Forage Availability and Quality, and Feeding Behaviour of Indigenous Goats Grazing in a Mediterranean Silvopastoral System

The aim of this study was to study the feeding behaviour of indigenous goats and the selection drivers of different plant species in a Mediterranean forest rangeland. To achieve this goal, the seasonal variations in terms of forage availability and quality of ingested plant species were studied during three grazing seasons. In the same period, eight indigenous goats of Beni Arouss breed were selected to explore the seasonal changes in their browsing behaviour. Forage quality was determined by the hand-plucking technique. The results showed a wide seasonal variation in forage availability and quality, and feeding behaviour. Woody species were more selected independently of the season (p < 0.001). The crude protein content varied from 53.3 g/kg of dry mater (DM) for Erica arborea in summer to 197 g/kg DM for Calicotome villosa in autumn (p < 0.001). Despite the high condensed tannins content in selected shrubs, they were highly consumed. In vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) and metabolizable energy (ME) had recorded the highest contents in herbaceous during spring. Shrubs and trees contain the lowest levels of IVOMD (<500 g/kg) and ME (<7.2 MJ/kg) during autumn and summer. It is concluded that seasonal changes in forage availability and quality did not necessarily affect the indigenous goats’ preference. These findings could help goat herders to develop feeding and grazing systems while increasing the performance of goats in the Mediterranean silvopastoral system.

Effect of plateau pika presence on the ecosystem services of alpine meadows

The activity of small mammalian herbivores influences grassland ecosystem services in arid and semi-arid regions. This study took plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) as example animal to investigate the effect of small mammalian herbivores on meadow ecosystem services in alpine regions. In this study, a home-range scale was used measure the forage availability, water conservation, carbon sequestration and soil nutrient maintenance services (total nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) of topsoil layer; and a quadrat scale was used to assess the biodiversity conservation service of alpine meadows. This study showed that plateau pika presence led to lower forage availability and water conservation services, and led to higher biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration, soil nitrogen and phosphorus maintenance services of meadow ecosystem, whereas it had no impact on soil potassium maintenance service of meadow ecosystem in alpine regions. This study further found that the forage availability, biodiversity conservation, and soil nutrient maintenance services of meadow ecosystem in alpine regions firstly increased, and later decreased as the disturbance intensity of plateau pikas increased, whereas the water conservation service tended to decrease with the increasing disturbance intensity of plateau pikas. These results not only present a possible pattern of plateau pikas influencing the ecosystem services of meadow ecosystem in alpine regions, and consummate the small mammalian herbivores in relation to grassland ecosystem services.

Land cover transitions and effects of transhumance on available forage biomass of rangelands in Benin

This study examined the effects of transhumance pressure on total abavoe-ground biomass and forage availability on rangelands in Benin. We also investigated the implications of land cover transitions on rangelands over a 31-year period. Our work was carried out in three regions of Benin representing distinct phytogeographic regimes: Ketou, Tchaourou, and Sinende. Ground-truthing and biomass sampling of the herbaceous and phanaerophyte strata were carried out between the 2016 peak vegetation period and the onset of the 2017 rainy season. Herbaceous biomass was determined by destructive sampling, and biomass of shrub and trees was estimated using non-destructive sampling and allometric equations. Historical and present-day Landsat data allowed an analysis of land cover change for the 1986–2002 and 2002–2017 periods. Land cover analyses yielded evidence of significant expansion of agricultural areas, especially in the latter period. The data also revealed progressive landscape fragmentation and transformations to a land cover of reduced total phytomass. There were no long-term effects of transhumance on trees, but likely on herbaceous biomass. Land cover changes in the study regions seem primarily the result of population pressure, infrastructural changes, persisting norms, and traditions regarding environmental management and the increasing popularity of livestock keeping as an insurance strategy. Rangeland transformations had negative impacts on transhumant herds’ mobility and forage availability. As rangeland stability and consent between agricultural and pastoral land users are at a tipping point, informed policies, and land use planning that foster compromises among all stakeholders are needed.

Uso de sensores remotos en la determinación del forraje disponible de Urochloa humidicola cv. Llanero bajo pastoreo en la Altillanura colombiana

Modernization of pastoral systems based on the use of Urochloa species in the Colombian Eastern Llanos need the use of remote sensing techniques from satellite platforms to estimate amount of offered forage. In the Carimagua Research Centre of the Colombian Corporation for Agricultural Research (Agrosavia), an Urochloa humidicola cv. Llanero pasture was evaluated using Landsat 8 and Sentinel 2A images. The NDVI, SAVI, EVI y GNDVI vegetation indexes determined by using the blue, green, red and near infrared bands; and the results analyzed with the R free software, to relate those indexes with forage availability field measures taken during the dry season. Forage availability ranged between 290 and 656 kg DM ha-1 and the vegetation indexes for the Landsat 8 and Sentinel 2A sensors were: NDVI = 0.67 (±0.037) and 0.69 (±0.061); SAVI = 0.48 (±0.048) and 0.41 (±0.046); EVI = 0.70 (±0.052) and 0.41 (±0.047); y GNDVI = 0.60 (±0.028) and 0.70 (±0.034), respectively. The relationships between vegetation indexes and forage availability were linear. The Coefficient of Determination (R2= 0.56‒0.72) and the Mean Square Error (MSR =63.95‒80.16) of the prediction equations were used. In conclusion, under the conditions of the study, the EVI for Landsat 8 and NDVI for Sentinel 2A were considered adequate for estimating forage availability of Urochloa humidicola cv. Llanero.

