Pasture Conditions Research Articles

Livestock Changes in Brazil and Sustainable Intensification Challenges

The increasing global demand for animal products has impacted Brazilian cattle farming. This study aims to offer references for developing more sustainable livestock farming in Brazil. It analyzes the numbers of pasture areas, cattle herds, and stocking rates from 1970 to 2017, based on agricultural census data. Additionally, it compares pasture conditions using agricultural census data and satellite imagery for the years 2006 and 2017. The key findings include the following: (1) a 119.7% increase in cattle herds, with migration from the South and Southeast to the North and Central–West regions, which have lower land prices; (2) a 2.6% decrease in the pasture area for cattle (except in the North region); (3) a 3.8% decrease in areas in poor condition; and (4) a 125.5% increase in the stocking rate. Despite technological advancements improving productivity, most pastures (59.6%) are still underperforming, indicating potential for reducing the pressure on native vegetation. This study concludes that production areas are shifting between regions in Brazil, with livestock farming intensifying, marked by a decrease in pasture areas and degraded pastures, alongside an increase in cattle numbers and stocking rates. However, these changes are heterogeneous across the country. This analysis provides an overview of beef cattle nationwide, which is relevant for addressing production sustainability challenges.

Stability of Gastric Fluid and Fecal Microbial Populations in Healthy Horses under Pasture and Stable Conditions.

Equine gastrointestinal microbial communities vary across the gastrointestinal tract and in response to diet or disease. Understanding the composition and stability of gastric fluid microbiota in healthy horses is a prerequisite to understanding changes associated with the development of disease. The objective of this study was to describe microbial communities in the gastric fluid and feces of healthy horses longitudinally. Horses were maintained on pasture (6 weeks), stabled (5 weeks), then returned to pasture. A consistent forage diet was provided throughout. Native gastric fluid and feces were collected weekly for full-length 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing and microbial profiling analysis. Fewer taxa were identified in the gastric fluid (770) than in the feces (5284). Species richness and diversity were significantly different between sample types (p < 0.001), but not between housing locations (p = 0.3). There was a significant effect of housing and horse on the Bray-Curtis compositional diversity of gastric (p = 0.005; p = 0.009) and fecal (p = 0.001; p = 0.001) microbiota. When horses moved from pasture to stable, the relative proportions of gastric fluid Lactobacillaceae increased and Streptococcaceae decreased, while fecal Firmicutes increased and Bacteriodota decreased. Within each housing condition, there was no significant week-to-week variation in gastric (p = 0.9) or fecal (p = 0.09) microbiota. Overall, these findings support the maintenance of stable gastric and fecal microbial populations under each management condition, providing a basis for further investigation of gastric fluid microbiota in diseases of the foregut.

PSXIII-16 Kinematics and viability of spermatozoa from Criollo and Angus bulls in a low-input system

Abstract The Chihuahuan Criollo cattle is a genetic resource with special adaptive characteristics to rough, arid and semi-arid ecosystems. There is a great interest in incorporating such adaptations into beef production systems as one of the strategies for sustainable production to face the climate change challenge. Reproductive success is determinant to achieve sustainability in animal production systems. Most research efforts to improve reproductive efficiency have focused on the study of females. However, it has been shown that much of the economic losses caused by embryonic deaths are due to the bull. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of thawed semen from Angus and Criollo bulls kept in a low-input system. Thirteen healthy bulls (n = 7 Angus and 6 = Chihuahuan Criollo), with an average age of 4.3 ± 0.48 yr, grazing in the same rangeland and subjected to natural pasture conditions, were studied. Semen obtained by electroejaculation, were frozen and subsequently thawed for analyses. Characteristics of motility, vitality (V), morphology (M) and plasma membrane integrity (PMI) were evaluated in fresh and thawed semen, whereas movement kinetics (MK) and acrosome reaction (AR) were evaluated in thawed semen. Statistical analysis was performed using the PROC GLM of SAS Studio 2022 including the fixed effects of breed, semen condition and their interaction for variables of progressive motility (PM), V, M, PMI and the effect of breed for variables of MK and AR. As expected, PM and V were less (P &amp;lt; 0.05) in thawed (57.93 ± 4.1 and 53.69 ± 2.7) compared with fresh (72.64 ± 3.9 and 74.98 ± 2.6) semen, whereas no differences (P &amp;gt; 0.05) were found in M. However, the interaction between semen condition and breed for PMI tended to the significance (P = 0.08) with a PMI of 68.95 ± 4.6 and 58.98 ± 4.3 for Criollo and Angus, respectively, in fresh semen, whereas in thawed semen this difference was inverted (52.08 ± 4.6 and 58.40 ± 4.6). It is important to note that the semen retained quality traits with values above the minimum accepted for use in artificial insemination, despite the scarcity of resources of the system in which the animals were kept. There were no differences by breed in the main MK variables; however, AR reported as live unreacted sperm was less (P &amp;lt; 0.05) in Criollo (40.49 ± 4.49) compared with Angus bulls (58.48 ± 4.49). In conclusion, it is important to incorporate the assessment of membrane integrity and acrosome reaction in thawed semen evaluation to obtain a more accurate prediction of the potential fertility of samples, even if motility parameters appear to be optimal.

