Forage Supply Research Articles

Including chicory and selecting white clover varieties as strategies to improve temporal stability of forage yield and quality in white-clover-based temporary grassland

Clover-based crop stands are gaining importance in temporary grasslands for intensive livestock production. However, knowledge of their optimal composition to achieve high temporal stability of forage provision is insufficient, particularly so for long cultivation periods. A five-year field trial was conducted to study the effect of adding a non-leguminous forb to clover-based crop stands and to evaluate the impact of the clover variety on inter- and intra-annual stability of forage yield and quality. At two contrasting sites, we cultivated eight white clover (Trifolium repens) populations in pure stands and in mixtures with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and/or chicory (Cichorium intybus) under a four-cut system without fertilization and determined the seasonal and annual forage yield and quality. Temporal stability of forage provision differed between crop stand types, with marked differences between years and cropping sites. In the study years with lower than long-term precipitation, adding chicory enhanced temporal stability of forage yield as compared to white clover pure stands or clover-grass mixtures at least at the site with deep soil, and maintained or enhanced that of forage quality as compared to clover-grass mixtures. This was often reversed in the study years with higher than long-term precipitation. The white clover populations only slightly varied in temporal stability of forage provision, and did so independently of the crop stand type. Our findings highlight the potential but also constraints of including a non-leguminous forb in unfertilized mown clover-based crop stands, as well as of decisions on the clover variety, to improve temporal stability of forage provision.

Economic Losses of Catfish to Avian Predation: A Case Report

AbstractAvian predation in catfish aquaculture has been a persistent issue throughout the history of the industry, and as production has expanded predation from piscivorous birds has intensified. Catfish ponds in the Mississippi River delta (in the Mississippi migratory flyway) provide a constant and readily accessible supply of forage for birds. Intensive foraging by fish‐eating birds has led to a specific regulatory policy and numerous on‐farm and regional management efforts. However, in 2016, legal challenges lead to recision of some federal policies and uncertainty as to allowable management, resulting in limitations on bird depredation. Estimating the extent of fish losses to avian predators is difficult, as loss estimates from farms are often confounded with disease‐ and management‐related mortalities. This study details the reported losses to birds that were observed in commercial‐scale catfish ponds at the Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center, Stoneville, Mississippi, during periods of limited bird management. The observed fish losses attributed to birds ranged from 33% to 95% loss in survival and potential yield losses of 4,396 to 8,889 lb/acre, increasing production costs and decreasing net returns. Net economic losses when accounting for negative net returns and lost profits ranged from US$3,518 to $4,060/acre. Losses of this magnitude on commercial fish farms are economically detrimental, especially because catfish farms lack the compensatory economic relief programs that are available in other agriculture sectors. Roost dispersal activities that are organized by federal agencies and avoiding delays in issuing bird depredation permits are vital for mitigating this persistent and growing regulatory problem in the U.S. catfish industry.

Long-term assessment of ecosystem services at ecological restoration sites using Landsat time series.

Reversing ecological degradation through restoration activities is a key societal challenge of the upcoming decade. However, lack of evidence on the effectiveness of restoration interventions leads to inconsistent, delayed, or poorly informed statements of success, hindering the wise allocation of resources, representing a missed opportunity to learn from previous experiences. This study contributes to a better understanding of spatial and temporal dynamics of ecosystem services at ecological restoration sites. We developed a method using Landsat satellite images combined with a Before-After-Control-Impact (BACI) design, and applied this to an arid rural landscape, the Baviaanskloof in South Africa. Since 1990, various restoration projects have been implemented to halt and reverse degradation. We applied the BACI approach at pixel-level comparing the conditions of each intervened pixel (impact) with 20 similar control pixels. By evaluating the conditions before and after the restoration intervention, we assessed the effectiveness of long-term restoration interventions distinguishing their impact from environmental temporal changes. The BACI approach was implemented with Landsat images that cover a 30-year period at a spatial resolution of 30 meter. We evaluated the impact of three interventions (revegetation, livestock exclusion, and the combination of both) on three ecosystem services; forage provision, erosion prevention, and presence of iconic vegetation. We also evaluated whether terrain characteristics could partially explain the variation in impact of interventions. The resulting maps showed spatial patterns of positive and negative effects of interventions on ecosystem services. Intervention effectiveness differed across vegetation conditions, terrain aspect, and soil parent material. Our method allows for spatially explicit quantification of the long-term restoration impact on ecosystem service supply, and for the detailed visualization of impact across an area. This pixel-level analysis is specifically suited for heterogeneous landscapes, where restoration impact not only varies between but also within restoration sites.

