Forage Consumption Research Articles

THE SENSITIVITY OF TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY ESTIMATIONS USING DIFFERENT METHODS OF ESTIMATING (INDUSTRIAL DAIRY FARMS IN CHAHARMAHAL AND BAKHTIARI PROVINCE IN IRAN)

Background: Qualitative increase in production and achieving commercial and competitive production in the world market requires the application of scientific and economic methods . Obviously, limited factors and sources for production reveal the importance of this issue more than before . Methods: The aim of this study was to compare the technical efficiency of dairy farms in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province in Iran, and for this end three methods including OLSCOLS, and MLE as well as linear programming (LP) were used for calculations . Fitted production function is Cobb - Douglas in which milk production is the dependent variable and the amount of concentrate input , forage consumption and labor are independent ( explanatory) variables of the model . Results: The detection rate of the estimation method Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) shows that independent variables explain about 81 % of the dependent variable changes ( milk production). F statistical so indicates the significance of the estimated model ; while most estimated traction is related to concentrate inputs . According to the findings of this study, the average technical efficiency calculated using three different methods of Corrected Ordinary Least Squares ,

Effect of feeding restriction on growth and dressing percentages in Mexican hairless pig.

Twenty-four male Mexican hairless pigs, weighing 16 ± 1.12kg, were used to evaluate growth performance and carcass yield in pigs fed 2 (L), 3 (M) and 4 (H) times the Metabolizable Energy (ME) required for maintenance. The pigs were assigned randomly to two experimental rearing systems (indoors and outdoors). They were fed daily according to their respective feeding regimen (FR). The indoor pigs were fed ad libitum with chopped star grass forage (Cynodon nlemfuensis). The outdoor pigs had access during 16h to a paddock of star grass. The pigs were slaughtered when they achieve 70kg of live weight. No significant differences between indoors and outdoors were observed in any of the variables evaluated (P > 0.05). A significant reduction of daily live weight gain (P < 0.05) was observed conforming to FR reductions (0.501, 0.438 and 0.300kg/day for H, M and L, respectively). Days to achieve 70kg of live weight increase (P < 0.05) as FR reduces (110, 124 and 180days for H, M and L, respectively) were recorded. Forage consumption in pigs reared indoors reduces (P < 0.05) conforming to FR increases (0.092, 0.121 and 0.307kgDM/day for H, M and L respectively). Fat carcass yield reduces significantly (P < 0.05) according FR reductions (24.5, 22.8 y 18.9kg, for H, M and L respectively). Also, carcass meat yield was higher (P < 0.05) in pigs from L regimen (25.0kg) than in pigs from M and H regimen (22.0 and 22.8kg, respectively). Results obtained indicate a reduction in daily live weight gain conforming to daily feed intake reductions; however, improvement in carcass meat yield, accompanied with a reduction in carcass fat yield, was observed.

The Role of Individual Traits and Environmental Factors for Diet Composition of Sheep.

Large herbivore consumption of forage is known to affect vegetation composition and thereby ecosystem functions. It is thus important to understand how diet composition arises as a mixture of individual variation in preferences and environmental drivers of availability, but few studies have quantified both. Based on 10 years of data on diet composition by aid of microhistological analysis for sheep kept at high and low population density, we analysed how both individual traits (sex, age, body mass, litter size) linked to preference and environmental variation (density, climate proxies) linked to forage availability affected proportional intake of herbs (high quality/low availability) and Avenella flexuosa (lower quality/high availability). Environmental factors affecting current forage availability such as population density and seasonal and annual variation in diet had the most marked impact on diet composition. Previous environment of sheep (switch between high and low population density) had no impact on diet, suggesting a comparably minor role of learning for density dependent diet selection. For individual traits, only the difference between lambs and ewes affected proportion of A. flexuosa, while body mass better predicted proportion of herbs in diet. Neither sex, body mass, litter size, ewe age nor mass of ewe affected diet composition of lambs, and there was no effect of age, body mass or litter size on diet composition of ewes. Our study highlights that diet composition arises from a combination of preferences being predicted by lamb and ewes’ age and/or body mass differences, and the immediate environment in terms of population density and proxies for vegetation development.

