scholarly journals Optimising grazing for livestock production and environmental benefits in Chinese grasslands

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Warwick B. Badgery ◽  
David Kemp ◽  
Zhang Yingjun ◽  
Wang Zhongwu ◽  
Han Guodong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Alpine Meadow ◽  
Livestock Production ◽  
Desert Steppe ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Typical Steppe ◽  
Artemisia Frigida ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Lamb Growth

Overgrazing has extensively degraded Chinese grasslands. A reduction in stocking rate of 30–50% below the district averages is required to increase the profitability of livestock production and protect vital ecosystem services such as mitigation of greenhouse gases (GHG). Grazing experiments located in the desert steppe, typical steppe and alpine meadow verified the influence of stocking rate and grazing management on livestock production, grassland composition and associated ecosystem services. The desert steppe experiment found lower stocking rates of ~150 SE (where SE is sheep equivalent, which is a 50kg animal) grazing days ha–1 (1 SE ha–1 over 150 days) enhanced botanical composition, maintained profitable lamb growth rates and reduced GHG emissions intensity. The typical steppe experiment found moderate grazing pressure of ~400 SE grazing days ha–1 (4 SE ha–1 over 100 days) maintained higher lamb growth rates, an average herbage mass >0.5t DM ha–1 that maintained the content of Leymus chinensis above 70% and Artemisia frigida below 10% of the grassland and had the highest level of net carbon sequestration. In the alpine meadow experiment the district average stocking rate of ~16 SE ha–1 (1440 SE grazing days ha–1 over 90 days) was not too high, but extending grazing into the non-growing season had no benefit. The findings of these experiments highlight that many of the benefits to ecosystem services can be achieved with reduced stocking rates which also generate profitable levels of livestock production. In both the desert and typical steppe experiments, the results were optimal when the stocking rates were adjusted to maintain average herbage mass over summer above ~0.5t DM ha–1, whereas herbage mass was higher with the local, conservative stocking rates in the alpine meadow.

scholarly journals Herders’ opinions about desirable stocking rates and overstocking in the rangelands of northern China

2014 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 601 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiangyang Hou ◽  
Yantin Yin ◽  
David Michalk ◽  
Xiangjun Yun ◽  
Yong Ding ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Formal Education ◽  
Northern China ◽  
Rangeland Management ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Desert Steppe ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Meadow Steppe ◽  
Typical Steppe ◽  
Breeding Practices ◽  
Stocking Rates

Herders’ desirable stocking rates and their opinions of overstocking were studied using survey and multi-regression methods in the meadow steppe, typical steppe and desert steppe regions of northern China. It was found that individual herders had their own perception of their particular ‘desirable stocking rate’, which referred to the number of livestock that the herders thought they could keep or maintain on an area of rangeland over a specified period of time. These perceptions were not in line with the ‘balancing animals and grass’ policy of the Chinese government, and herders used them as a guide to adjust stock-breeding practices. Most herders admitted that they bred more livestock now than 10 years ago, but insisted that there was no overstocking and many even thought that their rangelands could still carry more livestock. They also held the view that they took into account the carrying capacity of rangelands when making decisions about livestock-breeding practices. Individual herders thought that the reasonable stocking rate range should be 0.75–1.50 sheep units ha–1 (meadow steppe), 0.60–1.50 sheep units ha–1 (typical steppe), and 0.50–0.75 sheep units ha–1 (desert steppe), respectively. The herders from the desert steppe regions were most concerned about the overstocking of rangelands, and the concern of herders was in the order desert steppe > typical steppe > meadow steppe. The herders with more formal education and those who worked in a village council and had smaller areas of rangelands, were more concerned about the overstocking of rangelands. It is argued that such herders should be given more access to policy and market information, including extensive grazing and modern stall-feeding technologies, and encouraged to reduce their desirable stocking rates, leading to more sustainable rangeland management in northern China.