Feeder and Live Cattle Markets Face Mixed Signals as Fall Approaches

As the cattle market reopened following Labor Day, feeder and live cattle futures weakened to contract low levels of resistance. The October feeder cattle contract ended on a down note at approximately $230, as the market continues to grapple with whether prices will rise this fall amid uncertainty over how many heifers will go through sale barns. A significant factor contributing to current market conditions is the deterioration of pasture conditions, which has led to expectations that some feeder cattle will be brought to market earlier. However, this impact is tempered by a large hay crop and the availability of cheap feed, both of which are already being priced into the market.

Effect of Age and Sex on Medullation Types and Fiber Characteristics in Huacaya Alpacas

Background: Fiber is a distinctive attribute of the alpaca due to its softness qualities; it contains less grease and has a finer cuticle compared to sheep's wool. Therefore, the types of medullation were estimated: non-medullated fibers (NoMed), fragmented medulla (FragMed), discontinuous medulla (DiscMed), continuous medulla (ContMed) and strongly medullated fibers (StrMed), considering the age and sex of Huacaya breed alpacas (Vicugna pacos) under extensive management conditions in high Andean pastures. Methods: Six grams of fiber samples were collected from the mid-side region (located above the third last rib, halfway between the midline of the belly and the midline of the back) of 240 Huacaya alpacas from the district of Macusani, province of Carabaya, Puno, during the year 2022. They were then processed in the Fiber Laboratory of the Faculty of Textile Engineering and Garments at the National University of Juliaca using the FIBER EC V4.0 and FIBER MED V1.0 equipment. Result: The results obtained show that the percentage of non-medullated fibers decreases as the animal’s age increases (1 year= 75.60%, 2 years=69.43%, 3 years=69.05% and greater than 4 years=66.25%) (P≤0.05). The percentage of medullated fibers in animals of 1 year was 24.40%; 2 years, 30.57%; 3 years, 30.95% and greater than 4 years, 33.59% (P≤0.05). The mean fiber diameter in 1-year-old alpacas is 17.32 mm, 2 years=19.49 mm, 3 years = 19.91 mm and 4 years=20.10 mm (P≤0.05). The comfort factor in 1-year-old animals is 99.47%, 2 years with 98.02%, 3-year-olds with 97.01% and those older than 4 years with 96.45% (P≤0.05). Regarding the curvature index, values of 55.86 °/mm were obtained for 1-year-old animals, 53.43 °/mm for 2-year-olds, 53.99 °/mm for 3-year-olds and 52.23°/mm for those older than 4 years (P≤0.05). In conclusion, Huacaya alpacas exhibit low values for the percentage of strongly medullated fibers due to the age and sex of the animal, demonstrating very good fleece uniformity.

