Cattle Ranching Research Articles

Prevalence of Schistosoma bovis in the Nigerian Army Livestock Farms and Ranches, Airport Road Giri, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

Bovine Schistosomiasis is a chronic debilitating parasitic disease of cattle caused by the species Schistosoma bovis. The present work was designed to investigate the prevalence of Schistosoma species in cattle in Nigerian Army Livestock Farms and Ranches at Airport road Giri, Gwagwalada Area Council, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria. Faecal samples (n=200) from cattle were collected per rectum, using sterile surgical gloves into sample bottles containing formalin and labeled with the cattles’ tag number. Twenty samples were collected between 8:00 and 10:00am of every Thursday till the required samples were obtained. The fecal samples were brought to the Parasitology laboratory to determine the prevalence of Schistosoma using both floatation and sedimentation techniques. The overall prevalence of Schistosoma infestation among cattle in Nigerian Army Farms and Ranches was 35.5% (71/200). Out of 130 females and 70 males screened, the prevalence of Schistosoma infestation in female and male were 37.7% (n=49/130) and 31.4% (n=22/70) respectively. Out of the 150 fecal samples from cattle aged >1 year (adult) examined, 62 (41.3%) were positive, while only 9 (18%) out of 50 fecal samples from cattle aged <1 year (young) were positive. Out of the four (4) breeds screened, the highest number of cases was recorded in White Fulani breed 16.5% followed by Brahma breed which is 7%. The prevalence in other breeds shows Swiss Brown cross to be 4% while Friesian cross is 8%. Due to its public health importance, there is need for more effort in preventing and controlling the infestation. This could be done through routine application of molluscicide to reduce the snail population. Appropriate anthelminthic and environmental sanitation in the cattle ranch should also be encouraged in addition to public health awareness to mitigate these problems.

The role of unprotected and privately protected areas for ocelot conservation: densities in Colombia and Brazil

AbstractThe ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) is a widely distributed, medium-sized felid in the Americas with declining population size. We estimated ocelot densities and home ranges in one agricultural area in the Magdalena River valley in Colombia, a private reserve and cattle ranch in the Colombian Llanos, and a private reserve in the Serra do Amolar in the Brazilian Pantanal. We used camera trapping (39–52 stations) and spatially explicit capture-recapture (SECR) models. Density estimates (individuals/100 km2) were 11.0 ± 2.7 (SE) in the Magdalena River valley; 13.2 ± 3.2 (SE) in the Llanos, and 10.3 ± 2.9 (SE) in the Serra do Amolar. Overall, despite an impact of agriculture and human disturbance, our results highlight the importance of unprotected areas and privately protected ranching areas for ocelot conservation. As agriculture continues to expand across the tropics causing habitat loss, and negatively affecting ocelot densities, we recommend land use planning and best agricultural practices to maintain natural habitats, thereby limiting human impacts on ocelot conservation.

Fusing Sentinel-1 and -2 to Model GEDI-Derived Vegetation Structure Characteristics in GEE for the Paraguayan Chaco

Vegetation structure is a key component in assessing habitat quality for wildlife and carbon storage capacity of forests. Studies conducted at global scale demonstrate the increasing pressure of the agricultural frontier on tropical forest, endangering their continuity and biodiversity within. The Paraguayan Chaco has been identified as one of the regions with the highest rate of deforestation in South America. Uninterrupted deforestation activities over the last 30 years have resulted in the loss of 27% of its original cover. The present study focuses on the assessment of vegetation structure characteristics for the complete Paraguayan Chaco by fusing Sentinel-1, -2 and novel spaceborne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) samples from the Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI). The large study area (240,000 km2) calls for a workflow in the cloud computing environment of Google Earth Engine (GEE) which efficiently processes the multi-temporal and multi-sensor data sets for extrapolation in a tile-based random forest (RF) regression model. GEDI-derived attributes of vegetation structure are available since December 2019, opening novel research perspectives to assess vegetation structure composition in remote areas and at large-scale. Therefore, the combination of global mapping missions, such as Landsat and Sentinel, are predestined to be combined with GEDI data, in order to identify priority areas for nature conservation. Nevertheless, a comprehensive assessment of the vegetation structure of the Paraguayan Chaco has not been conducted yet. For that reason, the present methodology was developed to generate the first high-resolution maps (10 m) of canopy height, total canopy cover, Plant-Area-Index and Foliage-Height-Diversity-Index. The complex ecosystems of the Paraguayan Chaco ranging from arid to humid climates can be described by canopy height values from 1.8 to 17.6 m and canopy covers from sparse to dense (total canopy cover: 0 to 78.1%). Model accuracy according to median R2 amounts to 64.0% for canopy height, 61.4% for total canopy cover, 50.6% for Plant-Area-Index and 48.0% for Foliage-Height-Diversity-Index. The generated maps of vegetation structure should promote environmental-sound land use and conservation strategies in the Paraguayan Chaco, to meet the challenges of expanding agricultural fields and increasing demand of cattle ranching products, which are dominant drivers of tropical forest loss.

