Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons^™

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 …

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

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

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

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

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

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

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

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

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