Remote Sensing Applied to Pasture Monitoring: A Review

Objective: The goal of this study was to review the results obtained by various authors for large-scale pasture monitoring via remote sensing; to monitor the development and degradation conditions of pastures according to case studies; and to analyze data, images, and Geographic Information System (GIS) procedures in relevant works. Theoretical Framework: In this topic, the principles that guided the literature review are presented, including a discussion of the search for remote sensing results related to pastures in large geographical areas, and case studies in works that denote the technological potential from field sampling and results worldwide are also presented. Method: Research methods associated with different themes, keywords, and regions were adopted to identify results from research in the area of remote sensing applied to surveying the conditions of pastures in the different typologies in the studied regions. Results and Discussion: The literature review in this study highlights the advances and methodologies developed for the evaluation of pasture conditions and mapping, from which it was possible to observe the stage of degradation of this vegetation, which is essential for agricultural production. Research Implications: The potential of using remote sensing materials and mechanisms for pasture assessment, mapping areas in stages of degradation and identifying vegetation vigor is highly valuable in large-scale pasture management. The presented literature indicates that pasture vegetation varies greatly according to geographic region, indicating great complexity in deriving its phenological conditions and showing that field campaigns are essential for the description and establishment of a relationship between the foliar canopy and sensor response. Originality/Value: This literature review addresses large-scale remote sensing surveys of pastures, contributing to research on the conditions of this vegetation. The bibliography presented in this review can support studies on mapping the pasture degradation process through remote sensing images and data.

Soil organic matter persistence in hyperhumic colluvial soils caused by palaeofires, root inputs and mineral binding

Understanding the formation of long-term persistent soil organic matter (SOM) is key to optimizing soil management and predicting the response of the terrestrial organic carbon (OC) pool to climate change, yet our knowledge of the soil-type dependent weight of different stabilization pathways (e.g., recalcitrance and mineral binding) is fragmentary. Owing to their stratigraphy, the exceptionally SOM-rich (up to 2 m of mineral soil with >5% OC) colluvial slope deposits of Atlantic Europe (Haplic Umbrisol [colluvic/hyperhumic]) are archives of palaeo-environmental conditions including SOM formation pathways. The objective of this study was to determine how the different drivers of persistent SOM formation influenced the formation of these organic-rich soils. For this purpose, we use Holocene (∼9000 yrs) molecular composition records obtained from pyrolysis-GC–MS (Py-GC–MS) and thermally assisted hydrolysis and methylation (THM-GC–MS). The results emphasize three pathways to stability (i.e., persistence on millennial timescales): 1) palaeofires that generated recalcitrant pyrogenic SOM, 2) release of root-derived aliphatic macromolecules (suberin-like SOM), and 3) formation of microbial necromass. Pathways 1 and 2 are controlled by land use: Pathway 1 was relatively important under intense anthropogenic fire regimes and pyrophytic shrubland expansion; Pathway 2 was stimulated during early forest phases and under pasture conditions, when past societies focused vegetation management on grazing instead of fire; Pathway 3 was controlled by binding with aluminium-dominated mineral phases. However, we found indications that Pathway 2 (suberin input and preservation) relied partially on sorptive preservation as well. Aided by structured equation modeling (SEM), we show that the formation of persistent SOM pools was driven by balanced weights of i) microbial vs. plant-derived SOM and ii) intrinsic chemical properties of SOM (recalcitrance continuum) vs. mineral binding/occlusion, which varied in keeping with interactions between past land use, topography and vegetation. These findings are inconsistent with the prevalent paradigm of persistent SOM formation by sorptive/occlusive preservation of microbial necromass alone.

Exploring the Economically Important Growth Traits and Environmental Influences on Akkaraman Lambs in Ankara

This study focused on the Akkaraman sheep breed, specifically examining the pre-weaning growth characteristics and Kleiber ratio, within the framework of Türkiye’s National Community-Based Small Ruminant Breeding Program. The research involved Akkaraman lambs born between 2017 and 2021 across 20 farms in the Ankara province. The dataset comprised 19,119 observations, covering key attributes such as birth weight, weaning weight, average daily weight gain, and the Kleiber ratio. Statistical analyses were conducted to identify outliers, assess normality, and develop linear models to explore the impact of environmental factors on the traits. Birth weight was significantly influenced by sex, birth type, birth season, birth year, and flock size. Weaning weight exhibited significant variations based on the same factors, emphasizing the importance of gender, birth type, birth season, birth year, and flock size. Average daily weight gain was notably affected by gender, birth type, birth season, birth year, flock size, and environmental factors, emphasizing their impact on growth. The Kleiber ratio demonstrated significant variations influenced by gender, birth type, birth season, birth year, and flock size. The results highlighted the intricate interplay between environmental factors and pre-weaning growth traits in the Akkaraman sheep breed. The study contributes valuable insights to enhance productivity and underscores the potential of the Akkaraman breed in Türkiye's overall agricultural development, considering its adaptability to arid climates and challenging pasture conditions

