida And Georgia, Usa, F. Du, K. D. Gay, M. E. Sowerby, Y. C. Newman, C. R. Staples, R. C. Lacy, A. De Vries

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Traditionally, most dairy farms in the south-eastern United States confine cows to barns or on pasture lots year-round and feed stored forages and concentrated feeds (Fontaneli et al. 2005). Often, much of the feed is purchased, however, the cost of purchased feed and fuel has risen rapidly in the last 5 years (NASS 2009). In addition, a significant amount of capital is tied up in buildings, machinery and manure management systems on the farms. For these reasons, many dairy farmers have shown an interest in or started transitioning to pasture-based dairy systems (Ricks and Hardee 2012). The management practices …