Harpy Eagle Harpia harpyja nest activity patterns: Potential ecotourism and conservation opportunities in the Amazon Forest

SummaryTourism can be a powerful tool for wildlife conservation if well controlled and responsibly managed. Apex predators constitute particularly attractive subjects for tourism, but simultaneously they may generate conflict with local communities. Harpy Eagles Harpia harpyja are the largest eagle species and are highly sought-after by ecotourists. The last stronghold of the Harpy Eagle is the Amazon Forest, which is being deforested for cattle ranching. We tested methods for developing Harpy Eagle ecotourism as a potential tool to harmonize these issues. Using camera traps, we collected data on timing of Harpy Eagle visits to their nests, as well as on probabilities of viewing an eagle. Harpy Eagles can only be seen predictably during the first 12 of the 30–36 month nest cycle. In nests with nestlings (up to 5–7 months), adults are visible on a daily basis, and this period lasts 16.6% of the nesting cycle, demanding a minimum of 13, 17, and 26 nests to have at least one nest with a nestling on 90%, 95% and 99% of the days. After this 5–7 month window, we found that two and 4.16 days spent at nests afforded high probabilities of sighting a fledgling or adult eagle, respectively. Harpy Eagles were mainly active at the beginning and the end of the day. Activity core lasted 6.5 decimal hours for adults, peaking at 10h00, and 7.45 decimal hours for fledged eagles, peaking at 15h00. Our results demonstrate that Harpy Eagles fit several criteria for a viable wildlife attraction: predictable in activity and location, viewable, and diurnal, even though at the same time they are considered a rarity. In a broader perspective, Harpy Eagle tourism shows every indication of being a significant tool for more robust rainforest conservation.

Cows’ reproductive performances and parity order influences the cervicovaginal fungal community

Fungi have already been described as etiological agents of reproductive diseases such as endometritis and infertility in cows. However, few studies have been developed to elucidate the entire cervicovaginal fungal communities in cows. Therefore, our study aimed to characterize the fungal community present in the cervix of cows with different reproductive performances. Cervicovaginal mucus was collected from 36 Angus breed cows (1.5–12 years old) on a commercial beef cattle ranch. Twenty-one cows had a history of infertility in the year prior to the collection, showing early return to estrus. Ten cows were sampled at 60–70 days postpartum being considered fertile cows. Additionally, five non-sexually active heifers were employed as control group. Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the predominant fungal phyla in the analyzed animals. Diversity metrics of the cervicovaginal fungal community revealed statistical differences in the composition of the fungal community among infertile cows, fertile cows and non-sexually active heifers. In addition, the cervicovaginal fungal microbiota had significative increased richness and evenness in nulliparous cows and non-sexually active heifers, while in multiparous cows a decreased richness and evenness of the fungal microbiota were identified. These results provide an unprecedented understanding of the cervicovaginal fungal structure associated with infertility and parity order.