ANALYSIS OF PEDIGREE AND PRODUCTIVE QUALITIES OF TWO GENEALOGICAL LINES OF KAZAKH HORSES OF ZHABE TYPE

The article presents body measurements, live weight, as well as data on meat and milk productivity of linear horses of the toad type. The main purpose of line breeding is not only to preserve the hereditary qualities of the ancestor, but also to enrich the line by accumulating new valuable heredity over several generations. The special value of linear animals lies in the fact that they more steadfastly retain their high productive and breeding qualities in their offspring.Horses of the Zymyran line are distinguished by pronounced meaty forms, have an elongated body and a girth chest. According to the results of control slaughter, mares and colts of the Zymyran line, both in terms of the mass of carcasses obtained and in terms of slaughter yield, are characterized as highly productive meat animals, carcass weight (240.20-202.14) and slaughter yield (53.3-56.4%) . And in the Arda line, both in terms of the mass of carcasses obtained and in terms of slaughter yield, it is characterized as meat and dairy animals, carcass weight (225.10-197.00) and slaughter yield (52.3-56.2).Studies have shown that Kazakh mares of the toad type of two lines had unequal milk production. Mares of the Arda line (1787.1 kg) had a higher milk productivity under pasture conditions, while mares of the Zymyran line (1664.2 kg) had a higher milk productivity.

Simulation of the nutritional requirements and energy balance of adult cows in a northern temperate grassland.

The forage-livestock balance is an important component of natural grassland management, and realizing a balance between the nutrient energy demand of domestic animals and the energy supply of grasslands is the core challenge in forage-livestock management. This study was performed at the Xieertala Ranch in Hulunbuir City, Inner Mongolia. Using the GRAZPLAN and GrazFeed models, we examined the forage-livestock energy balance during different grazing periods and physiological stages of livestock growth under natural grazing conditions. Data on pasture conditions, climatic factors, supplemental feeding, and livestock characteristics, were used to analyze the metabolizable energy (ME), metabolizable energy for maintenance (MEm), and total metabolizable energy intake (MEItotal) of grazing livestock. The results showed that the energy balance between forage and animals differed for adult cows at different physiological stages. In the early lactation period, although the MEItotal was greater than MEm, it did not meet the requirement for ME. MEItotal was greater than ME during mid-lactation, but there was still an energy imbalance in the early and late lactation periods. In the late lactation period, MEItotal could meet ME requirements from April-September. Adult gestational lactating cows with or without calves were unable to meet their ME requirement, especially in the dry period, even though MEItotal was greater than MEm. Adult cows at different physiological stages exhibited differences in daily forage intake and rumen microbial crude protein (MCP) metabolism, and the forage intake by nonpregnant cows decreased as follows: early lactation > mid-lactation > late lactation, pregnant cows' lactation > dry period. For the degradation, digestion and synthesis of rumen MCP, early-lactation cows were similar to those in the mid-lactation group, but both were higher than those in the late-lactation group, while pregnant cows had greater degradation, digestion, and synthesis of MCP in the lactation period relative to the dry period. For lactating cows, especially those with calves, grazing energy requirements, methane emission metabolism and heat production were highest in August, with increased energy expenditure in winter. Overall, grazing energy, methane emissions and heat production by dry cows were low. In the context of global climate change and grassland degradation, managers must adopt different strategies according to the physiological stages of livestock to ensure a forage-livestock balance and the sustainable utilization and development of grasslands.

Behavioural response to gastrointestinal parasites of yearling dairy calves at pasture

