Extensive Ranching Research Articles

Vertebrados asociados con sistemas de ganadería extensiva en el departamento de Córdoba, Colombia

The diversity of species of vertebrates associated with remnants of dry tropical forest in a system of extensive ranching in the department of Cordoba was analyzed. The samples were conducted in May 2011 during the season of intense precipitations of short duration, using different sampling methods according to the taxonomical group. Product of our samples, 90 species of vertebrates were documented, being the birds the best represented group with 46 species, followed by the mammals with 17 species, while the reptiles and amphibians were only presented 15 and 12 species respectively. We hypothesize that the variety of habitats present in the study area allows the establishment of a number of species for every taxonomic group which play important ecological roles, emphasizing the importance of the zone in terms of conservation of the vertebrate fauna for the region.

Individual differences in calf defence patterns in Red Angus beef cows

The objective of this study was to evaluate differences in individual calf defence behaviour patterns and maternal protective behaviour of beef cows 24h after calving. A single herd was observed on an extensive ranch in Colorado, USA. A total of 341 cow–calf pairs (95% Red Angus and 5% Angus×Hereford commercial crossbreds) were used. Each cow–calf pair was approached with an unfamiliar utility vehicle that circled the pair and gradually decreased the distance between the vehicle and the pair. The following four distance measurements were taken with a digital range finder to evaluate maternal protectiveness: (1) the first time the cow raised her head and oriented towards the vehicle; (2) when the cow placed herself between her calf and the vehicle or lowered her head; (3) when the cow vocalised; and (4) closest distance the vehicle approached the cow–calf pair. Calf defence behaviour patterns were recorded as yes/no-classifications and were: (1) protection: the cow positioned herself between the vehicle and her calf; (2) aggression: the cow lowered her head; and (3) the cow vocalised. Hair whorl patterns (HW) on the forehead of each cow were used as a measure of individual differences in temperament. HW pattern and age were collected when the cows were in a squeeze chute during routine handling. HW pattern was classified into the following groups: high, middle, low, abnormal, multiple HWs or no HW. Ninety-nine percent of the cows moved between the vehicle and their calf to protect it, 13.2% lowered their heads as a sign of aggression and 78% vocalised. Cows with high HW or multiple HW oriented towards the vehicle at a further distance, compared to cows in other HW groups (P<0.05). Cows with a high HW vocalised at a further distance than cows in other groups. Younger cows (3years) were approached more closely with no behavioural changes than older (5years) cows (P<0.05). The results suggest that cows with a high HW and older cows may be more vigilant of their surroundings.

Persistence of cattle ranching in the Brazilian Amazon: A spatial analysis of the rationale for beef production

Fed by demand for beef within Brazil and in global markets, the Brazilian herd grew from 147 million head of cattle in 1990 to ≈200 million in 2007. Eighty-three percent of this expansion occurred in the Amazon and this trend is expected to continue as the industry bounces back from a recent agricultural downturn. Intensification of the cattle industry has been suggested as one way to reduce pressure on forest margins and spare land for soybean or sugarcane production, and is the cornerstone of Brazil's plan for mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. To this end, federal credit programs and research and development activities in Brazil are aligning to support intensification goals, but there is no guarantee that this push for intensification will decrease the demand for land at the forest margin and as result curb CO 2 emissions from deforestation. In this paper we use a spatially explicit rent model which incorporates the local effects of biophysical characteristics, infrastructure, land prices, and distance to markets and slaughterhouses to calculate 30-year Net Present Values (NPVs) of extensive cattle ranching across the Brazilian Amazon. We use the model to ask where extensive ranching is profitable and how land acquisition affects profitability. We estimate that between 17% and 80% of land in the Amazon would have moderate to high NPVs when ranched extensively if it were settled, i.e. if the rancher does not buy the land but acquires it through land grabbing. In addition, we estimate that between 9% and 13% of land in the Amazon is vulnerable to speculation (i.e. areas with positive NPVs only if land is settled and not purchased), which suggests that land speculation is an important driver of extensive ranching profitability, and may continue to be in the future. These results suggest that pro-intensification policies such as credit provision for improved pasture management and investment in more intensive production systems must be accompanied by implementation and enforcement of policies that alter the incentives to clear forest for pasture, discourage land speculation, and increase accountability for land management practices if intensification of the cattle sector is to deter new deforestation and displace production from low-yield, extensive cattle production systems in frontier regions of the Brazilian Amazon.