Farm diversity and fine scales matter in the assessment of ecosystem services and land use scenarios

CONTEXTThe ecosystem services (ES) concept has brought together research on ecosystems, biodiversity and human well-being, but critical challenges remain to make ES operational. ES assessments are relevant tools in multi-purpose landscapes, such as agricultural landscapes situated within natural protected areas where the challenge is to meet both local livelihoods and conservations goals. La Sepultura Biosphere Reserve in south-eastern Mexico has evidenced tensions among social actors due to territorial disputes; local farmers and conservation institutions contest the landscape’s land use and ES benefits. OBJECTIVEWe conducted an empirical study in the territory of a small mountain community within this biosphere reserve. We assessed ES in alternative land use scenarios with the aim to generate knowledge in support of local land use and management decisions. METHODSWe first characterised local land use using mixed methods research and quantified six locally relevant ES: Livelihood ES valued by farmers including forage production, firewood stocks, and resin production, and ES valued by conservation institutions including tree cover, riparian corridor, and tree diversity. Next, four alternative land use scenarios were built based on expert knowledge and stakeholder participation, with a different balance and integration of production and conservation objectives. We then estimated these ES in the four scenarios and assessed ES trade-offs at the farm and landscape level. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSWe found that farm diversity mattered. Though farms presented similar trade-offs in each of the scenarios, the magnitude of these trade-offs varied considerably among small vs. large farms. At the landscape level, the intensive cattle ranching and forest restoration scenarios presented hard trade-offs, compared to the more moderate integrated agroforestry practices scenario. Moreover, the land use zoning scenario, a management strategy promoted by conservation institutions, did not differ from the current landscape nor offer an improvement in conservation indicators. Livestock played a key role in the land system, and trade-offs between forage production and other ES were recurrent across scenarios and spatial scales. Still, management practices that harness biodiversity and ES can improve sustainability of cattle ranching, and thus reconcile production and conservation goals. SIGNIFICANCERelevant ES assessments in agricultural landscapes support local land management decisions, integrate the social–ecological context, and scale up land use scenarios from the farm (fine scale) to the landscape level.

The Oxford Handbook of Contemporary Middle Eastern and North African History

The Oxford Handbook of Contemporary Middle Eastern and North African History

Reconciling biome-wide conservation of an apex carnivore with land-use economics in the increasingly threatened Pantanal wetlands

Conservation of carnivores involves finding solutions to minimize habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict. Understanding the nature of land-use economics can allow us to mitigate both threats. In the Pantanal, the two main economic activities are cattle ranching and ecotourism, each of which directly and indirectly affect the persistence of jaguars (Panthera onca). To understand how the geography of these economic activities is related to jaguar populations, we developed a jaguar distribution model (JDM), livestock density model, and ecotourism lodge density model for the Pantanal. Due to the recent wildfires within the Pantanal, we also assess the impact of burnt areas that are suitable for jaguars, cattle ranching, and tourism. Our JDM indicate that 64% of the Pantanal holds suitable habitat for jaguars. However, jaguar habitat suitability was positively correlated with ecotourism, but negatively correlated with areas most suitable for intensive cattle-ranching. This demonstrates a biome-wide scenario compatible with jaguar conservation. Of particular concern, recent wildfires overlap most suitable areas for jaguars. If wildfires become increasingly frequent, this would represent a serious threat to jaguars and many other wildlife populations. We emphasize the global importance of the Pantanal wetland ecoregion as a key stronghold for long-term jaguar conservation.

Does agricultural efficiency contribute to slowdown of deforestation in the Brazilian Legal Amazon?

Historically, agricultural production in the Amazon has been painted as the most environmentally impacting activity. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the increase in agricultural efficiency and the slowdown of deforestation rates in the past decade, correlating these data with municipalities’ agricultural specialization. With the data from the 2006 and 2017 Brazilian Agricultural Census we classified municipalities according to its vegetal or animal specialization and estimated a production frontier using the Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA), considering a set of production factors and technological variables. Our results demonstrated that most part of municipalities have no specialization or are based in cattle ranching activities, and the overall agricultural efficiency in the Amazon municipalities grew from 69.5% in 2006 to 74.1% in 2017. The new institutional path in the 21st century contributed to slow deforestation in agricultural activities through an increase in productivity (yield/ha) in the last decade, mainly for vegetal production. Cattle ranching also increased output and efficiency, but it remains the most environmental impacting activity. However, several municipalities could not develop their agricultural production value relative to the most productive areas, suggesting that some factors —technological and productive— that could lead to output increase are not being efficiently allocated, which results in concentrating deforestation in inefficient systems and limiting the effectiveness of current policies. Technological diffusion, especially for small farmers, and private support in environmental issues could contribute to slowdown deforestation without loss of agricultural output.