A Key for the Microhistological Determination of Plant Fragments Consumed by Carpathian Forest Cervids

We present a microhistological key for identification of plant fragments consumed and partially digested by free-roaming, forest cervids based on collection of 92 plant species representing forage availability of the Western Carpathian forests. The key represents a determination tool to facilitate microhistological analyses of faecal and ruminal material. We summarized, integrated, and developed current knowledge on microstructures of plants consumed by Cervidae using specific diagnostic features of plant fragments including type, shape, orientation, and arrangement of cells and stomata, type of venation, presence, and type of trichomes and crystalline inclusions. Since most plant species of the same taxa show common patterns in morphology of the different epidermal traits, we categorized collected material into seven functional botanical groups, i.e., grasses and sedges, herbs and leaves of broadleaved trees, needles, ferns and mosses, seeds and fruits, and genera Rubus, Rosa, Vaccinium. The key is consistent with classifications used in the majority of studies on diet of wild cervids and is supported with photographs of the main diagnostics features. The key has the potential to decrease amount of time needed for processing of the reference material, and to improve consistency between users studying feeding behaviour of forest cervids in central Europe.

Seasonal diet composition of Himalayan goral (Naemorhedus goral) in Kajinag National Park, Jammu and Kashmir, India

In temperate environments, forage availability and quality are known to influence life history traits of wild ungulates. However, variations in foraging strategies of these mountain dwellers with changing plant availability have received little attention. The seasonal vegetation availability in temperate climatic conditions of Kajinag National Park (KNP) was assessed by plot method at different altitudes (1900–3600 m a.s.l.) from 2018 to 2020 on seasonal basis. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of availability of vegetation on seasonal diet composition of Himalayan goral (Naemorhedus goral) inhabiting the National Park. We recorded 61 plant species whose availability differed significantly across seasons (F 3,240 = 20.14, p < 0.05). We found seasonal variation in the diet composition of Himalayan goral depicting a strong relationship between plant consumption and dynamic availability in the study area. Himalayan goral consumed herbs in spring (dominated by Dioscorea deltoidea relative importance value (RIV) = 27.20, Poa pratensis RIV = 14.99 and Themeda spp. RIV = 12.87), grasses in summer (dominated by Themeda spp. RIV = 34.12, P. pratensis RIV = 30.14, Bothriochloa ischaemum RIV = 22.72) and autumn (dominated by Themeda spp. RIV = 34.64, P. pratensis RIV = 30.14, Stipa spp. RIV = 29.73) and shrubs in winter (dominated by Indigofera heterantha RIV = 47.05, Prunus tomentosa RIV = 17.51 and Lonicera spp. RIV = 16.98). The annual diet of Himalayan goral was dominated by graze species (72.66%). The proportion of graze items in the diet showed a sharp decline from spring (90.67%) to winter (19.23%) whereas that of browse showed a huge increment from spring (4.67%) to winter (74.43%). This shift shows a survival or foraging strategy of a temperate ungulate in harsh winters with limited forage availability.

PSI-3 Effects of Mowing on Forage Availability and Quality During the Summer

The objective was to determine how mowing date affected forage availability and quality. Cool season grass plots were randomly assigned to 4 treatments (n=2): mowed on day 1 (M1), mowed on day 15 (M15), mowed on day 29 (M29), and not mowed (NM). During the 56-day experiment, forage heights were measured using a rising plate meter to determine forage availability and samples were clipped for proximate analysis. The MIXED procedure of SAS was used to analyze data. On day 14, CP in M1 was 37.5% greater (P = 0.05) than the composite of M15, M29, and NM. However, the composite of M15, M29, and NM had greater (P = 0.02) forage availability than M1 on day 14. On day 28, M15 had greater (P = 0.02) ADF than M1, while the composite of M29 and NM was intermediate and not different than other treatments. There was also a treatment effect (P &lt; 0.01) on forage availability on day 28; the composite of M29 and NM was greatest followed by M1 and M15, respectively. On day 42, the NDF of M29 was greater (P = 0.01) than M1, M15, and NM. Decreased CP was observed (P = 0.05) for NM compared with M1, M15, and M29 on day 42. Forage availability was different (P &lt; 0.01) for all treatments on day 42 with NM being the greatest followed by M1, M15, M29, respectively. On day 56, NM tended (P = 0.08) to have the greatest DM, but there was no difference (P ≥ 0.31) in NDF, ADF, and CP. Forage availability was different (P &lt; 0.01) for all treatments on day 56 with NM being the greatest followed by M1, M15, M29, respectively. In conclusion, mowing reduced forage availability as expected, but it also increased CP on day 14 and 42.

