scholarly journals Effects of grazing systems on herbage mass and liveweight gain of Tibetan sheep in Eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China

2015 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Sun ◽  
J. P. Angerer ◽  
F. J. Hou
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Cold Season ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Tibetan Sheep ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Grazing Period ◽  
Opposite Tendency

Grazing strategies, consisting of grazing systems and stocking rate adjustments, have evolved from the need to sustain efficient use of the forage resources by livestock, increase animal performance and sustain forage production. A 3-year study was conducted with Tibetan sheep on the Eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China to compare: (1) two grazing systems [season-long continuous (SLC; July to December) versus short duration with seasonal rotation (SDSR; July to September in growing-season pasture and October to December in cold-season pasture) with a stocking rate of 24 sheep months ha–1(SM ha–1)]; (2) SDSR system with 24, 36 and 48 SM ha–1; and (3) seasonal aspects of stocking rate under the SDSR system by comparing strategies of heavy stocking rate in the growing season and light stocking rate in the cold season (SDSR-HL) versus light stocking rate in the growing season and heavy stocking rate in the cold season (SDSR-LH). No differences were found between grazing systems in liveweight gain per head or per ha and in residual herbage mass. Liveweight gain per head for treatment SDSR24 was greater than for treatments SDSR36 and SDRS48, whereas liveweight gain per ha showed the opposite tendency. No differences were found between the SDSR-HL and SDSR-LH treatments in liveweight gain per head or per ha, whereas the ratio of residual herbage mass at the end of grazing the growing-season pasture to the cold pasture of treatment SDSR-LH was more than twice that of treatment SDSR-HL. Daily liveweight gain of Tibetan sheep decreased linearly with increasing grazing pressure in both growing and cold seasons. It was estimated that, at a grazing pressure index of 310 sheep days t–1 DM peak herbage mass, liveweight gain per head and ha appears to be optimised over the whole grazing period. Liveweight loss by Tibetan sheep during the cold season was apparent regardless of grazing pressure indicating that temperature had a stronger influence on sheep performance in the cold season than herbage availability.

scholarly journals Seasonal hogget grazing as a potential alternative grazing system for the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau: weight gain and animal behaviour under continuous or rotational grazing at high or low stocking rates

2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 329 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. C. Du ◽  
T. Yan ◽  
S. H. Chang ◽  
Z. F. Wang ◽  
F. J. Hou
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Cold Season ◽  
Bodyweight Gain ◽  
Rotational Grazing ◽  
Grazing System ◽  
Tibetan Sheep ◽  
Utilisation Efficiency

The traditional transhumance grazing system on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) is being replaced by a system in which pastoralists are allocated fixed areas for grazing. In this context, we conducted experiments to evaluate a possible change to seasonal grazing of young animals for weight gain, and the effects of grazing management (continuous grazing (CG) vs rotational grazing (RG)) and stocking rate (SR) on the performance and behaviour of Oura-type Tibetan sheep. In Experiment 1 (June–December 2014), 72 Tibetan sheep (initial bodyweight (BW) 32.2 ± 3.37 kg) were allocated to one of three treatments: (1) CG24 – eight sheep grazed continuously in a single 2-ha plot for the entire duration of the experiment; (2) RG24 – eight sheep grazed in a 1-ha plot from June to September (growing season), and then moved to a new plot for September–December grazing (early cold season); (3) RG48 – eight sheep grazed in a 0.5-ha plot, but otherwise as for RG24. All treatments had three replicates. In Experiment 2 (September–December 2014), 48 Tibetan sheep (initial BW 46.3 ± 1.62 kg) were used to repeat the RG24 and RG48 treatments imposed in the early cold season of the Experiment 1. In both experiments, increasing SR significantly reduced bodyweight gain (BWG) per head and increased BWG per ha in the RG treatments. In Experiment 1, RG, compared with CG, did not significantly affect BWG per head, BWG per ha, or feed utilisation efficiency. In both experiments weight gain was small or negative in the early cold season. These results indicate that removal of sheep at the onset of the cold season will be important for retention of the weight gain achieved in the growing season but choice between a CG and RG grazing system is unimportant for the production efficiency in the proposed grazing system of Tibetan sheep.