STRATEGI PENGEMBANGAN KOMUNITAS PETERNAK SAPI DI WILAYAH PERBATASAN NEGARA (STUDI KASUS: KABUPATEN BELU, NUSA TENGGARA TIMUR)

This study discusses the Community Development Strategy for Cattle Breeders in Border Areas, Belu Regency. This research on the development strategy of the cattle rancher community will be analyzed in terms of planning and policy, political and social action, and awareness and education. This study uses a qualitative method with purposive sampling. The results of this study are the first strategy in community development used in planning in making programs/policies that are bottom-up by considering the skills of the local community. Cattle raising is one of the skills in the Belu Regency. These skills then included in the government's priority program through Presidential Instruction No. 1 of 2021. The Mootaain border area in Belu Regency is given a program to provide cattle seeds and prepare a market for selling their livestock. The second strategy is to carry out political and social actions, such as participation in farmer groups and social support among farmer groups. The third strategy is awareness and education. This strategy is implemented by providing training for cattle farmers. The training provided is various, such as inseminator training, namely artificial insemination of cattle, processing of feed for ruminants, and procedures for cultivating forage for livestock. Recommendations from this research are that it is necessary to strengthen farmer group communities, support CSR in program development, and add professionals from the central government in Belu Regency.

STRATEGI PENGEMBANGAN KOMUNITAS PETERNAK SAPI DI WILAYAH PERBATASAN NEGARA (STUDI KASUS: KABUPATEN BELU, NUSA TENGGARA TIMUR)

This study discusses the Community Development Strategy for Cattle Breeders in Border Areas, Belu Regency. This research on the development strategy of the cattle rancher community will be analyzed in terms of planning and policy, political and social action, and awareness and education. This study uses a qualitative method with purposive sampling. The results of this study are the first strategy in community development used in planning in making programs/policies that are bottom-up by considering the skills of the local community. Cattle raising is one of the skills in the Belu Regency. These skills then included in the government's priority program through Presidential Instruction No. 1 of 2021. The Mootaain border area in Belu Regency is given a program to provide cattle seeds and prepare a market for selling their livestock. The second strategy is to carry out political and social actions, such as participation in farmer groups and social support among farmer groups. The third strategy is awareness and education. This strategy is implemented by providing training for cattle farmers. The training provided is various, such as inseminator training, namely artificial insemination of cattle, processing of feed for ruminants, and procedures for cultivating forage for livestock. Recommendations from this research are that it is necessary to strengthen farmer group communities, support CSR in program development, and add professionals from the central government in Belu Regency.

Estimation of forage consumption for two dairy cattle biotypes in the high Andean tropics of Nariño, Colombia

The implementation of efficient grazing technologies in high mountain cattle ranches in the department of Nariño (Colombia) increases the sustainability of these production systems and promotes the conservation of the landscape design. With the objective of evaluating the dry matter intake of F1 (Kiwi-cross x Holstein) and Holstein cattle biotypes, present in hillside areas of the Nariño mountain, a preliminary trial of individual consumption of ryegrass (Lolium perenne) was carried out in Pasto (Nariño-Colombia) with the gauging technique, and the results were compared with models reported in the literature. The data were analyzed as a completely randomized design, with repeated measures over time. Intake per gauging was higher (p<0.05) in Holstein cows, with respect to F1 cows (12.74 vs. 9.69 kg/dry-matter/day), but per unit live weight was similar (p>0.05). On the other hand, the milk composition of F1 cows was superior (p<0.05) for fat, protein, and total solids (%). In conclusion, the two breeds evaluated recorded the same forage intake capacity as a function of live weight, but, due to the larger size of the Holstein cows the absolute intake was higher, indicating that an adjustment in forage supply should be made according to the size of the animals. This work contributes to improve grazing techniques, making the use of pastures and their environment more sustainable, which favors productive efficiency and improves the quality of life for the producer families in the area.