scholarly journals Establishing the carrying capacity of the grasslands of China: a review

2014 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. J. Zhang ◽  
X. Q. Zhang ◽  
X. Y. Wang ◽  
N. Liu ◽  
H. M. Kan
Keyword(s):  
Net Primary Production ◽  
Livestock Production ◽  
Tibet Plateau ◽  
Leymus Chinensis ◽  
Desert Steppe ◽  
North East ◽  
Artemisia Frigida ◽  
Natural Grasslands ◽  
Degraded Pasture ◽  
Stocking Rates

China is rich in grassland resources, with 400 × 106 ha of natural grasslands and 18 main types, mostly distributed in the north-east, north, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and Xinjiang regions. Grassland-based livestock production is the foundation of the economy in these rural areas. Degradation of grassland has occurred to varying degrees in these regions. Mean overgrazing rates across the whole country were estimated to be ~30% in 2009. Considerable amounts of research have focussed, especially since 2000, on developing better ways of managing Chinese grasslands. Research concerning the relationship between forage production and animal performance, is reviewed for three important national grassland regions. For the three major grassland (steppes) types of Inner Mongolia, the stocking rates proposed as a result of research were 1.0–2.2 sheep units (SU) ha–1 for the western, drier Stipa breviflora desert steppe; 2.0–3.8 SU ha–1 for the steppe of Artemisia frigida and Stipa grandis; and 1.8–4.0 SU ha–1 for the eastern higher-rainfall Leymus chinensis meadow steppe in Hulunbeir. In the Qinghai-Tibetan alpine meadows, the stocking rate of grassland dominated by Edelweiss-Potentilla and Kobresia parva, proposed on the basis of research, was 1.0–5.8 SU ha–1. In Xinjiang’s desert steppe, the stocking rates of Seriphidium transiliense desert steppe were proposed on the basis of research were 1.2 SU ha–1 in spring and 1.8 SU ha–1 in autumn for non-degraded pasture, and 0.3 and 1.2 SU ha–1 for moderate-degraded pasture, respectively. These stocking rates were based on either annual net primary production or desired levels of livestock production and it is argued that there is a need to develop carrying capacities based on a wider range of sustainability criteria and with the most appropriate grazing systems.

scholarly journals Can lambs compensate for less milk by grazing more often?

2002 ◽  
pp. 103-105
Author(s):  
C.A.M. Moffat ◽  
J.M. Deaker ◽  
G.J. Wallace ◽  
M.W. Fisher ◽  
P.D. Muir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Milk Supply ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Machine Milking ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Lamb Growth

Lamb behaviour was investigated where varying stocking rates and rearing rank indirectly induced differences in ewe milk production. 24 Romney x Poll Dorset ewes, with either twin or single lambs, were stocked at either 25 or 15 ewes per hectare, three weeks after lambing (2 August ± 1.0 days). Lamb activity (grazing, otherwise active, or inactive) was determined by instantaneous scan sampling at 3-min intervals over 4 hours at 3, 6, 9 and 12 weeks of age. Milk production, estimated by machine milking and lamb live weights were also measured at these ages, on the day prior to observations. Ewes with twin lambs produced slightly more milk than ewes with singles (213 vs. 183 ml per 4 hours, respectively). Ewes on the high stocking rate produced an average of 181 ml milk per 4 hours compared with 216 ml per 4 hours in the low stocking rate group. Twin lambs spent significantly more time grazing than did single lambs (52.3% vs. 41.0% overall, respectively) and lambs on the higher stocking rate spent on average 10% more time grazing, than those stocked less densely. These results suggest that lambs with access to less milk spend more time by grazing, but this does not adequately compensate for the lower milk supply which resulted in reduced lamb growth rates. This raises the possibility of enhancing lamb growth rates prior to weaning by providing high quality, lamb-specific forage to the lamb independently of the ewe. Keywords: ewe milk production, grazing, lamb behaviour, lamb growth rate