Cattle Grazing on the Shortgrass Steppe

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard H. Hart ◽  
Justin D. Derner
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Cattle Grazing ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Shortgrass Steppe ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Large Herbivore ◽  
Time Period ◽  
History Of ◽  
Grazing Systems

Cattle are the primary grazers on the shortgrass steppe. For example, during the late 1990s, 21 shortgrass counties in Colorado reported about 2.36 million cattle compared with 283,000 sheep (National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA, 1997a), 60,000 pronghorn antelope, and a few thousand bison (Hart, 1994). Assuming one bison or five to six sheep or pronghorn consume as much forage as one bovine (Heady and Child, 1994), cattle provide about 97% of the large-herbivore grazing pressure in this region. The ratio of cattle to other grazers is even greater in the remainder of the shortgrass steppe. In 1997, the three panhandle counties of Oklahoma reported 387,000 cattle and only 1300 sheep, whereas the 38 panhandle counties of Texas reported 4.24 million cattle and 14,000 sheep (National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA, 1997b,c). How ever, only a bout half the cattle in the panhandle counties of Texas and Oklahoma graze on rangeland the remainer are in feedlots. Rangeland research on the shortgrass steppe (Table 17.1 describes the parameters of the major research stations in the shortgrass steppe) has included a long history of both basic ecology and grazing management. The responses of rangeland plant communities to herbivory are addressed by Milchunas et al. (chapter 16, this volume) and to disturbance are discussed by Peters et al. (chapter 6, this volume). Here we focus on research pertaining to three management practices important to cattle ranching on shortgrass steppe: stocking rates, grazing systems, and extending the grazing season via complementary pastures and use of pastures dominated by Atriplex canescens [Pursh] Nutt (fourwing saltbush). Stocking rate, de. ned as the number of animals per unit area for a speci. ed time period, is the primary and most easily controlled variable in the management of cattle grazing. Cattle weight gain responses to stocking rate or grazing pressure (animal days per unit of forage produced) have been quanti. ed in several grazing studies on the shortgrass steppe (Bement, 1969, 1974; Hart and Ashby, 1998; Klipple and Costello, 1960). Average daily gains per animal are better estimated as a function of grazing pressure, rather than stocking rate, as forage production is highly variable in this semiarid environment (Lauenroth and Sala, 1992; Milchunas et al., 1994).

The effects of grazing on the phosphorus requirement of an annual pasture

1971 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 81 ◽  
Author(s):  
PG Ozanne ◽  
KMW Howes
Keyword(s):  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Maximum Growth ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Light Interception ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Phosphorus Requirement ◽  
Root Size

The applied phosphorus requirement of a pasture sown to subterranean clover was measured with and without grazing. Under moderate grazing pressure, in the year of establishment, the pasture required about 50 % more phosphorus than when ungrazed. In the following season, at a higher stocking rate, the grazed areas needed twice as much phosphorus as the ungrazed to make 90% of their maximum growth. In both years this difference in requirement between stocked and unstocked treatments was present throughout the growing season. Increased phosphorus requirement under grazing is associated with the need for greater uptake of phosphorus under conditions where redistribution of absorbed phosphorus within the plant is prevented by defoliation. It does not appear to be due to effects of defoliation on root size. Nor does it depend on differential light interception or on changes in botanical composition.

scholarly journals Forage yield in pastures with bermuda grass mixed with different legumes

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Nunes Assis dos Anjos ◽  
Clair Jorge Olivo ◽  
Caroline Paim Sauter ◽  
Aline Rodrigues Silva ◽  
Fabiene Tomazetti dos Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Production Rate ◽  
Accumulation Rate ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Forage Yield ◽  
Bermuda Grass ◽  
Holstein Cows ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Common Vetch ◽  
Grazing Systems

Three grazing systems with Coastcross-1 bermuda grass (CC) + 100 kg N ha-1 year-1 + common vetch; CC + 100 kg N ha-1 year-1 + arrowleaf clover; and CC + 200 kg N ha-1 year-1 were evaluated. Thirteen grazing cycles were performed during the experimental period (313 days), with two, five, four and two cycles respectively in winter, spring, summer and fall. Lactating Holstein cows were used in the evaluation. Daily accumulation rate, forage production, rate of forage disappearance, agronomic intake, grazing efficiency, herbage allowance and stocking rate were evaluated. Mean rates of forage yield and stocking rate were 20.8; 17.6 and 19.7 t DM ha-1 and 7.0; 6.8 to 6.8 animal units ha-1 day-1 for the respective forage systems. The mixture Coastcross-1 plus common vetch, fertilized with 100 kg N ha-1 year-1 and Coastcross-1 fertilized with 200 kg N ha-1 year-1 provided greater productivity and better distribution of forage throughout the seasons. 