Removal of Nonmyrmecochorous Seeds by Ants: Role of Ants in Cattle Grasslands

Livestock production models prevailing in Colombian Andes are simplified treeless pastures for extensive ranching, with the consequent reduction of environmental services, such as seed dispersal, due to lack of primary dispersers, scarcity of adequate sites for seedling establishment and competition with grasses. This study evaluated if, in these harsh environments, ants can promote the colonization of arboreal species through directed dispersion of seeds towards the nests. Ten seeds of each species were offered to ants in six grazing pastures. Ants removed 25% of the seeds (1827) in 48 hours. Preference for arillated and small-to-medium sized seeds, such asPithecellobium dulce, andGuazuma ulmifolia, was observed.Cyphomyrmex major, Ectatomma ruidum, Solenopsis geminataandAtta cephaloteswere the key ant species in seed removal. It was concluded that functional ant groups present in the pastures could contribute to secondary dispersion of seeds with potential for restoration.

The conservation status of &lt;i&gt;Callicebus caquetensis&lt;/i&gt; (Pitheciidae): a new species in southern Caquetá Department, Colombia

Moynihan (1976) mentioned an undescribed species of Callicebus between the ríos Caquetá and Orteguaza, Caquetá Department, Colombia. In August 2008, we confirmed the new species, which is phylogenetically related to C. ornatus and C. discolor to the north and south of the type locality respectively. We described this species as Callicebus caquetensis Defler et al., 2010 establishing its distribution through direct observations and information from local communities. Eighty-two animals were seen, including the holotype and paratype, which were collected. A review of historical archives of aerial photographs and satellite maps was carried out to assess the loss of the original vegetation of the area, and we found the habitat in an advanced state of fragmentation caused by extensive ranching and illegal crop cultivation. Existing coverage is now limited to small fragments of the original primary forest and secondary vegetation. We analyzed a Google Earth image of 75 km2 of this primate´s habitat and found only 32% of forest and secondary forest vegetation remaining in 2002, the year the image was captured. We propose this Colombian endemic species should be considered as Critically Endangered (CR), (based upon the criteria A3c,d,e, C2 of the IUCN). We suggest that the Colombian and Caquetá governments and private individuals give special attention to this endemic primate, most importantly in the creation of reserves and in environmental education initiatives. This is probably the most endangered of Colombia’s primates.

La méthode Bilan travail pour l'approche du fonctionnement des élevages extensifs uruguayens*

Uruguay's traditional extensive ranching must face the increase of crops and forest surface, the recent episodes of drought and the disorders on international markets. The institutions linked to agricultural systems, like the Instituto Plan Agropecuario (IPA), are conscious of the complexity of the situation and try to adapt technical advice integrating the work dimension into the farm-system approach. This study summarizes and presents the main conclusions of the Work Assessment method application on eight farms accompanied by the IPA. Three work organisational choices are distinguished (autonomy, share and supervision) considering the farmer's fieldwork participation and the wage-earning worker's administration. The results may be partially explained by some aspect such as farm size, the productive system and/or work organization choices, but other factors such as the desire to do the work in couples, to transmit work experience to children and the enhancement of the system's productivity may be also considered. The Work Assessment method is revealed to be significant for a functional approach to farm-systems and helps in understanding the main determinants of its way of functioning. This method is a new type of system approach and gives some clues for an adaptation of technical advice.

Lycalopex Gymnocercus (Carnivora: Canidae)

Lycalopex gymnocercus (Fischer, 1814) is a canid commonly called the Pampas fox. A sexually dimorphic fox-like carnivore of medium size with reddish coloration on sides and white on the ventral surface, it is 1 of 6 species in the genus Lycalopex. It occurs in eastern Bolivia, western and central Paraguay, Uruguay, north and central Argentina, and southeastern Brazil. It prefers open habitats but also occurs in areas of Pampas grassland modified by extensive ranching and agriculture activities. It has been assigned to the “Least Concern” category of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.

Effect of Nonprescribed Fire on an Atriplex lampa Community, in the Guadal Plateau of Mendoza Province, Argentina

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of a single nonprescribed fire on species community composition, woody and herbaceous species diversity, carrying capacity, density of dominating shrubs, and their resprouting capacity after fire. For short and long-term evaluations, two sites were chosen in a private extensive cattle ranch: (1) unburned areas and (2) burned areas. The forage total cover before fire (initial stage) was 54%; this cover decreased in burned areas to 13% (1986) and to 25% (2000), mainly due to a reduction in forage shrub cover. The cover of Atriplex lampa (zampa), the dominant forage shrub, decreased from 17.0 to 0.20% in 1986 after fire, and 15 years later this value remains constant (0.33%). The same area showed a carrying capacity, expressed in hectares per large stock unit (LSU), of 10 ha LSU−1 by 1986 and 17 ha LSU−1 by 2000, whereas in unburned areas it was 7 ha LSU−1, similar to prewildfire. All selected species that had been cut, simulating the action of fire, resprouted 1 year later, except zampa. We determined that the re-establishment of zampa plants in burned areas is extremely slow. Conditions as absence of adventitious bud/root crown and drought in following post-fire years may have determined the poor recovery of A. lampa.