The Ecosystem Service Provision Index as a generic indicator of ecosystem service supply for monitoring conservation targets

At present, most governments, particularly in low and middle-income countries, are not effectively using ecosystem services (ES) indicators for conservation monitoring, which is in part due to the complexity of current indicators. This study seeks to contribute to this implementation gap by illustrating the performance of a remote sensing based indicator, the Ecosystem Services Provision Index (ESPI) (based on the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), as a feasible indicator for monitoring ES supply. We examined ESPI’s performance by analyzing its spatial congruence (regression and cluster analysis) with four type-specific ES indicators, namely timber provision, forage provision, opportunities for recreation and water regulation, for different types of temperate native forests, non-native tree plantations, shrublands and grasslands, within a southern district in Chile. We additionally compared values of ESPI and ES indicators across land uses and covers by means of ANOVA and Tuckey test (post-hoc). The regression analysis showed medium to low fitting of ES indicators to linear and non-linear variations of ESPI. Unexplained variation can arise from different dispersion sources: a) uncaptured variation in specific ES flow by variation in their corresponding indicators (specific ES indicators and ESPI), b) distances between parametric values of different ES indicators and ESPI, and c) mismatches between ESPI and ES indicator scales and resolutions. Cluster analysis showed ESPI-ES hotspot congruence of 62% for water regulation, followed by the ES bundle (56%), recreation opportunities (38%), timber supply (36%) and forage provision (32%). The values of ESPI, water regulation and recreation opportunities were significantly higher on old growth forests. Our study contributes to establish to what extent remote sensing indicators can be used as a proxy of ES supply, which is relevant for the adoption of these indicators in monitoring conservation outcomes when specific ES indicators are not available or they lack the necessary spatial and temporal coverage.

Comparative investigations of biomass composition in differently managed grasslands of the Balaton Uplands National Park, Hungary

Phytosociological and biomass samples were collected in two territories of the Balaton Uplands National Park (Hungary) dominated by grassland habitats. Samples in the Tihany Peninsula had been taken in a pasture of Hungarian Grey Cattle. Studies were broadened to four areas of the Tapolcai Basin, Badacsonytördemic (undergrazed and overgrazed pastures, hayfield, control area). The areas were suitable for following up the changes of vegetation and production in every grazing season of a year. We evaluated the changes of species composition and ground cover, the measure of possible regeneration or degradation, and the changes of these factors from the viewpoint of feeding value. Covering rates of the grassland associations have doubled and species composition has improved in the Tihany Peninsula, however, forage value has not increased, due to the change in land use in favour of the natural area that is converting into grazing field. In case of the Taplocai Basin, low number of species (20 to 30) was detected in the undergrazed pasture and the control area. About one month per year grazing time in the undergrazed area was not enough to achieve a better state for species diversity, and the amount of forage remained high. The overgrazed pasture carries a low forage value and contains a high number of weed species, despite the spectacularly high total number of plant species (38 to 39), consequently, grazing pressure has to be decreased. Although the number of species is lower in the hayfield (26 to 28), species composition and ability for forage supply is much better, showing that the proper management of the area is taken here.

High Land-Use Intensity Diminishes Stability of Forage Provision of Mountain Pastures under Future Climate Variability

Semi-natural, agriculturally used grasslands provide important ecologic and economic services, such as feed supply. In mountain regions, pastures are the dominant agricultural system and face more severe climate change impacts than lowlands. Climate change threatens ecosystem functions, such as aboveground net primary production [ANPP] and its nutrient content. It is necessary to understand the impacts of climate change and land-management on such ecosystems to develop management practices to sustainably maintain provision of ecosystem services under future climatic conditions. We studied the effect of climate change and different land-use intensities on plant-soil communities by the downslope translocation of plant-soil mesocosms along an elevation gradient in 2016, and the subsequent application of two management types (extensive vs. intensive). Communities’ response to ANPP and leaf carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) content was quantified over the subsequent two years after translocation. ANPP increased with warming in 2017 under both management intensities, but this effect was amplified by intensive land-use management. In 2018, ANPP of intensively managed communities decreased, in comparison to 2017, from 35% to 42%, while extensively managed communities maintained their production levels. The changes in ANPP are coupled with an exceptionally dry year in 2018, with up to 100 more days of drought conditions. The C:N of extensively managed communities was higher than those of intensively managed ones, and further increased in 2018, potentially indicating shifts in resource allocation strategies that may explain production stability. Our results revealed a low resistance of intensively managed communities’ ANPP under especially dry conditions. The ability to alter resource allocation likely enables a constant level of production under extensive management, but this ability is lost under intensive management. Thus, future drought events may leave intensive management as a non-sustainable farming practice, and ultimately threaten ecosystem services of montane pastures.