scholarly journals Effects of Dietary Protein Levels on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits, Serum Metabolites, and Meat Composition of Tibetan Sheep during the Cold Season on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 801
Author(s):  
Xungang Wang ◽  
Tianwei Xu ◽  
Xiaoling Zhang ◽  
Yuanyue Geng ◽  
Shengping Kang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Dietary Protein ◽  
Carcass Traits ◽  
Cold Season ◽  
Serum Metabolites ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Meat Composition ◽  
Tibetan Sheep ◽  
Body Weights

Dietary protein is a critical nutrient that directly influences the health and production of livestock. Recent studies showed that protein supplements could enhance the growth performance of Tibetan sheep. However, there is a lack of information regarding the influence of dietary protein levels on carcass traits and meat composition. This study investigated the effects of dietary protein levels on growth performance, carcass traits, serum metabolites, and meat composition in Tibetan sheep during the cold season on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. A total of eighteen 1-year-old, healthy, castrated Tibetan sheep with similar initial body weights (31.7 ± 0.72 kg) were randomly divided into three treatment groups with different dietary protein level (low protein (LP, 10.1%); medium protein (MP, 12.1%); high protein (HP, 14.1%)) diets. The results indicated that the Tibetan sheep fed with the MP and HP diets had greater final body weights (BWs), average daily gains (ADGs), and average daily feed intakes (ADFIs) (p < 0.05). The MP and HP diets also improved the hot carcass weight, net meat (including the fat) weight, and bone weight of the sheep significantly (p < 0.05). Besides, the dietary protein levels could significantly affect the serum concentrations of growth hormone (p < 0.05). The diameter of muscle fibers in the MP group was significantly greater than that in the LP group (p < 0.05), while the density of muscle fibers showed the opposite trend. The dietary protein levels only significantly (p < 0.05) influenced the ether extract content and profile content of the longissimus dorsi muscle but had no effect on other parameters of meat composition. In summary, our results indicate that dietary protein levels affect growth performance, carcass traits, and meat composition and that diets containing 12.1% and 14.1% protein are recommended to obtain better production performance and meat products in Tibetan sheep, rather than a diet containing 10.1% protein, during the cold season on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

Production of grazed tropical grasses at Toa Baja in the humid northern coastal plains of Puerto Rico

1969 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-98
Author(s):  
Luis E. Tergas ◽  
Jaime Vélez-Santiago ◽  
Doralisa Vera de Saldaña
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Panicum Maximum ◽  
Coastal Plains ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Tropical Grasses ◽  
Digitaria Decumbens ◽  
Average Production ◽  
Grazing Period ◽  
Cynodon Nlemfuensis

A field experiment was conducted on a private farm near Toa Baja in the humid northern coastal plains of Puerto Rico to evaluate the production and persistence of 12 tropical grasses, Cynodon nlemfuensis var. nlemfuensis Star, C. dactylon Coastcross-1, Brachiaria brizantha Signal, B. ruzuziensis Congo PR PI 5366 and 11716, C. dactylon Toño, Eriochloa polystachya Carib, C. plectostachyus Star, Digitaria decumbens Transvala, C. plectostachyus Star, B. radicans Tanner and Panicum maximum Makueni under grazing at 3- to 5-week intervals for 2 years. Average production per grazing period, 1.59 and 1.52 ton/ha, respectively, was not significantly different (P = 0.05) among species and cultivars in either year. Forage production in December and May was low compared to that of other periods. This difference might have been associated with low rainfall in December 1983 and April 1984. Lower production in October and early November, 1984, was due to unusually low rainfall that year. Differences in relative palatability of the large number of species and cultivars, and the low grazing pressure at which they were evaluated might explain the lack of significant differences in the performance of these grasses. These variables must be taken into consideration in the design of future experiments for better interpretation of the results.