Finansial Inklusi Pada Peternak Sapi Pola Gaduhan Sebagai Penguatan Modal Sosial Dan Modal Finansial

The existence of resources and production factors is an important component of supporting the business. Aspects of social capital and the availability of money, for cattle farmers are important parts, because cattle breeders must prepare forage forage needs, additional feed and fortifying feed (bran, concentrate) as a means of supporting the success of the livestock business being run. Financial inclusion in this study is defined as easy access to money. The “gaduhan” system (keeping other people's livestock) is often found in all corners of the village, livestock owners other than as animal providers often act as providers of money when people who raise livestock need (borrow) money. Social capital is built because of emotional closeness and financial capital is formed because of a joint effort to system gaduhan cattle. The purpose of the study was to analyze the application of financial inclusion to rowdy cattle farmers in strengthening social capital and financial capital. This type of research is descriptive qualitative by using questionnaires, interviews, FGD instruments to obtain primary data, secondary data sourced from relevant documents, articles. The subjects of the study were rowdy cattle breeders in the Semen District as many as 120 respondents. The results of the study indicate that the implementation of financial inclusion of the cattle rancher model has long been carried out between animal owners and animal keepers. Mutualism symbiosis is realized by mutually benefiting from raising cattle, strengthening social relations and economic income for both parties.
 Keywords: Financial inclusion, beef cattle breeders, gaduhan system

Take back your fish: questioning NGO-mediated development in Caquetá, Colombia

Could aquaculture lift farmers out of poverty and provide stability and an alternative livelihood to coca farming? Currently, aquaculture is pursued on a moderate scale, with the involvement of around 1500 small-scale farmers, in Caquetá, a department located in the Amazonian bioregion of Colombia. Some 400 farmers are organised in a grassroots non-governmental organisation (NGO) called Acuica. Cultivation and sale of fish provide a means for local fish farmers to move away from coca production and diversify their economic activities beyond cattle ranching and dairy production. In this article, we analyse the relationships among fish farmers, the state and Acuica. We argue that NGO success in securing donor funding can be underpinned by an NGO developmentalist gaze that homogenises its constituencies, which in the case of Acuica obscures different logics of fish production. This not only helps explain the mixed results in achieving development objectives but also suggests that initiatives that are intended to help farmers can imperil those who are already vulnerable. On the other hand, we argue that farmers’ strategic dependency on development initiatives displays their complex agency, as they are active consumers both engaging with and resisting the state’s NGO-mediated project of development.

Taking Stock of Social Sustainability and the U.S. Beef Industry

This paper presents the results of a study of social sustainability in the U.S. beef industry with a focus on the pre-harvest, cattle ranching portion of the industry. Using an integrative literature review and interviews with fifteen thought leaders in the field, we synthesize key indicators of social sustainability and provide a framework to be used in analyzing social sustainability in the pre-harvest beef industry. We identify six themes that are critical to social sustainability: human health; learning/adaptation; community relations; equity and inclusion; land ownership, tenure, and succession; and industry structure. However, our results also indicate that social sustainability as a term is insufficient for representing the positive futures desired by ranchers and that quantifiable indicators and metrics are not able to capture some of the subjective qualities of social sustainability. There is a need for future research that builds on these ideas and explores alternative future scenarios for the U.S. beef industry by engaging more diverse perspectives.