A comparison of continuous grazing and deferred autumn grazing of Merino ewes and lambs at 13 stocking rates

1977 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 947 ◽  
Author(s):  
TH Brown
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Grazed Pastures ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Lamb Growth

The performance of Merino ewes and their lambs was measured when the sheep were either continuously grazed or autumn-deferred on annual pastures. The two management systems were compared at a series of 13 stocking rates from 4.9 to 19.8 ewes ha-1 for 5 years from 1970 to 1974 at the Kybybolite Research Centre, South Australia. The deferred sheep were fed in yards on a mixture of oat grain and hay at 6.8 kg per head per week during the 6-week deferment period. It was found that the continuously grazed ewes required very little hand-feeding up to a stocking rate of 17.3 ewes ha-1. Grazing management had little or no effect on wool production in ewes or lambs, on the number of lambs born and weaned, or on lamb growth rates. Although the incidence of pregnancy toxaemia was very low (1%) it was higher in the deferred treatments. Autumn deferment resulted in extra pasture during the winter months of June and July. However, the continuously grazed pastures reached the same level of availability as the deferred pastures in late winter and early spring. Total yearly pasture production tended to be greater on the continuously grazed pastures and increased as the stocking rate increased. It is concluded that there is little merit in adopting an autumn deferment system of grazing management for Merino ewes and lambs. A relationship between lamb growth rate and both available pasture and pasture height is presented. It would appear that pasture height measurements are no better predictors of Iamb growth rates than pasture yield measurements.

The performance and intake of weaned lambs grazing S24 perennial ryegrass, with and without supplementation

1974 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Newton ◽  
N. E. Young
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Target Level ◽  
Target Weight ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Level Increase ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Lamb Growth ◽  
Better Than

SUMMARYTwo forms of supplement, barley or dried grass pellets (G) were given to weaned lambs, set-stocked at pasture, at three stocking rates (43·5, 60 and 87 per hectare). The supplements were given either from weaning or from the time growth rate fell below a target value. The supplements significantly increased the proportion of lambs reaching the target weight (35 kg) and G was significantly better than barley, but slightly more G was given. The substitution value of supplement for herbage was 0·48 ± 0·12 and there was no difference in this value between barley and G. The proportion of lambs reaching the target slaughter weight was not influenced by whether the supplement was offered at weaning or delayed until lamb growth declined below a target level. Increase in stocking rate depressed the herbage intake and growth rate of the unsupplemented control lambs.

A comparison of the sown swards of perennial ryegrass S. 24 and Italian ryegrass RvP in a two-year lamb production system, with different breeds of sheep

1976 ◽  
Vol 87 (3) ◽  
pp. 605-616 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Newton ◽  
N. E. Young ◽  
R. J. Orr
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Italian Ryegrass ◽  
First Year ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Second Year ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Lamb Growth ◽  
Intensive System

SummaryA comparison was made between an intensive system of lamb production based on Italian ryegrass RvP and one based on perennial ryegrass S. 24, over 2 years, each at three stocking rates (14, 17, 20 ewes/ha). More grass was grown in the first year than in the second when the yield of RvP was particularly reduced. The ewes and lambs ate more RvP than S. 24 but there was no difference in lamb growth rate. The lambs grew faster at the low stocking rate from 0 to 18 weeks and from 0 to slaughter than at the medium and high stocking rates, in both years. Ewe intake and lamb growth rate were higher in the second year than the first. The Masham ewes with two lambs ate significantly more grass per unit of body weight than the Finnish Landrace × Scottish Halfbred and Finnish Landrace × Scottish Blackface ewes, and their lambs grew significantly faster. It was concluded that for an intensive system of lamb production from grass, S. 24 was more suitable than RvP.