ABSTRACT Aims To investigate the association between gastrointestinal parasites (GIP) and animal behaviour in dairy calves under New Zealand pastoral conditions, using animal-mounted, accelerometer-based sensors. Methods Thirty-six, 5–6-month-old, Friesian-Jersey, heifer calves fitted with animal activity sensors to track behaviour were randomly allocated to one of two treatment groups. Half the animals were challenged with an oral dose of 20,000 larvae of Ostertagia ostertagi and Cooperia oncophera once a week for 3 weeks and half were unchallenged. Five weeks after the last dose, seven infected and nine uninfected animals were treated with an oral anthelmintic (AHC) and data collected for a further week. Accelerometer data were classified into minutes per day eating, ruminating, in moderate–high activity or in low activity. Live weight and faecal egg counts (FEC) were recorded weekly over the study period. All animals co-grazed a newly sown pasture not previously grazed by ruminants and were moved every week to fresh grazing. Treatment status was blinded to those managing the animals which were otherwise treated identically. Results Complete behavioural records were available from 30/36 calves, (13 challenged and 17 unchallenged). Before treatment with AHC, FEC increased in infected and un-treated calves over the study, while uninfected animals maintained a near zero FEC. There was no difference in live weight gain between the two groups over the study period. Bayesian, multinomial regression predicted differences in animal behaviour between infected and uninfected animals that were not treated with AHC over the 7 weeks following initial infection. Parasitised calves not treated with AHC were less active and spent up to 6 (95% highest density interval (HDI) = 1–11) minutes/day less in low level activity and up to 15 (95% HDI = 7–20) minutes/day less in moderate to high level activity. They ruminated up to 9 (95% HDI = 2–15) minutes/day more and ate up to 10 (95% HDI = 2–19) minutes/day more than control calves that were not treated with AHC. The effect of AHC on time spent in each behaviour differed between infected and uninfected calves and increased the coefficient of dispersion of the behavioural data. Conclusions and clinical relevance Small differences in animal behaviour can be measured in calves with GIP. However, to use this to target treatment, further validation studies are required to confirm the accuracy of behavioural classification and understand the complex drivers of animal behaviour in a dynamic and variable pasture-parasite–host environment.

Ecological assessment of pastures semi-deserts and dry steppes of Azerbaijan

The absence in the scientific literature of criteria for assessing the ecological status of pasture lands, insufficient knowledge of the use of predictive methods and technology for carrying out special agrochemical measures, as well as issues of permissible loads, served as the basis for choosing the topic of research work. For the first time, in the conditions of pastures in Azerbaijan, an environmental and energy assessment of soil-landscape complexes was carried out. A detailed and final quality assessment was drawn up on soil scale, and the coefficient of their comparative merit was determined. A scientifically based system of agrochemical measures for the superficial and fundamental improvement of pastures has been developed. The final bonitet scale, reflecting the level of fertility of soil varieties, showed that the soils of the Jeyranchol massif turned out to be the most fertile at 62 points, compared with them, the pasture soils of Ajinohur on average across the massif received 53 points, Gobustan 51 points, and the Kura-Araz lowland 55 points. On average, pasture lands in Azerbaijan are valued at 55 points, which indicates the need for agro-reclamation measures. The types of forage plants are distributed as follows: i) Cereals 116, 12%; ii) Asteraceae 109, 11.2%; iii) Legumes 82, 8.4%; iv) Brassicas 59, 6.2%; 6%; v) Cloves 50, 5.3%; vi) Lamiaceae 42, 4.6%; vii) Linear 40, 4.2%; viii) Goosefoot 6, ix) Gimletaceae 32 species, 3.4%; x) Umbrellas 38, 4.4%; xi) Other 339 types, 35.5%.

Transgenerational effects of the maternal gestational environment on the post-natal performance of beef cattle: A reaction norm approach.

In tropical beef cattle production systems, animals are commonly raised on pastures, exposing them to potential stressors. The end of gestation typically overlaps with a dry period characterized by limited food availability. Late gestation is pivotal for fetal development, making it an ideal scenario for inter- and transgenerational effects of the maternal gestational environment. Intergenerational effects occur due to exposure during gestation, impacting the development of the embryo and its future germline. Transgenerational effects, however, extend beyond direct exposure to the subsequent generations. The objective of the present study was to verify these effects on the post-natal performance of zebu beef cattle. We extended the use of a reaction norm model to identify genetic variation in the animals' responses to transgenerational effects. The inter- and transgenerational effects were predominantly positive (-0.09% to 19.74%) for growth and reproductive traits, indicating improved animal performance on the phenotypic scale in more favourable maternal gestational environments. Additionally, these effects were more pronounced in the reproductive performance of females. On average, the ratio of direct additive genetic variances of the slope and intercept of the reaction norm ranged from 1.23% to 3.60% for direct and from 10.17% to 11.42% for maternal effects. Despite its relatively modest magnitude, this variation proved sufficient to prompt modifications in parameter estimates. The average percentage variation of direct heritability estimates ranged from 19.3% for scrotal circumference to 33.2% for yearling weight across the environmental descriptors evaluated. Genetic correlations between distant environments for the studied traits were generally high for direct effects and far from unity for maternal effects. Changes in EBV rankings of sires across different gestational environments were also observed. Due to the multifaceted nature of inter- and transgenerational effects of the maternal gestational environment on various traits of beef cattle raised under tropical pasture conditions, they should not be overlooked by producers and breeders. There were differences in the specific response of beef cattle to variations in the quality of the maternal gestational environment, which can be partially explained by transgenerational epigenetic inheritance. Adopting a reaction norm model to capture a portion of the additive variance induced by inter- or transgenerational effects could be an alternative for future research and animal genetic evaluations.