Bat phylogenetic responses to regenerating Amazonian forests

AbstractThroughout the tropics, regenerating secondary forests occupy vast areas previously cleared for agriculture and cattle ranching. However, despite the importance of regenerating forests in mitigating the pervasive negative consequences of forest loss and fragmentation on forest‐associated biodiversity, longitudinal studies on species' phylogenetic responses to matrix regeneration are rare.We surveyed bats in continuous primary forest, primary forest fragments and in the regenerating secondary forest matrix of a whole‐ecosystem Amazonian fragmentation experiment, ~15 and ~30 years after forest clearance, to investigate how changes in matrix quality through forest recovery affect phylogeneticα‐ andβ‐diversity.We found that temporal changes in phylogeneticα‐richness were more marked in the secondary forest matrix than in forest fragments and continuous forest, evidencing a significant increase in total evolutionary history over time. However, when the effects of species richness were accounted for, the phylogenetic structure of each assemblage was reduced close to zero, evincing a random pattern of lineages in all habitat types. Temporal differences in phylogeneticβ‐diversity were driven mainly byβreplacementin secondary forest and continuous forest ~30 years after forest clearance. Both habitats also clustered together in terms ofβrichness, indicating similar levels of evolutionary heritage. Consequently, regenerating secondary forest showed a reduction in the extinction probability of lineages over time.Synthesis and applications. Approximately 30 years of secondary forest regeneration were sufficient for phylogenetic richness to recover to levels similar to those observed in continuous forest. Promoting forest succession on degraded land through a combination of natural and active restoration, while ensuring the long‐term protection of secondary forests regardless of their age, is of key importance for conserving tropical bat diversity and their associated ecosystem services. Such restoration measures would stimulate the recolonization of fragments and matrix habitats by evolutionarily distinct bat species, safeguarding phylogenetically diverse assemblages and ecological functions. Our study suggests that forest restoration in tropical degraded areas should be encouraged and secondary forests be protected by law, especially in countryside ecosystems with high primary forest cover, and in the surroundings of protected areas.

Dual-Purpose Water Buffalo Production Systems in Tropical Latin America: Bases for a Sustainable Model.

Simple SummaryBuffaloes in the Latin American tropics have gained relevance in recent years thanks to the rusticity and productivity of this species and the potential of these ecosystems. Through a specialized literature review, the options were explored to promote efficient, profitable and sustainable dual-purpose production systems, which implied taking into consideration the characteristics of a fragile environment such as the tropics but with abundant forage resources. Buffaloes have distinctive characteristics with respect to cattle, such as a high fat milk content, ability to produce healthy and heavy calves from dairy cows and their need for thermoregulation, which implies the availability of water ponds and shade in grazing areas. Therefore, we propose the basis for designing intensive rotational grazing models and, under certain silvopastoral conditions, taking advantage of the gregarious behavior of buffaloes. These models require integral forms of management, including the organization and participation of producers in commercial channels, in order to value meat, milk and dairy products, given that their nutritional qualities allow them to be sold as differentiated products. There have been successful experiences in the region with this dual-purpose model, which, with the necessary adaptations, can be strengthened with buffaloes.Tropical regions of Latin America have been incorporated into development in recent decades, with extensive cattle ranching as one of the main economic activities but without adequate planning, drastically degrading the ecosystem. In recent years, buffalo production has been incorporated into the region, with possibilities for development in profitable and sustainable models. To study this option in depth, a broad bibliographic review was carried out focusing on the ecological characteristics of tropical zones and the physiological and productive characteristics of buffaloes. We also investigated the structure and functioning of dual-purpose systems that have worked in cattle and that can be optimized with this alternative animal species. The possibility of taking sustainable advantage of abundant forage resources in the region was detected through intensive grazing models, as well as agrosilvopastoral systems, due to the gregarious qualities of buffaloes and responding to their thermoregulation needs. In this way, the productive and regenerative capacities of the dual-purpose system could be increased, as well as the quality of meat and milk, which could be marketed as differentiated products, taking advantage of their outstanding nutritional qualities. Integral management of the dual-purpose system is proposed, retaking the bases of the original model of family characters, diversified and with low investments and risks, which with specific innovations can be an effective development option for producers in the region.