Growth Performance of Short Scrotum and Castrated Hair Sheep Lambs on Pasture During Different Seasons

Castrated lambs tend to grow slower compared to intact males. Rendering lambs short scrotum offers an opportunity to achieve comparable growth to an intact lamb while allowing them to be co-grazed with ewe lambs. Here we evaluated lamb growth in a mixed flock of castrated (CA), short-scrotum (SS) and female (FE) Barbados Blackbelly and St. Croix hair sheep lambs. Lambs were born in December (n = 30) and April (n = 45) from the same ewe flock mated to different sires each season. Ram lambs were either rendered short scrotum or completely castrated using elastrator bands at weaning, and all lambs transitioned in dry lot for 2 mo before return to pasture. Lambs co-grazed in a rotational pasture system and were moved based on visual assessment of forage availability and were provided bermudagrass hay when forage availability was limited. Lambs were supplemented with soy hull at 3% BW to ensure diet continuity between forage environments. Ewe lambs were grown to target weights of 35 kg and males to 40 kg. Data were analyzed for sex class, breed, and season as main effects. Pasture ADG was higher (P &lt; 0.001) in SS (132 g/d) than in CA (102 g/d) and FE (96 g/d) lambs. Age at target weight tended to be earlier (P &lt; 0.1) in SS (261 d) than CA (291 d). December-born lambs had higher pen ADG (236 vs. 135 g/d; P&lt; 0.001) than April-born lambs, but had similar pasture ADG (102 vs. 108 g/d). In contrast, St. Croix lambs had similar pre-pasture growth to Blackbelly lambs, but higher pasture ADG (118 vs. 94 g/d; P &lt; 0.001) and reached target weight 40 d earlier (P &lt; 0.001). Data indicate that the forage environment allowed differences in growth potential derived from sex type and breed to be expressed, but that soy hull supplementation likely masked seasonal differences associated with forage quality.

45 Effects of Grazing Management Systems on Forage Quality, Forage Availability, and Cow Performance

The objectives were to compare the effects of two rotational grazing systems on forage quality, forage availability, and cow performance. Multiparous, fall-calving beef cows (n = 360; BW = 597±62 kg) were stratified by body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), age, and sire and allotted to 6 groups. Groups were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments: 8-paddock system rotated every 5 d or 6-paddock system rotated every 7 d. All paddocks (6.1 ha) contained endophyte-infected tall fescue and were grazed in two rounds. Cow BW and BCS were obtained on d 0, 28, 56, and 84. Forage heights were measured using a rising plate meter upon the groups entering and exiting each paddock. Forage samples were clipped from each paddock for proximate analysis. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. During the first and second grazing rounds, grazing management system had no effects (P ≥ 0.11) on dry matter, organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and crude protein of the forage. The 8-paddock system tended (P = 0.09) to have greater forage availability than the 6-paddock system at the end of each rotation in the first round with 3,665 and 3,263 kg DM/ha, respectively. However, grazing system did not affect (P = 0.13) forage availability at the end of the rotation in the second round. Cow BW was not affected (P ≥ 0.63) by grazing system on d 0, 28, or 56. On d 84, cows rotationally grazed through an 8-paddock system had greater (P = 0.04) BW than those who grazed the 6-paddock system. Treatment had no effect (P ≥ 0.37) on BCS at any time point. In conclusion, grazing management system did not affect forage quality; however, the 8-paddock system resulted in greater forage availability which led to greater cow BW.

The grazing pattern of Muturu cattle under range system

Eighty Muturu cattle were grazed on rangeland, twice daily for two years to determine their grazing pattern. Twenty bulls and cows each between two to four years and forty calves between one to three months were used. The field grazing time (FGT), active grazing time (GT) and grazing travel time (GTT) were monitored. The density of the grazing area was also determined. The result showed that as the body increase, GT increased significantly, while travel distance (TD) decreased. The body weight (BW) correlated positively with GT, with expression BW = 39.14 + 11.31Gt and BW = 7.12 + 8.76Gt for morning and afternoon respectively. The grazing time (GT) increased while TD decreased with increase in forage density. However, GT and TD decreased significantly at higher density with D+326.2 + 114Gt, r =4.7 and D=203.15 + 156GT,r= 3.2 for morning and afternoon respectively. The results showed that TD was highest when the forage species are scarce (Jan and Feb in South East, Nigeria). The grazing pattern of Muturu cattle was affected by the age of animal, forage availability and temperature of the day.