CHARACTERISTICS OF INSECTOFAUNA OF CATTLE FARMS

The article presents data on the determination of the entomofauna of zoophilous flies in the conditions of the cattle breeding farm. Were subjected to parasitological research cattle of various ages: dairy cows, heifers of mating age, calves. The research was carried out on pastures, in production premises and walking areas. As a result of the conducted research, it was established that the main representatives of zoophilic flies parasitizing animals in pasture conditions were: Lyperosia irritans, Haematobia stimulans, Musca autumnalis Musca vitripennis. The following types of flies in the case of animals staying in the production premises, were identified on them: Musca domestic, Fannia canicularus, Calliphora uralensis, Calliphora visina, Lucilia sericata and Muscina stabulans. It was established that the extent of infestation by zoophilous flies was 100% among all age groups of cattle. Intensity of infestation in the group of dairy cows was 270.22±4.28 specimens/animal, among heifers and heifers of mating age – 244.67±3.49 specimens/animal, and among calves – 81.67±1.14 specimens/animal. We identified a clear trend regarding the specifics of parasitic insect damage in cattle of different breeds. When staying within the same production group, the highest intensity of infestation (354.50±5.08 insects per animal) was found in black Holstein cows, and the lowest II indicator was found in Simmental cows - 159.83±1.41 insects per animal. The intensity of the infestation of cows by zoophilic flies among representatives of the Holstein breed is 28% higher than that of the Simmental breed, and also 25% higher than that of the cows of the Ukrainian black-spotted dairy breed. It was noted that with high indicators of the intensity of invasion by zoophilous flies, the animals showed the maximum degree of restlessness, when analyzing behavioral reactions and the level of well-being of cows. It manifested itself in a constant effort to be in motion. Therefore, as a result of the conducted complex of studies, the extreme relevance of insecticidal treatments of cattle of different age groups has been proven, since a wide range of zoophilic flies has been identified in the places where animals stay.

The Environmental Impact on Economically Significant Traits in Central Anatolian Merino Sheep

This research delves into the pre-weaning growth and fleece characteristics of the Central Anatolian Merino sheep breed, focusing on Türkiye's National Community-Based Small Ruminant Breeding Program. The study encompasses Central Anatolian Merino lambs born between 2016 and 2021 across 22 farms in Ankara province, amassing a dataset of around 35,344 observations. Economically important traits such as birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), average daily weight gain (ADWG), Kleiber ratio at weaning (KR), fibre diameter, and fibre length (measured in approximately 4,809 observations) were scrutinized. Rigorous statistical analyses, including outlier identification, normality assessment, and the development of linear mixed models, were employed to unravel the impact of environmental factors on these traits. Significant findings emerged, indicating that birth weight, weaning weight, and the Kleiber ratio were substantially influenced by variables such as sex, birth type, birth season, birth year, and flock size. Moreover, average daily weight gain exhibited noteworthy variations attributed to gender, birth type, birth season, birth year, flock size, and other environmental factors, underscoring their collective impact on growth. Fleece traits displayed considerable diversity influenced by gender, birth type, birth season, birth year, and flock size. This study sheds light on the intricate interplay between environmental factors and pre-weaning growth traits within the Central Anatolian Merino sheep breed. Beyond its scientific contributions, this research provides valuable insights aimed at bolstering productivity. The adaptability of the Central Anatolian Merino breed to arid climates and challenging pasture conditions positions it as a key player in Türkiye's broader agricultural development.