Estancia y sociedad en la Pampa (1740 – 1820)

Estancia y sociedad en la Pampa (1740 – 1820)

Economía y fiscalidad en los señoríos "pobres" de la casa de Gandía en la época de la expulsión de los moriscos

Aproximación a la economía y fiscalidad de determinados señoríos de la casa ducal de Gandía en el Reino de Valencia en la época de la expulsión de los moriscos, precisamente de algunos de los menos conocidos y de peores condiciones económicas (valles de Ebo y Gallinera, baronías de Castellón, Chella y Turís). Se estudia la situación previa a la expulsión (zonas interiores, de media montaña, escaso regadío, preferente secano, ganadería extensiva, necesidad de recurrir a actividades económicas marginales, superpoblados de moriscos, estructura de las rentas señoriales...), así como los primeros momentos de la repoblación (escasez de repobladores, su inestabilidad, desigualdad y abusos en el reparto de tierras de cultivo, fuerte endeudamiento y acoso de los acreedores), con atención y explicación de la estructura y evolución de las rentas señoriales y sus causas. En este aspecto se observan dos modalidades: una, el aumento de los ingresos ducales después de la expulsión, tanto en términos absolutos como relativos (Ebo y Gallinera); otra, y más general, el hundimiento de las rentas señoriales absolutas, pero con aumento o mantenimiento de la fiscalidad relativa (Castellón, Chella, Turis).

Effect of Sub-Clinical Manifestations of Bovine Paratuberculosis in Beef Cattle

Bovine paratuberculosis (Johne's disease) is a chronic, debilitating disease of cattle. Although widely known in the dairy industry, the effect of the disease in extensive ranch operations is unknown. Currently, testing techniques for bovine para tuberculosis in beef cattle are few, costly and somewhat inaccurate.We conducted the study of a beef herd located in Texas with the objective of evaluating the effect of subclinical manifestations of bovine paratuberculosis in beef cattle.

Experimental Use of Remote Sensing by Private Range Managers and Its Influence on Management Decisions

Although remote sensing has many potential applications for range management, its use by range managers thus far has been limited. To investigate the factors that encourage use of remote sensing and to examine its influence on decision making by individuals who manage privately owned rangeland, we evaluated the decision-making processes of 3 ranch owners and 1 professional ranch manager who were introduced to remote sensing while collaborating with us in a rangeland stewardship program in California. Two of the participants had extensive ranching experience (11 to > 20 years) and managed large cattle ranches (1 000 to > 2 000 ha), and 2 had less experience and managed smaller sheep ranches (< 200 ha). During the 5-year program, the participants implemented a series of new management practices, including prescribed burning, rotational grazing, and seeding of native grasses, with the aim of reducing noxious weeds and increasing productivity. We used remote sensing to quantify the effect of these practices and provided ranch-wide remote sensing analyses to each manager on a password-protected Web site. Using case study methodologies, we found that managers of larger, commercially active ranches found the experimental use of remote sensing to be a highly positive experience that convinced them that this technology could help address difficult management situations and increase ranch profitability. This suggests that the broad use of remote sensing by managers of privately held, commercial rangelands may be limited in part by the simple lack of opportunity to test these technologies. Programs that assist ranchers in obtaining appropriate remote sensing products thus may be a cost-effective way to enhance conservation on private rangelands. Our findings suggest that voluntary self-analysis by ranchers of the landscape dynamics of their own properties is likely to lead to more engaged conservation efforts than will top-down prescriptions.