Stocking rate trials in Ankole, Uganda: II. Botanical analysis and oesophageal fistula sampling of pastures grazed at different stocking rates

1974 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 507-516
Author(s):  
G. N. Harrington ◽  
D. Pratchett
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Normal Pattern ◽  
Brachiaria Decumbens ◽  
Themeda Triandra ◽  
Continuous Grazing ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Grazing Pressures

SUMMARYBotanical analyses of trials grazed at 3·6, 2·4, 1·2, 0·8 and 0·6 ha/300 kg animal for 4 years are detailed. The two heaviest grazing pressures encouraged Brachiaria decumbens, a high quality grass, at the expense of Themeda triandra and Hyparrhenia filipendula. Rotational grazing allowed the weed grass Cymbopogon afronardus to regenerate after clearing more rapidly than did continuous grazing.Bullocks with oesophageal fistulas sampled pastures grazed at 2·4, 1·2 and 0·6 ha/animal at 4-weekly intervals for 12 months. The 0·6 ha/animal treatment was repeated on pasture cleared of the weed grass Cymbopogon afronardus. Cattle growth rates, both long term and at the time of sampling, were recorded.Cattle growth rates were greatest at 2·4 ha/animal but fistula sampling demonstrated that the diet was significantly lower in CP and higher in CF than the more heavily stocked treatments, which is contrary to the normal pattern. It is concluded that the differences in cattle growth rates at the different stocking rates were due to differences in dry-matter intake rather than the recorded differences in diet quality. The higher CP in the diet at the heavier stocking rates is ascribed to the increase of B. decumbens in the diet.An unexplained ceiling to cattle growth rates of ca. 0·5 kg/day, and a calculated drymatter intake of < 2·1% body weight/day, in the presence of unlimited forage of 10% CP and 55% apparent digestibility, makes it more economic to stock for maximum production per ha than per animal.

Comparative production of lean meat from Friesian bulls and steers over a range of nutritional planes at pasture

1981 ◽  
Vol 21 (110) ◽  
pp. 249 ◽  
Author(s):  
FJ Mickan ◽  
GW Thomas ◽  
SA Spiker
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Entire Range ◽  
Meat Production ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Average Growth ◽  
Lean Meat ◽  
Manufacturing Trade ◽  
Stocking Rates

The growth rate and carcase characteristics of Friesian bulls and steers were compared when the animals were fed solely on pasture from 8 to 18 months of age. The animals were set stocked at rates ranging from 3.0 to 6.0 animals ha-1, so that average growth rates of the steers ranged from 0.87 to 0.57 kg d-1. All were slaughtered at 18 months of age for the manufacturing meat trade. For each additional animal per hectare the average daily liveweight gain of both bulls and steers was reduced by 0.1 0 kg d-1. However, at all stocking rates bulls maintained a 0.06 kg d-1 advantage over the steers. These results do not support the suggestion that as the plane of nutrition increases, so does the advantage in growth rate of the bulls over that of the steers. Seasonal liveweight gains of the two sex types and the effect of stocking rate on these are discussed. For each 0.1 0 kg d-1 increase in steer liveweight gain carcase weight per animal increased by 19 kg and the bulls produced 25 kg more carcase weight than the steers. As the plane of nutrition increased, the percentage of saleable meat produced by the steers was constant (66.2%) while that of the bulls increased (68.7%-72.3%). This trend was reversed for the percentage of fat trimmed out of the carcases. The fat trim of the bulls was 3.6% while that of the steers increased from 6.4% to 8.9%. Over the entire range of nutrition levels, bulls were superior to steers in all attributes considered necessary for the manufacturing trade. However, under Australian conditions, seemingly unjustifiable penalty rates for slaughtering and, to a lesser extent, farmer prejudice, severely restrict the use of young grazing bulls for lean meat production.