Effects of prepartum shearing on metabolic and placental parameters of ewes: Impact on productive parameters of their lambs

Prepartum shearing has been associated with increased lamb survival under pastoral conditions. This research aimed to evaluate the effects of early and late prepartum shearing in gestating Corriedale ewes on the metabolic profile and placental parameters of the ewes and how these changes affect the productive parameters of their lambs. On day 70 of gestation, 37 ewes carrying a single foetus were randomly divided into three groups: ewes sheared at day 70 of gestation (early, PS70, n = 12), sheared at day 110 of gestation (late, PS110, n = 12), and ewes unsheared at prepartum (US, n = 13, control group). Energy metabolism (glycaemia, insulin, NEFA, and BHB) and placental parameters (placental weight, number, and characteristics of cotyledons, and placental efficiency) were evaluated in the ewes. Live weight, morphometric measurements, and body composition were determined in the lambs. Prepartum shearing performed on different days (early and late) caused changes in energy metabolism, leading to a decrease in serum insulin and an increase in NEFA and BHB blood values. Early prepartum shearing increased placental weight and the number and weight of the 2–3 cm-cotyledons, while late prepartum shearing increased placental weight and placental efficiency and only changed the weight of the 2–3 cm-cotyledons. Prepartum shearing on both days caused an increase in lamb birth weight. Therefore, prepartum shearing caused changes in the metabolic profile and placenta of the ewes, which resulted in increased weight and development of lambs at birth.

Monitoring the live weight of Hereford breeding cattle under pasture conditions

Assessing the growth potential and sustainability of breeding stock productivity makes it possible to predict effective herd management, including the duration of use of cows, significantly affecting the potential economic efficiency of raising young animals. The object of the study was data on live weight and average daily gain of Hereford cows and heifers. An assessment was made of Hereford cows’ live weight and growth rate and replacement young cattle of different years of birth, bred under conditions of year-round keeping on pasture. Assessing the growth potential of animals forming a herd for more than 15 years allows us to evaluate the trends that have led to current productivity. Keeping animals on pasture all year round, on the one hand, allows for the formation of animal resistance to environmental conditions; on the other hand, there is a tendency for the year of birth to influence the productive performance of animals, especially at the stage of raising them as replacement young animals. Still, these differences are smoothed out in the future, which today allows us to have a herd equalized by live weight. A significant influence of cows ’ birth year on their growth rates has been established. The study aimed to assess the live weight and growth rate of Hereford cows and young animals from the breeding herd, born in different years. The study’s objectives included evaluating the final weight of animals in the herd and assessing their live weight and average daily gain at the selection stage at the age of 15 months.

Influence of Forest-Pasture Conversion on the Erodibility of a Dystrophic Red Yellow Latosol with Different Deforestation Temporalities in the Southwestern Amazon

The objective was to evaluate the erodibility of a Dystrophic Red Yellow Latosol from the Mutum Paraná River sub-basin to understand the influence of forest conversion and different pasture temporalities on its physical structure and the potential for sediment release after surface samples undisturbed were subjected to the Inderbitzen experiment. Tests of Mechanical Resistance to penetration and physical parameters under forest and pasture conditions were carried out. A simulation of surface runoff by water spraying (Inderbitzen) was carried out to analyze the disaggregation and transportability of particles. The erodibility equation (K factor) was applied, and the Limits of Consistency were defined to measure the Plasticity Index of the soil that qualifies its erodibility. The pasture samples submitted to the experiment indicated soils of low susceptibility to erosion, even under conditions of maximum slope of the area (17°) and under intense simulated flow (3 L and 6 L min-1) of sprinkler, not showing large losses of sediments or intense surface degradation. There was a relation between soil physical properties and the response of the sample in the experiment. Samples with higher total porosity (r = 0,89) and lower apparent densities (r = -0,88) showed higher disaggregation. There was a significant correlation between the simulated samples that showed lower sediment losses, with a higher percentage of clay (r = -0,65). Samples with a higher percentage of total sand indicated higher percentages of disaggregation (r = 0,68). Erodibility data obtained by the K-factor equation and Plasticity Index endorsed the low soil erodibility

Impacts of grazing management strategies on forage canopy structure in multi-species pastures during the wet-dry transition period