Issledvane na efekta na suh ekstrakt ot Tribulus terrestris varhu rashoda na furag pri japonski padpadazi (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

An investigation of Vemo Herb® additive on the forage consumption rate in Japanese quail (Pharaoh breed) has been conducted. The experiment was carried out for 10 weeks with 52 female and 16 male sexually matured Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) distributed in four groups: control group (without additive), first experimental group - 4 mg*kg-1 of live weight for 10 weeks; second experimental group - 10 mg*kg-1 of live weight during the first five weeks of the study (after that the product was no more supplemented) and third experimental group - 10 mg*kg-1 of live weight during the whole study period. It was observed, a tendency of decreasing of the forage consumption rate for the whole experimental period (no statistical significance) for all the experimental groups compared to the control group, but some of the weekly differences are significant.

Factors Affecting the Variability of the Head Department Mass of the Honeybee Apis Mellifera L

We studied the age variability of the head department mass and process modification under the influence of physical and chemical environmental factors. The mass of the head departments is steadily decreasing from the beginning of the imaginal stage by the end of the life. This process is intensified by low-concentration carbohydrate forage consumption, content of pollutants or anesthesia in the atmosphere of CO2 or N2.Reducing the mass of the head departments accompanied by decreasing their water content and the temperature of maximum hypothermia lowering.

Influence of Policy Making in the Profitability of Forage Production Irrigated with Reclaimed Water

The limited availability of water at low prices and the current scheme for specific supply arrangements (SSA/REA), both determined at the political level, explain that the goal of being self-sufficient in terms of forage consumption is currently unattainable in the Canaries. The “PFORCA” Plan aims to counteract this reality and increase their level of self-sufficiency. The financial aid relating to the REA reduces the amount payable for the imported fodder (annual 83,000 t) versus local product, which influences the decision making by farmers. According to calculations, performed by reusing the water instead of discharging, Maralfalfa production could be competitive against imports, being financially viable with water prices in a range of 0.20–0.30 €/m3 (prices perfectly acceptable for reclaimed water with low levels of treatment, but fulfilling requirements reuse of Spanish law, RD 1620/2007). The economic contribution of forage crops could represent the creation of 640 new jobs, the enhancement of land currently abandoned, plus an increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the archipelago on more than 23 million € (M€), product of the substitution of imports by local production. Also, it would help to save the REA’s aid (6 M€).

The future of grazing research

The future of grazing research

A preliminary investigation into the effect of ad libitum or restricted hay with or without Horslyx on the intake and switching behaviour of normal and crib biting horses

In an attempt to reduce’fibre-belly’ and prevent obesity in horses many owners restrict access to hay in the stable. Such restrictions can lead to digestive disturbances and promote the development of stereotypic behaviours.The objectives of this experiment were to determine if ad libitum or restricted forage with or without the molasses based lick, Horslyx, would alter the behaviour in a group of normal and confirmed stereotypic horses.Two Randomised Block Design trials were conducted simultaneously. Group A consisted of 3 crib-biters and 1 normal horse, while group B contained 4 non-stereotypic (normal) horses. Horses were individually housed in 10×12 foot boxes and bedded on dust-extracted shavings with water available ad libitum. Diets were ad libitum hay, ad libitum hay+Horslyx, restricted hay, and restricted hay+Horslyx. For two days of each collection period every horse was individually observed, and an ethogram completed for ½h 3x/day=6 observation sessions for each horse. Switching behaviour and data for hay and lick intakes were averaged across the 5 days of collection and subjected to Friedman's non-parametric ANOVA with horse, diet and behaviour as fixed factors.Ad libitum or restricted forage or the presence of a Horslyx had no significant impact on horse behaviour. Crib-biting horses tended to consume less hay 8.81 (±3.60)kg/d and more Horslyx 1.10 (±0.38)kg/d compared with normal horses who consumed more hay at 11.72 (±4.59)kg/d and less Horslyx at 1.01 (±0.45)kg/d respectively, but there was no significant differences between the groups. Crib-biting horses switched behaviour (eating, licking, cribbing, drinking, and looking over the door resting) an average of 40 times more during the 30min observation sessions than normal horses. Crib-biting horses also licked the Horslyx 1.5 times more than normal horses.These results confirmed that stereotypic animals are addicted to the reward of the dopamine release, achieved by the action of crib biting, and are thus not influenced by ad libitum forage or access to a stable lick. The 4 fold increase in switching behaviour and additional licking by the crib-biting horses suggests an increased transmission of the neurotransmitter dopamine and in this regard licking may promote coping in certain environmental circumstances.The results of this study suggest that providing a lick in the stable for crib-biting horses gives them another activity to the normal forage consumption and resting actions and may provide another mechanism for dopamine release and thus enhance their ‘coping’ strategy when confined in stables.