Stocking rate effects on metabolizable energy intake and grazing behaviour of Tan sheep in steppe grassland on the Loess Plateau of Northwest China

2010 ◽  
Vol 148 (6) ◽  
pp. 709-721 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. J. CHEN ◽  
F. J. HOU ◽  
C. MATTHEW ◽  
X. Z. HE
Keyword(s):  
Loess Plateau ◽  
Northwest China ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
The Loess Plateau ◽  
Height Range ◽  
Grazing System ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Grazing Period ◽  
Grazing Behaviour

SUMMARYA simulated grazing system was set up in Huanxian County, Gansu province, on the Loess Plateau of Northwest China, involving the purchase of 18-month-old wether lambs in June of each year at c. 20 kg body weight (BW) and sale 6 months later at c. 35 kg BW. Three stocking rate (SR) treatments of 2·7, 5·3 and 8·7 wether lambs/ha were evaluated on geographically separated warm season (WS) and cold season (CS) paddocks c. 1 km apart; 3 years' data are reported (2004–2006). The metabolizable energy (ME) yield of the grazing system, calculated from the weight of animals fed and their weight gain, averaged 1·7, 3·3 and 4·7 GJ/ha/year for 2004, 2005 and 2006, respectively, in the WS and 0·9, 1·9, and 2·7 GJ/ha/year, respectively, in the CS for SR of 2·7, 5·3 and 8·7 animals/ha. Detailed grazing behaviour records were kept in order to elucidate intake dynamics. In these grazing systems, bite weight was typically c. 0·04 g/bite, lower than for temperate grazing systems at comparable herbage mass. A hypothesis for further study is proposed that this may relate to the distribution of a similar herbage mass over a greater sward height range in steppe vegetation than in temperate grass pasture. Sheep increased their bite rate (bites/min) and the number of steps/min at higher SR to compensate, such that intake/animal was reduced by not more than 10% with a threefold increase in SR. At higher SR, herbage ground cover on grazed plots was still lower than on ungrazed plots, 1 year after a 90-day summer grazing period or a 48-day winter grazing period. The significance of the findings for management of these systems is briefly discussed.

Management of grazing systems

1989 ◽  
pp. 117-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Hodgson
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Management Control ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Pastoral Systems ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Alternative Means ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Stocking Rates

Recent assessments of the relative importance of stocking rate. stocking policy and grazing management on the output from pastoral systems are used as a starting point to argue the need for objective pasture assessments to aid control of livestock enterprises to meet production targets. Variations in stocking rates, stocking policy and other management practices all provide alternative means of control of pasture conditions which are the major determinants of pasture and animal performance. Understanding of the influence of pasture conditions on systems performance should provide a better basis for management control and for Communication between farmers, extension officers and researchers. Keywords: Stocking rate, pasture condition, pasture cover

Effects of yak dung patch dropped in cold season on soil and pasture on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

2013 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 241-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-jun Yu ◽  
Chang-lin Xu ◽  
I. Muhammad ◽  
Rui-jun Long
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Cold Season ◽  
Yak Dung

Dynamic and Thermodynamic Relations of Distinctive Stratus Clouds on the Lee Side of the Tibetan Plateau in the Cold Season

2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (21) ◽  
pp. 8378-8391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Zhang ◽  
Rucong Yu ◽  
Jian Li ◽  
Weihua Yuan ◽  
Minghua Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Cold Season ◽  
Water Vapor Transport ◽  
The Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Primary Role ◽  
Moist Air ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Stratus Clouds

Abstract Given the large discrepancies that exist in climate models for shortwave cloud forcing over eastern China (EC), the dynamic (vertical motion and horizontal circulation) and thermodynamic (stability) relations of stratus clouds and the associated cloud radiative forcing in the cold season are examined. Unlike the stratus clouds over the southeastern Pacific Ocean (as a representative of marine boundary stratus), where thermodynamic forcing plays a primary role, the stratus clouds over EC are affected by both dynamic and thermodynamic factors. The Tibetan Plateau (TP)-forced low-level large-scale lifting and high stability over EC favor the accumulation of abundant saturated moist air, which contributes to the formation of stratus clouds. The TP slows down the westerly overflow through a frictional effect, resulting in midlevel divergence, and forces the low-level surrounding flows, resulting in convergence. Both midlevel divergence and low-level convergence sustain a rising motion and vertical water vapor transport over EC. The surface cold air is advected from the Siberian high by the surrounding northerly flow, causing low-level cooling. The cooling effect is enhanced by the blocking of the YunGui Plateau. The southwesterly wind carrying warm, moist air from the east Bay of Bengal is uplifted by the HengDuan Mountains via topographical forcing; the midtropospheric westerly flow further advects the warm air downstream of the TP, moistening and warming the middle troposphere on the lee side of the TP. The low-level cooling and midlevel warming together increase the stability. The favorable dynamic and thermodynamic large-scale environment allows for the formation of stratus clouds over EC during the cold season.

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