The condition of pastures during the wet-dry transition period reduces livestock production since there is an increase in dead material and a reduction in green tissues. This study evaluated the influence of grazing management strategies on the structure of the forage canopy during the wet-dry transition period. The pastures were composed of Aruana guineagrass (Megathyrsus maximum Syn. Panicum maximum cv. Aruana) and three legumes: Macrotyloma (Macrotyloma axillare), Calopo (Calopogoinum mucunoides), and Stylo (Stylosanthes macrocephala + Stylosanthes capitata). The treatments corresponded to four forage canopy heights (15, 30, 45, and 60 cm), and the grazing management strategies involved steady or variable stocking rates with sheep. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with four replications totaling 16 experimental units (paddocks). The masses of grass leaf blades and stems were higher at heights of 45 and 60 cm (P = 0.002), while the proportion of dead material was smaller in these than in the short pastures (15 and 30 cm) (P = 0.0497). There was an increase in the proportion of dead material over the dry-water transition period. The presence of grass and legume leaves was higher in the upper stratum of tall pastures (45 and 60 cm) and the proportion of legumes did not differ between grazing management strategies (P &gt; 0.05). These strategies were represented by canopy heights of 45 to 60 cm and showed more leaf mass, less dead material, and better pasture structure, so these parameters can be used during the wet-dry transition period.

EFFECT OF MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND HARVESTING STAGE ON BOTANICAL COMPOSITION, BIOMASS YIELD, AND NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF NATURAL PASTURE UNDER TRADITIONAL LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION SYSTEM IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS OF ETHIOPIA

&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/em&gt;Natural pasture is an essential source of livestock feed worldwide, particularly in Ethiopia. Though pastureland coverage and management practices are changing over time, studies are limited in addressing the status under the dynamics of smallholder management conditions. &lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objective:&lt;/strong&gt; To evaluate natural pasture botanical composition, biomass yield, and nutritional value under different management and stages of harvesting in the central highlands of Ethiopia. &lt;strong&gt;Methodology:&lt;/strong&gt; The pasture was harvested at three stages (pre-flowering, mid-flowering, and after full flowering) under different management (extensive, semi-intensive where urea was used as a fertilizer, and seasonal grazing). Quadrats of 0.25 m&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; were used for herbaceous species identification, biomass yield estimation and nutritive value analysis. Chemical composition of the samples were analyzed using Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy&lt;/em&gt;. &lt;strong&gt;Results:&lt;/strong&gt; Thirty-one herbaceous species were identified (38.71% grasses, 19.35% legumes, 9.67% sedges, and 32.26% forbs), which belong to 11 families.&lt;em&gt; &lt;/em&gt;The total biomass yield under semi-intensive management practice at full maturity stage was greater than seasonally grazed and extensively managed pasture. The species richness, species evenness Shannon-Wiener diversity (H’ max) and maximum possible diversity (H’max) were similar (P&amp;gt;0.05) under all management practices. &lt;em&gt;Natural pasture &lt;/em&gt;condition score was fair under seasonal grazing, while the score was excellent under extensive and semi-intensive management. Metabolizable energy (ME), and &lt;em&gt;in vitro&lt;/em&gt; organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) were higher (P&amp;lt;0.5) under extensive management compared to the semi-intensive management. The pasture harvested at the pre-flowering stage had higher (P&amp;lt;0.05) CP content, IVOMD, and ME, but low neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber and acid detergent lignin values. &lt;strong&gt;Implications:&lt;/strong&gt; The findings provide new insights into improving the biomass yield and quality of the pasture in semi-intensive pastureland management, and harvesting after the full flowering stage. &lt;strong&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;em&gt;This study recommended&lt;/em&gt; semi-intensive management and harvesting after the full flowering stage for higher pasture biomass yield, pasture condition, and nutritional value in the highlands of Ethiopia. Further study is required to investigate the combined effects of fertilizer (organic, inorganic) application and other management on biomass yield and quality of natural pasture in similar and other areas in the highlands of Ethiopia. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;iframe class="ginger-extension-synonympopup" style="left: 134.956px; top: 88.8px; z-index: 56; padding: 0px; visibility: hidden; height: 152px;" src="chrome-extension://kdfieneakcjfaiglcfcgkidlkmlijjnh/ginger-popup/index.html"&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;