Greenhouse gas mitigation potential of the world’s grazing lands: Modeling soil carbon and nitrogen fluxes of mitigation practices

This study provides estimates of the net GHG mitigation potential of a selected range of management practices in the world’s native and cultivated grazing lands. The Century and Daycent models are used to calculate the changes in soil carbon stocks, soil N2O emissions, and forage removals by ruminants associated with these practices. GLEAM is used in combination with these models to establish grazing area boundaries and to parameterize links between forage consumption, animal production and animal GHG emissions. This study provides an alternative to the usual approach of extrapolating from a small number of field studies and by modeling the linkage between soil, forage and animals it sheds new light on the net mitigation potential of C sequestration practices in the world’s grazing lands. Three different mitigation practices are assessed in this study, namely, improved grazing management, legume sowing and N fertilization. We estimate that optimization of grazing pressure could sequester 148Tg CO2yr−1. The soil C sequestration potential of 203Tg CO2yr−1 for legume sowing was higher than for improved grazing management, despite being applied over a much smaller total area. However, N2O emissions from legumes were estimated to offset 28% of its global C sequestration benefits, in CO2 equivalent terms. Conversely, N2O emissions from N fertilization exceeded soil C sequestration, in all regions. Our estimated potential for increasing C stocks though in grazing lands is lower than earlier worldwide estimates (Smith et al., 2007; Lal, 2004), mainly due to the much smaller grazing land area over which we estimate mitigation practices to be effective. A big concern is the high risk of the practices, particularly legumes, increasing soil-based GHGs if applied outside of this relatively small effective area. More work is needed to develop indicators, based on biophysical and management characteristics of grazing lands, to identify amenable areas before these practices can be considered ready for large scale implementation. The additional ruminant GHG emissions associated with higher forage output are likely to substantially reduce the mitigation potential of these practices, but could contribute to more GHG-efficient livestock production.

ЭНЕРГЕТИЧЕСКИЙ БАЛАНС ПОТРЕБЛЕНИЯ КОРМА НАСЕКОМЫМИ-ФИЛЛОФАГАМИ: ОПТИМИЗАЦИОННАЯ МОДЕЛЬ

ЭНЕРГЕТИЧЕСКИЙ БАЛАНС ПОТРЕБЛЕНИЯ КОРМА НАСЕКОМЫМИ-ФИЛЛОФАГАМИ: ОПТИМИЗАЦИОННАЯ МОДЕЛЬ

Consumer Foraging for Safer Tanning Alternatives: A Naturally Occurring Experiment on Informational Reinforcement in the UK

In this study, we examined whether ultra-violet indoor tanning (UVIT) bans for minors in the United Kingdom increased consumer foraging for spray tanning – a safer alternative to UVIT. Research suggests that the use of UVIT can result in an increased likelihood of developing skin cancer and/or indoor tanning addiction, and is predictive of other maladaptive behaviors (Reed, 2015). Furthermore, an increased prevalence in indoor tanning among minors correlates with health complications later in life (Wehner et al., 2012). Using data from Google Trends, we constructed a natural multiple baseline investigation to demonstrate that searches for spray tans increased as a function of the UVIT legislation. Findings suggest that spray tanning may serve as a substitute for UVIT, offering implications for behavioral economic approaches to policies aimed at decreasing UVIT in the United States.

Effect of fall-grazed sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) on gastrointestinal nematode infections of growing goats