Supplementary feeding pattern and rate of liveweight gain in winter-spring affect wool production of young Merino sheep on the south coast of Western Australia

1995 ◽  
Vol 35 (8) ◽  
pp. 1093 ◽  
Author(s):  
PT Doyle ◽  
TW Plaisted ◽  
RA Love
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Supplementary Feeding ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Staple Strength ◽  
Stocking Rates

The effects of different supplementary feeding practices in summer-autumn and management strategies on green pasture on liveweight change, wool growth rate, annual wool production and wool characteristics of young Merino wethers were examined at 2 farms. The grain feeding treatments were lupins (L) or lupins and oats (LO) fed in amounts that were adjusted to try and maintain liveweight, or lupins and oats (LOG) fed at a higher rate. The objectives of liveweight maintenance or gain were not always achieved, but liveweight patterns differed between LOG compared with L or LO during summer-autumn. The sheep used at farm 1 were aged 4.5 months and liveweight 32 kg at the start of the experiment, while those at farm 2 were 6.5 months and liveweight 39 kg. The stocking rate in summer-autumn was 8 wethers/ha at both farms. During supplementation, sheep on LOG had a higher (P<0.05) liveweight change compared with those on L or LO (farm 1, 15 v. -8 g/sheep. day; farm 2, -35 v. -51 g/sheep. day) and clean wool growth rates (farm 1, 7.1 v. 6.4 g/sheep. day; farm 2, 5.1 v. 4.8 g/sheep.day). The sheep on LOG grew broader (P<0.05) wool than those on L or LO (farm 1, 19.0 v. 18.5 �m; farm 2, 21.7 v. 20.8 �m), and at farm 1 length was also greater (P<0.05) (114 v. 111 mm), while at farm 2 staple strength was greater (P<0.01) (22.9 v. 16.4 N/ktex). There were no significant differences in annual clean wool production. There were positive (P<0.01) relationships between staple strength and liveweight change to the time of minimum liveweight in summer-autumn. After green pasture on offer reached 500 kg DM/ha in autumn, different liveweight change patterns were achieved in 2 groups (LS, lower stocking rates; HS, higher stocking rates) of sheep at each farm by adjusting stocking rates. Within a farm, the LS and HS groups were comprised of equal numbers of sheep from each replicate of the supplementary feeding treatments. There were differences (P<0.05 to 0.01) in liveweight change between LS and HS (farm 1, 93 v. 72 g/day; farm 2, 127 v. 60 g/day), the differences being more pronounced at farm 2. The differential stocking rates at farm 2 resulted in differences in clean wool growth rates (P<0.01), in clean wool production (4.22 v. 4.53 kg, P<0.05), and fibre diameter (20.8 v. 21.4 �m, P<0.01), but there were no significant effects on staple length or strength. There were no significant effects of the supplementary feeding treatments imposed in summer-autumn on the responses to the stocking rate treatments on green pasture.

The influence of winter nutrition, grazing system and stocking rate on the performance of spring-calving Hereford × Friesian cows and their calves 2. Grazing system and stocking rate

1982 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. D. Baker ◽  
J. M. Barker ◽  
Y. L. P. Le Du
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Calf Growth ◽  
Grazing System ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Friesian Cows

ABSTRACTForty-eight Hereford × Friesian cows and their South Devon calves were paddock grazed at high or low stocking rates of 412 or 206 cows and calves per ha in experiment 1, and either paddock grazed or set stocked at high or low stocking rates of 4·12 or 2·74 cows and calves per ha in experiments 2 to 4.There was no significant effect of grazing system on milk yield, milk composition or calf growth but in experiment 2 paddock-grazed cows gained more weight than those set stocked. Cows at low stocking rates gained more weight than those at high stocking rates and, in general, gave more milk. Calf growth rates were also higher at low stocking rates in experiments 1, 3 and 4 but not in experiment 2. Milk composition was not significantly affected by stocking rate. There were substantial increases in calf live-weight gain per ha at the high stocking rate but, because of a lower gain by cows, the differences in total live-weight gains per ha for cows and calves were much smaller.

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