AUGMENTATION OF NATURAL PREY REDUCES CATTLE PREDATION BY PUMA (PUMA CONCOLOR) AND JAGUAR (PANTHERA ONCA) ON A RANCH IN SONORA, MEXICO

Retaliatory killing of large carnivores due to livestock predation is one of the major threats for the conservation of many declining populations of predators. According to empirical observations, there is a higher incidence of livestock predation when native prey abundance is low. In this study, we applied a treatment consisting of augmentation of prey abundance by translocation of peccaries (Pecari tajacu) and placement of four feed stations for white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) on a cattle ranch in Sonora, Mexico, with verified calf predation by puma (Puma concolor) and jaguar (Panthera onca). We quantified and compared consumed prey over two periods—phase I (8 months before the augmentation of prey) and phase II (8 months after the augmentation of prey)—through investigation of kill sites from Global Positioning System–collared jaguar and puma, prey identification from analyzed scat using molecular DNA techniques, and opportunistic discoveries of recently killed animal remains by either predator. We calculated the relative abundance of species (17 mammals [one species with two distinct age classes] and 1 bird species) through camera traps and for the most relevant prey species for this study (deer, calf, and peccary), we also estimated prey use by the predator, based on their availability during each period (prey preference). In the prey composition analyses of scat, we observed a significant reduction in the consumption of bovids and a significant increase in the consumption of peccaries during phase II. In the analyses of prey use, during phase I, predators consumed peccaries and calves at a higher proportion in relation to their availability. During phase II, consumption of calves declined from being preferred, to being consumed at the same proportion as their availability. Application of these results can contribute to the decrease of livestock predation and therefore conservation of pumas and jaguars.

A GIS-based methodology for sustainable farming planning: Assessment of land use/cover changes and carbon dynamics at farm level

The assessment of carbon dynamics as a climate-regulation ecosystem service (ES) by modeling of scenarios on land use and land cover (LULC) changes is widely used in environmental conservation studies to support public policies. However, ES studies at local scales that address the subject from the perspective of farm property are rare. In this paper, we performed the quantification, valuation, and mapping of carbon storage and sequestration of observed (2007–2017) and future LULC (2027) sustainable scenarios at a cattle ranch in Serra da Mantiqueira, in Southeastern Brazil. The aim was to understand how different LULC changes affect the provision of ES and contribute to economic opportunities to the farming sector. Under a GIS-approach, we used remote sensing techniques for LULC mapping, Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) for scenario building and carbon assessment, as well as the Sis software suite for forest growth and production simulation. All scenarios contributed to increasing carbon storage and sequestration and provided profitable economic opportunities. The introduction of Eucalyptus trees in livestock and agricultural production systems is an alternative for diversification and income increase, contributing to the balance of greenhouse gases (GHG) from livestock activity and adding value to production. These results are useful to support land use planning and management for both environmental conservation policies and sustainable farming production.

RURAL CREDIT AND THE LIVESTOCK PROCESS IN THE MICROREGION OF VILHENA, RONDÔNIA, WESTERN AMAZON

The study has as general objective to analyze the scenario of the municipalities in the microregion of Vilhena, State of Rondônia, based on the federal government's rural credit policy, in order to identify the possible livestock processes that would be carried out in this microregion. It is an applied, descriptive, cross-sectional research with a quantitative approach, since the objectives generate knowledge for practical application, which includes the number of contracts and the volume of financial resources for agriculture and livestock in the municipalities of Chupinguaia, Parecis, Pimenta Bueno, Primavera de Rondônia, São Felipe D'Oeste and Vilhena of the micro-region of Vilhena, Rondônia, Brazilian Amazon, in the period corresponding to the years 2000 and 2010. Data collection was carried out through reports from the rural credit statistical yearbook of the Central Banco do Brasil for the years 2000 and 2010. Based on the results found by the research, it was evidenced that in the municipalities of the microregion of Vilhena there was a process of cattle ranching, through the incentive of the rural credit policy granted to family rural producers, where it was observed that among the six municipalities that comprise In the micro-region of Vilhena, all of them presented a strong stimulus to the livestock sector, demonstrating a reversal of agricultural activity for livestock in this micro-region.