Nutrient digestibility of dairy cows fed with chopped and ensiled elephant grass

Forage scarcity hinders the development of the dairy farm. Developing measures for preserving and optimizing forage supply are among the solutions to cope with this problem. This research aimed to evaluate nutrient digestibility of dairy cows given different forage treatments. The forage used was elephant grass (EG, Pennisetum purpureum) and subjected to four dietary treatments, i.e., intact EG (FW), chopped EG (FC), ensiled EG (SW), and ensiled and chopped EG (SC). Proximate analyses were performed on the respective treatments. The in vivo evaluation was then conducted by feeding the diets to dairy cows with a 4 × 4 Latin square design set (n=4 replications). Each period’s length was 21 days, in which the first 14 days was for feed adaptation, and the last seven days was for collecting data. Results showed that chopping and ensiling treatments improved daily feed consumption. Ensiled EG (SW and SC) resulted significantly (p<0.05) higher in dry matter, organic matter, and crude fat digestibility compared to non ensiled EG (FC and FW). Crude protein digestibility for SC treatment was significantly higher (p<0.05) among all treatments. Crude fiber digestibility for SC treatment was also significantly (P<0.05) higher among all treatments with an exemption of SW. The effectiveness of treatments on feed consumption and nutrient digestibility can be sorted, as follows SC>SW>FW>FC. It can be concluded that combination of chopping and ensiling (SC) proved the best result and thus may be implemented to preserve and optimize forage supply.

Assessment of Rangeland Degradation in New Mexico Using Time Series Segmentation and Residual Trend Analysis (TSS-RESTREND)

Rangelands provide significant socioeconomic and environmental benefits to humans. However, climate variability and anthropogenic drivers can negatively impact rangeland productivity. The main goal of this study was to investigate structural and productivity changes in rangeland ecosystems in New Mexico (NM), in the southwestern United States of America during the 1984–2015 period. This goal was achieved by applying the time series segmented residual trend analysis (TSS-RESTREND) method, using datasets of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) from the Global Inventory Modeling and Mapping Studies and precipitation from Parameter elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM), and developing an assessment framework. The results indicated that about 17.6% and 12.8% of NM experienced a decrease and an increase in productivity, respectively. More than half of the state (55.6%) had insignificant change productivity, 10.8% was classified as indeterminant, and 3.2% was considered as agriculture. A decrease in productivity was observed in 2.2%, 4.5%, and 1.7% of NM’s grassland, shrubland, and ever green forest land cover classes, respectively. Significant decrease in productivity was observed in the northeastern and southeastern quadrants of NM while significant increase was observed in northwestern, southwestern, and a small portion of the southeastern quadrants. The timing of detected breakpoints coincided with some of NM’s drought events as indicated by the self-calibrated Palmar Drought Severity Index as their number increased since 2000s following a similar increase in drought severity. Some breakpoints were concurrent with some fire events. The combination of these two types of disturbances can partly explain the emergence of breakpoints with degradation in productivity. Using the breakpoint assessment framework developed in this study, the observed degradation based on the TSS-RESTREND showed only 55% agreement with the Rangeland Productivity Monitoring Service (RPMS) data. There was an agreement between the TSS-RESTREND and RPMS on the occurrence of significant degradation in productivity over the grasslands and shrublands within the Arizona/NM Tablelands and in the Chihuahua Desert ecoregions, respectively. This assessment of NM’s vegetation productivity is critical to support the decision-making process for rangeland management; address challenges related to the sustainability of forage supply and livestock production; conserve the biodiversity of rangelands ecosystems; and increase their resilience. Future analysis should consider the effects of rising temperatures and drought on rangeland degradation and productivity.