High prevalence of anthelmintic-resistant gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) in goats has increased pressure to find effective, alternative non-synthetic control methods, one of which is adding forage of the high condensed tannin (CT) legume sericea lespedeza (SL; Lespedeza cuneata) to the animal's diet. Previous work has demonstrated good efficacy of dried SL (hay, pellets) against small ruminant GIN, but information is lacking on consumption of fresh SL, particularly during the late summer–autumn period in the southern USA when perennial warm-season grass pastures are often low in quality. A study was designed to determine the effects of autumn (September–November) consumption of fresh SL forage, grass pasture (predominantly bermudagrass, BG; Cynodon dactylon), or a combination of SL+BG forage by young goats [intact male Spanish kids, 9 months old (20.7±1.1kg), n=10/treatment group] on their GIN infection status.Three forage paddocks (0.40ha) were set up at the Fort Valley State University Agricultural Research Station (Fort Valley, GA) for an 8-week trial. The goats in each paddock were supplemented with a commercial feed pellet at 0.45kg/head/d for the first 4 weeks of the trial, and 0.27kg/head/d for the final 4 weeks. Forage samples taken at the start of the trial were analyzed for crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) content, and a separate set of SL samples was analyzed for CT in leaves, stems, and whole plant using the benzyl mercaptan thiolysis method. Animal weights were taken at the start and end of the trial, and fecal and blood samples were collected weekly for determination of fecal egg counts (FEC) and packed cell volume (PCV), respectively. Adult GIN was recovered from the abomasum and small intestines of all goats at the end of the experiment for counting and speciation. The CP levels were highest for SL forage, intermediate for SL+BG, and lowest for BG forage samples, while NDF and ADF values were the opposite, with highest levels in BG and lowest in SL forage samples. Sericea lespedeza leaves had more CT than stems (16.0g vs. 3.3g/100g dry weight), a slightly higher percentage of PDs (98% vs. 94%, respectively) and polymers of larger mean degrees of polymerization (42 vs. 18, respectively).There were no differences in average daily gain or blood PCV between the treatment groups, but SL goats had lower FEC (P<0.05) than the BG or SL+BG forage goats throughout most of the trial. The SL+BG goats had lower FEC than the BG forage animals by the end of the trial (week 8, P<0.05). The SL goats had lower numbers (P<0.05) of male Haemonchus contortus and tended to have fewer female (P<0.10) and total (P<0.07) H. contortus compared with the BG goats. The predominant GIN in all the goats was Trichostrongylus colubriformis (73% of total GIN).As a low-input forage with activity against pathogenic GIN (H. contortus), SL has a potential to reduce producers’ dependence upon synthetic anthelmintics and also to fill the autumn ‘window’ in good-quality fresh forages for goat grazing in the southern USA.

The Effect of Hay Net Design on Rate of Forage Consumption When Feeding Adult Horses

Modern horse management systems tend to limit a horse's opportunity to forage. The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effect of hay net design on the rate of forage consumption when feeding horses. Eight adult horses were fed in individual stalls in a replicated Latin square design, with two horses per treatment per week. Horses were fed hay off the stall floor (control), or from one of three hay nets: large (15.2 cm openings), medium (4.4 cm openings), and small (3.2 cm openings). Horses had access to hay for two 4-hour periods each day. When horses could not consume all forage from the medium and small hay nets in 4 hours, a second study using a crossover design gave horses an unlimited amount of time to feed from the hay nets. Stopwatches were used to calculate time to consumption and dry matter intake rates (DMIR). Mean time to consumption was 3.1 and 3.4 hours for the control and large hay net, respectively, in study 1, and 5.1 and 6.5 hours for the medium and small hay nets, respectively, in study 2. Mean DMIR during the 4-hour feeding period were 1.5, 1.3, 1.1, and 0.9 kg/hr for the control, large, medium, and small hay nets, respectively; all treatments were different (P < .0001). These results demonstrate that hay nets were effective at decreasing the rate of forage consumption when feeding adult horses. Long-term studies are warranted to determine if horses will adapt to feeding from hay nets.

The behaviour and productivity of water buffalo in different breeding systems: a review

This review examines the behaviour and productivity of the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) under different breeding systems and in relation to meat and milk production. At present, the steady increment in the consumption of products and sub-products of this species has generated the need to increase the number of animals incorporated into production by progressively expanding the use of stabling systems, reducing the space available to these animals, and applying techniques developed previously for meat and milk production in bovines. However, because such adaptations often fail to take into account important biological and behavioural features of these animals, they may result in serious problems of animal welfare. On the other hand, it is known that water buffaloes adapt well to humid tropical climates, especially in systems that provide extensive, continuous pastureland. These species are highly susceptible to thermal stress, a fact that leads them to constantly perform wallowing behaviour. For all these reasons, open-air and, above all, silvopastoral, systems represent attractive options because they combine the presence of forage plants with trees that provide natural shade and serve as wind barriers, thus attenuating the negative effects of tropical climes. These measures help increase productivity by promoting greater forage consumption and fostering the expression of the species&amp;rsquo; natural behaviours, but the reduction in human contact affects their welfare. Hence, this review concludes that welfare is a fundamental concept that must be taken into account in the development of systems for water buffalo production. &amp;nbsp;