Experimental Use of Remote Sensing by Private Range Managers and Its Influence on Management Decisions

Although remote sensing has many potential applications for range management, its use by range managers thus far has been limited. To investigate the factors that encourage use of remote sensing and to examine its influence on decision making by individuals who manage privately owned rangeland, we evaluated the decision-making processes of 3 ranch owners and 1 professional ranch manager who were introduced to remote sensing while collaborating with us in a rangeland stewardship program in California. Two of the participants had extensive ranching experience (11 to &gt; 20 years) and managed large cattle ranches (1 000 to &gt; 2 000 ha), and 2 had less experience and managed smaller sheep ranches (&lt; 200 ha). During the 5-year program, the participants implemented a series of new management practices, including prescribed burning, rotational grazing, and seeding of native grasses, with the aim of reducing noxious weeds and increasing productivity. We used remote sensing to quantify the effect of these practices and provided ranch-wide remote sensing analyses to each manager on a password-protected Web site. Using case study methodologies, we found that managers of larger, commercially active ranches found the experimental use of remote sensing to be a highly positive experience that convinced them that this technology could help address difficult management situations and increase ranch profitability. This suggests that the broad use of remote sensing by managers of privately held, commercial rangelands may be limited in part by the simple lack of opportunity to test these technologies. Programs that assist ranchers in obtaining appropriate remote sensing products thus may be a cost-effective way to enhance conservation on private rangelands. Our findings suggest that voluntary self-analysis by ranchers of the landscape dynamics of their own properties is likely to lead to more engaged conservation efforts than will top- down prescriptions.

Vingt ans d'ouverture économique : l'avenir compromis de l'agriculture familiale au nord du Costa Rica

Guy Faure, Mario Samper — Twenty years of economic opening : The compromised future of family agriculture in the North of Costa Rica The North of Costa Rica was colonised during the previous century, thus enabling the creation of vast extensive ranching and the installation of small producers. During the 60's and the 70's, national policies were favourable to family agriculture. Since the 80's however, the progressive withdrawal of the State and the liberalization of exchanges have profoundly modified the conditions of agricultural production. In the new context, family farms are resorting to diversified strategies to prevent risks or to draw profit from new opportunities. However the margins of action are narrowing and the future family agriculture is uncertain.

Hispanic Farmers and Ranchers in the Soil and Water Conservation Movement in South Texas, 1940s to Present

Conservation of natural resources in South Texas is basically a modern de? velopment that parallels the evolution of the Soil Conservation Service and other federal agricultural agencies. Since the World War II era, Hispanic pro? ducers have played an important role in adopting new conservation practices to conserve and enhance the value of their lands. Initially, the region was a natural grassland devoted to ranching, but farm development in the early twentieth century led to a sharp increase in irrigated farmland along the Rio Grande. Conservation practices during the long period of extensive ranching were ineffective. As a result, by the twentieth century much of the grasslands were turned into brushland due to overgrazing, the disuse of fires to suppress weeds and useless shrubs, soil compaction, and soil and wind erosion. His? panic farmers and ranchers had to be convinced that new practices were beneftcial. The cooperation of SCS, ASCS, and other agencies facilitated the work of introducing new practices, such as disking, root plowing, seeding of new grasses, and range management practices. Farmers also benefited from new practices. Construction of Falcon Dam in 1954 was a great boost to water conservation and flood control. The last forty years have seen a rapid growth in wildlife ranches and the sale of rangelands to prosperous profes? sionals and businessmen and women. At present, three thousand Hispanic producers are dedicated to conserving their water and soil resources, adapting to these two new developments.

Hispanic Farmers and Ranchers in the Soil and Water Conservation Movement in South Texas, 1940s to Present

Abstract Conservation of natural resources in South Texas is basically a modern development that parallels the evolution of the Soil Conservation Service and other federal agricultural agencies. Since the World War II era, Hispanic producers have played an important role in adopting new conservation practices to conserve and enhance the value of their lands. Initially, the region was a natural grassland devoted to ranching, but farm development in the early twentieth century led to a sharp increase in irrigated farmland along the Rio Grande. Conservation practices during the long period of extensive ranching were ineffective. As a result, by the twentieth century much of the grasslands were turned into brushland due to overgrazing, the disuse of fires to suppress weeds and useless shrubs, soil compaction, and soil and wind erosion. Hispanic farmers and ranchers had to be convinced that new practices were beneficial. The cooperation of SCS, ASCS, and other agencies facilitated the work of introducing new practices, such as disking, root plowing, seeding of new grasses, and range management practices. Farmers also benefited from new practices. Construction of Falcón Dam in 1954 was a great boost to water conservation and flood control. The last forty years have seen a rapid growth in wildlife ranches and the sale of rangelands to prosperous professionals and businessmen and women. At present, three thousand Hispanic producers are dedicated to conserving their water and soil resources, adapting to these two new developments.