The conservation patterns of grassland ecosystem in response to the forage-livestock balance in North China

Being a key ecological security barrier and production base for grassland animal husbandry in China, the balance between grassland forage supply and livestock-carrying pressure in North China directly affects grassland degradation and restoration, thereby impacting grassland ecosystem services. This paper analyzes the spatiotemporal variation in grassland vegetation coverage, forage supply, and the balance between grassland forage supply and livestock-carrying pressure from 2000 to 2015 in North China. We then discuss the spatial pattern of grassland ecological conservation under the impacts of grassland degradation and restoration, and livestock-carrying pressure. Over the last 16 years, the total grassland area in North China decreased by about 16,000 km2, with vegetation coverage degraded by 6.7% of the grasslands but significantly restored by another 5.4% of grasslands. The provisioning of forage by natural grassland mainly increased over time, with an annual growth rate of approximately 0.3 kg/ha, but livestock-carrying pressure also increased continuously. The livestock-carrying pressure index without any supplementary feeding reached as high as 3.8. Apart from the potential livestock-carrying capacity in northeastern Inner Mongolia and the central Tibetan Plateau, most regions in North China are currently overloaded. Considering the actual supplementary feeding during the cold season, the livestock-carrying pressure index is about 3.1, with the livestock-carrying pressure mitigated in central and eastern Inner Mongolia. Assuming full supplementary feeding in the cold season, livestock-carrying pressure index will fall to 1.9, with the livestock-carrying pressure alleviated significantly in Inner Mongolia and on the Tibetan Plateau. Finally, we propose different conservation and development strategies to balance grassland ecological conservation and animal husbandry production in different regions of protected areas, pastoral areas, farming-pastoral ecotone, and farming areas, according to the grassland ecological protection patterns.

Cover Crop Management on the Southern High Plains: Impacts on Crop Productivity and Soil Water Depletion.

Simple SummaryAgriculture throughout the Southern High Plains of the United States relies on supplemental irrigation from the Ogallala Aquifer because of limited precipitation and high evapotranspiration rates. Unfortunately, extraction rates greatly exceed the recharge rate of the aquifer. This region is prone to soil erosion, so maintaining soil coverage is critical for protecting soil resources. Despite the many benefits of planting cover crops, producers do not readily plant winter crops in the Southern High Plains due to concerns of depleting soil water availability for subsequent summer crops. Based on the results of this experiment, producers can plant rye with a no-till drill to help maintain soil cover and produce high-quality winter forage for grazing livestock without threatening soil water supply for the summer crops; in this case, teff. Light irrigation (up to 25 mm per month) should be applied to supplement rainfall and ensure grazing if the producer is reliant upon the rye and does not have other forage available for contingency. Finally, timely termination of the cover crops is critical. Delayed termination of the cover crops was the biggest factor found to reduce the productivity of the teff.The imminent depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer demands innovative cropping alternatives. Even though the benefits of cover crops are well recognized, adoption has been slow in the Southern High Plains (SHP) of the United States because of concerns that cover crops withdraw soil water to the detriment of the summer crops. This small plot experiment tested the interacting effects—production, soil water depletion of the cover crops, and subsequent teff [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] summer hay crops—of irrigation and tillage management with five cover crop types to identify low-risk cover crop practices in the drought-prone SHP. Dryland rye (Secale cereale L.) produced modest forage biomass (>1000 kg ha−1), even in a dry year, but it was found that light irrigation should be used to ensure adequate forage supply (>1200 kg ha−1) if winter grazing is desired. No-till management and timely termination of the winter cover crops were crucial to reducing the negative impact of winter crops on summer teff production. The results indicated no detriment to soil water content that was attributable to planting no-till cover crops compared with the conventional practice of winter fallow. Therefore, producers could take advantage of the soil-conserving attributes of high-quality winter forage cover crops without experiencing significant soil water depletion.

Improving the supply of forage and staple food of smallholder farmers in therural marginal dry land of East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

Cattle and corn are important for small farmers in west Timor. However, owing to the lack of proper technologies, marginal lands and erratic rainfalls, productivity of both are low. To improve the productivity, a conservation agriculture approach was demonstrated during 2017-2019 at Camplong II village, on a marginal land with shallow top soil, rocky formation, with existing corn production of &lt;1 ton/ha. The technology package in 2019, includes: (i) hedges of Leucaena leucocephala (planted at 2 m within the row and 4 m between the rows), (ii) Deep planting hole (40 cm x 40 cm x 40 cm) filled with mixtures of soil and cattle manure, (iii) planting of grass within the rows of Leucaena, (iv) cover crop legumes: cow pea, Clitoria ternatea, and Mucuna holtonii while using corn stover and cattle refusals as mulches. Forage was obtained from Leucaena and the grass, while herbaceous legumes were left uncut. The results include: (i) year round supply of high quality forage, (ii) improved the daily weight gain of fattening cattle (0.2 to 0.3 - 0.6 kg/head/day), (iii) reduced calves mortality down to 0%, (iv) and increased corn yield to 5 ton/ha and a second crop harvest as green corn.