Mineral licks: motivational factors for visitation and accompanying disease risk at communal use sites of elk and deer

Free-ranging cervids acquire most of their essential minerals through forage consumption, though occasionally seek other sources to account for seasonal mineral deficiencies. Mineral sources occur as natural geological deposits (i.e., licks) or as anthropogenic mineral supplements. In both scenarios, these sources commonly serve as focal sites for visitation. We monitored 11 licks in Rocky Mountain National Park, north-central Colorado, using trail cameras to quantify daily visitation indices (DVI) and soil consumption indices (SCI) for Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) during summer 2006 and documented elk, mule deer, and moose (Alces alces) visiting licks. Additionally, soil samples were collected, and mineral concentrations were compared to discern levels that explain rates of visitation. Relationships between response variables; DVI and SCI, and explanatory variables; elevation class, moisture class, period of study, and concentrations of minerals were examined. We found that DVI and SCI were greatest at two wet, low-elevation licks exhibiting relatively high concentrations of manganese and sodium. Because cervids are known to seek Na from soils, we suggest our observed association of Mn with DVI and SCI was a likely consequence of deer and elk seeking supplemental dietary Na. Additionally, highly utilized licks such as these provide an area of concentrated cervid occupation and interaction, thus increasing risk for environmental transmission of infectious pathogens such as chronic wasting disease, which has been shown to be shed in the saliva, urine, and feces of infected cervids.

Food supply for nekton in the epipelagic layer of Pacific waters at Kuril Islands in the summer seasons of 2000s

Data of 8 surveys conducted by Pacific Fish. Res. Center (TINRO) in the Pacific waters at Kuril Islands in 2004-2012 are summarized to consider forage base and food relationships of nekton and plankton and to estimate consumption of forage resourced by nekton. The total stock of zooplankton and micronekton in the epipelagic layer changed from 62 to 158 million tons over the shelf and slope of the surveyed area and from 41 to 75 million tons in its deep-water part. Mezopelagic fishes, squids, pacific salmons, and subtropical fishes were the main consumers of these forage resources in summer. The portion of zooplankton stock consumed annually by nekton was relatively low: 4.2-9.3 % for shelf and slope areas (data for 2004, 2007, and 2011) and 4.5-15.6 % for the deep-waters (data for 2004, 2007, 2009, and 2011), without significant year-to-year changes in the diet composition and feeding intensity of nekton. There is concluded that zooplankton and micronekton of the studied area serve successively the food needs of its consumers and carrying capacity of the epipelagic layer in the Pacific waters at Kuril Islands is quite substantial.

Effect of protein supplementation on tropical grass hay utilization by beef steers drinking saline water1

An experiment was conducted to assess the impact of increasing levels of supplemental soybean meal (SBM; 45.7% CP) in cattle consuming tropical grass hay (Panicum maximum cultivar Gatton; 7.0% CP and 81.8% NDF) and drinking low salt water (LS) or high salt water (HS). Six ruminally fistulated beef steers (BW = 375 ± 43 kg) were used in a 6-treatment, 4-period crossover experiment. Treatments were arranged as a 2 × 3 factorial, with 2 levels salt in the water (LS and HS: 786 and 6,473 mg/kg of total dissolved solids [TDS], respectively) and 3 levels of SBM (0, 0.2, and 0.4% BW/d). After 15 d of adaptation to treatments, periods consisted of 5 d for intake and digestibility determination, 1 d for monitoring ruminal fermentation, 1 d for ruminal evacuation, and 1 d for blood sampling. Supplemental SBM × water quality interactions were significant (P < 0.05) for most measures of intake, except for total tract digestible OM intake (P = 0.38) and total tract digestible NDF intake (TTDNDFI; P = 0.32). At greater levels of SBM, forage OM intake, NDF intake, and water intake seemed to reach a plateau in LS while this was not observed in HS. Total tract digestible OM intake increased linearly (P = 0.01) and TTDNDFI tended to increase (P = 0.09) in response to increased SBM. Digestibility of OM and NDF were not affected by treatment (P > 0.21). Passage rate of acid detergent insoluble ash linearly increased (P < 0.01) in response to SBM, although it was not affected by water quality (P = 0.98). Total VFA concentrations and ruminal pH were not affected (P > 0.60 and P > 0.31, respectively) by treatment. Ruminal ammonia N levels were linearly increased by SBM supplementation (P < 0.01) but were not affected by water quality (P = 0.25). However, ruminal ammonia tended (P = 0.09) to be greater in HS at 0.2% of SBM supplementation. No interaction was observed for plasma urea N (PUN; P = 0.20). Plasma urea N was affected by SBM supplementation (P = 0.05) and water quality (P < 0.01). However, PUN did not differ for 0.4% SBM supplementation (P = 0.30) either at LS or HS treatments. In conclusion, a high level of SBM supplementation (0.4% BW) counteracted the detrimental effect of high TDS in drinking water on low-quality forage consumption by cattle.