Land-Tenure Issues as Factors in Environmental Destruction in Brazilian Amazonia: The Case of Southern Pará

Land-tenure issues have been prominent forces driving deforestation and the spread of extensive ranching as the dominant land use in Brazilian Amazonia. Southern Pará is the part of Amazonia where these issues are most explosive, and an examination of this region in terms of its land-tenure issues, their environmental consequences and measures needed provides potentially valuable information for formulating policies that promote more socially and environmentally sound development. The problems of southern Pará are likely to spread to increasingly broader sections of Amazonia. The present paper reviews the current land-tenure situation in southern Pará and attempts to identify policy changes that would reduce its environmental impact.

Vegetation cover type and avian species changes on landscapes within a wildland-urban interface

Probability of occurrence of selected avian species was modeled as a function of modeled changes in landscape cover types in two landscapes to test whether (1) exotic and generalist avian species will continue to increase in an high density rural population landscape; and, (2) native grassland avian species will continue to increase in a low density rural population landscape. Landscape cover types were modeled with logistic regression based on temporal changes between 1966 and 1990. Demographic-economic regression models also were used to predict landscape cover types in year 2014 based on selected independent variables. Logistic regressions were used to model probability of occurrence of selected avian species based on predicted area of landscape cover types in year 2014. Model output of vegetation cover types suggests the continued use of intensive agriculture management practices in the high density rural population landscape while extensive agriculture management practices will maintain the native vegetation component in the low density rural population landscape. Our models suggest continued intensive agriculture practices associated with the high density rural population landscapes will adversely affect native grassland bird species to a greater magnitude than extensive ranching practices in the low density rural population landscapes.

Policy prospects for the hills and uplands

AbstractThe arguments presented in this paper strongly support the stated intention of the European Commission that farm product prices must be set more competitively with the world market. Indeed, they go further. The only long-term sustainable agricultural policy for the European Community is to let farm products compete unsupported on a free-trade world market (the ultimate objective of the GATT negotiations). This does not deny either justification or need for some form of compensation to the present industry for the loss of support. However, the argument does clearly require that such compensation should be ‘neutral’ — that it should not distort or alter production and allocation decisions from those which would be taken in the absence of such compensation. The only genuinely neutral compensation would be single lump sum capital transfer through a government bond issue. However, failing this, definitely limited annual support payments independent of current production decisions and relating to past production quantities less than those which would be produced under uncompensated free-trade would be ‘quasi neutral’, and might as a result be acceptable as non-distorting under GATT. In this sense, the price reduction proposals currently being discussed are a definite step in the right direction, especially for cereals.Nevertheless, agriculture faces a continued period of difficult adjustment, especially difficult in the hill and upland areas. As far as conventional agriculture is concerned, there is little prospect of these areas being able to compete directly in the final consumer markets at world price competitive levels. Their comparative advantage will lie with the production of breeding and store animals, to be finished on grass or grain in more productive locations. Fewer people will be able to earn a full-time living from agriculture in these areas and other things being equal, hill and upland farms seem likely to become even more extensive ranching operations than is the case at present. However, other things are not equal. It seems likely that society will continue to value the non-productive elements of hill and upland agriculture, which in many cases are seen as adding to the amenity and landscape qualities of these regions. Since the demand for these features will grow, ways will be found to supplement farming incomes in these areas (especially) in order to conserve the landscape, wildlife and amenity characteristics.

Jesuit Missionary Linguistics in the Pacific Northwest: A Comparative Study

n 1891, Father Joseph Cataldo, superior of Jesuit activities in the Pacific Northwest, visited St. Ignatius Mission, Montana. Overseer of his order's Rocky Mountain Mission, a vast enterprise embracing the modern states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana, Cataldo was required make annual inspection tours of every mission outpost. During his stay at St. Ignatius, conferred with the mission's treasurer, James Rebmann, who was charged with the financial management of the mission's extensive ranch and its industrial boarding school for Indian boys. Cataldo asked Rebmann what progress had made in the study of the Indian language. The young priest replied that his job as treasurer took all his time. Busy as was with building and managing the mission farm with its cattle and horses, conceded he had made no progress whatever. Cataldo was not pleased. He ordered Rebmann to preach in Indian, three months from that date, and send a copy of the sermon, after preaching it, his office in Spokane.1 Cataldo, whose career spanned sixty-three years, knew that the ability speak aboriginal tongues was crucial for successful evangelization. That language serves as a key the minds and hearts of a people, and their culture, was a truism recognized by all effective missionaries. For purposes of civilization, and especially of Christianization, wrote a Congregational minister who lived among the Sioux, the knowledge of Indian