Practices to Reduce Milk Carbon Footprint on Grazing Dairy Farms in Southern Uruguay: Case Studies

&lt;p&gt;Carbon footprint (CF) is an increasingly important indicator of the impact of a product on climate change. This study followed international guidelines to quantify the CF of milk produced on 24 grazing-based dairy farms in southern Uruguay. Cows grazed all year-round and were supplemented with concentrate feeds. Dairy farms varied in annual milk yield per cow (5672 ± 1245 kg fat and protein corrected milk [FPCM]), milk production per ha (4075 ± 1360 kg FPCM/ha), cow stocking rate (0.71 ± 0.12 cows/ha), feed intake (13.3 ± 2.2 kg dry matter [DM]/cow/day) and percentage of concentrate in the diet (36 ± 12% DM) giving an average CF of 0.99 ± 0.10 kg CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; (equivalent [eq]/kg FPCM) over all farms. Total milk production per ha, milk yield per cow and dry matter intake explained most of the variation in CF. Strategies that provide the highest milk production per ha using high yielding cows and a high portion of lactating cows in the herd were identified as the best management practices for reducing CF. Low forage intake in Uruguay is often a consequence of low yielding pastures and high stocking rates. Overall, this study concluded that a reduction in CF is not achieved through increased concentrate intake unless forage consumption is also unconstrained. Improved pasture and feeding management can be used to reduce the CF of milk produced in Uruguay.&lt;/p&gt;

Northern Australian pasture and beef systems. 1. Net carbon position

The beef industry in northern Australia manages ~15 million cattle, grazed on 250 million hectares of grassland and savanna woodland. The large size of the beef industry results in significant quantities of greenhouse gases being emitted to the atmosphere through ruminant livestock enteric methane production. However, livestock emissions are only one component of the carbon cycle in which grazing businesses operate. Livestock grazing also affects carbon stocks and fluxes in pasture, woody vegetation, soil and from fire through the consumption of forage and other landscape impacts. Little knowledge is available on the impact of different grazing management strategies on the ‘net carbon position’ incorporating carbon stocks and greenhouse gas emissions when grazing savanna woodlands. The Wambiana grazing trial in northern Queensland, Australia, provides an opportunity to assess carbon stocks and greenhouse gas emissions (reported as t CO2-e) associated with livestock, pasture, woody vegetation, soil and fire under alternative grazing management strategies (moderate and heavy stocking rate) over a 16-year period. The results indicate that tree biomass and woody vegetation dynamics dominate the carbon stocks and fluxes in grazed savanna woodlands. During the trial, both moderate and heavy stocking rate treatments had a positive net carbon balance, with the moderate stocking rate treatment having a better ‘net carbon position’ (19 t CO2-e per ha) than the heavy stocking rate treatment (9 t CO2-e per ha), primarily due to less livestock emissions and greater pasture biomass and soil C. These results add to the previously published benefits on land condition and economic return of grazing at moderate stocking rates, compared with heavy stocking rates.

Problems of restoration of fallow land in the forest zone of Russia

Influence of the eight-year deposit plowed in the cespitose and podsolic loamy soil grassy (veynik) and wood and shrubby (birch, aspen, willow) biomass on productivity and losses of nutrients - nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium seyany cereal and bean and cereal by herbages during the first period of development of laylands was studied. It is established that in the first four years after a plowing of biomass decrease in productivity of cultivated forage herbs and consumption of elements of food of plants was noted. The shortage of forage for 4 years in comparison with an arable land (control) was (c/hectare dry basis): 16,1-at embedding of reed grass, 29,4 - of willows, 23,2 - of birches, 33,7 - of aspens on not fertilized background, and against NPK, respectively 24,7, 21,3, 15,2 and 3,6.