Towards Forage Resource Monitoring in subtropical Savanna Grasslands: going multispectral or hyperspectral?

ABSTRACT Forage supply of savanna grasslands plays a crucial role for local food security and consequently, a reliable monitoring system could help to better manage vital forage resources. To help installing such a monitoring system, we investigated whether in-situ hyperspectral data could be resampled to match the spectral resolution of multi- and hyperspectral satellites; if the type of sensor affected model transfer; and if spatio-temporal patterns of forage characteristics could be related to environmental drivers. We established models for forage quantity (green biomass) and five forage quality proxies (metabolisable energy, acid/neutral detergent fibre, ash, phosphorus). Hyperspectral resolution of the Hyperion satellite mostly resulted in higher accuracies (i.e. higher R2, lower RMSE). When applied to satellite data, though, the greater quality of the multispectral Sentinel-2 satellite data leads to more realistic forage maps. By analysing a three-year time series, we found plant phenology and cumulated precipitation to be the most important environmental drivers of forage supply. We conclude that none of the investigated satellites provide optimal conditions for monitoring purposes. Future hyperspectral satellite missions like EnMAP, combining the high information level of Hyperion with the good data quality and resolution of Sentinel-2, will provide the prerequisites for installing a regular monitoring service.

Lacunas de produtividades e estratégias de cultivo na melhoria da produção de forragem para a região semiárida brasileira - Revisão

A pecuária é uma atividade econômica fundamental para a região semiárida, porém é diretamente influenciada por fatores como as características do solo, qualidade da forragem e a sazonalidade pluviométrica. A irregularidade desses fatores reduz os níveis de produtividade, tornando-os dependentes das condições climáticas. Nesse sentido, o conhecimento das principais causas redutoras da produtividade e a adoção de práticas agrícolas resilientes são essenciais na redução dos efeitos sazonais do clima, aumentando a oferta de forragem no período de escassez hídrica. O uso de forrageiras adaptadas e com potencial produtivo constitui-se com eficiente prática de resiliência agrícola, dentre elas destacam-se a palma forrageira, sorgo, milheto, feijão guandu e girassol. Essas constituem-se com elevada capacidade de conversão hídrica em matéria seca, complementação nutricional e aumento produtivo. Adicionalmente, a implementação de práticas (e.g. consorciação, irrigação, adensamento, cobertura, etc.) contribuem na otimização dos recursos naturais e proporcionam melhores resultados no subsídio contínuo da produção de forragem. Com isso, o presente estudo teve como objetivo apresentar as características ambientais do semiárido brasileiro, expor conceitos sobre os níveis de produtividades e os principais fatores das lacunas de produção, além de difundir estratégias mitigatórias de produção de forragem. Após compilação dessas informações, destaca-se a importância de plantas forrageiras adaptadas e a adoção de práticas de manejo agrícola como estratégias para atenuar os efeitos sazonais do clima, contribuindo no subsidio contínuo da produção de forragem. Paralelamente, a análise de Yield Gap permite o conhecimento mais amplo dos fatores limitantes de produção, direcionando o planejamento agrícola de forma mais eficiente. Yield Gap and cultivation strategies in improving forage production for the Brazilian semi-arid region - ReviewA B S T R A C TLivestock farming is a fundamental economic activity for the semi-arid region, but it is directly influenced by factors such as soil characteristics, forage quality and rainfall seasonality. The irregularity of these factors reduces productivity levels, making them dependent on climatic conditions. In this sense, the knowledge of the main causes that reduce productivity and the adoption of resilient agricultural practices are essential in reducing the seasonal effects of the climate, increasing the supply of forage in the period of water scarcity. The use of adapted forage crops and with productive potential constitutes an efficient agricultural resilience practice, among which stands out the forage cactus, sorghum, millet, pigeon pea and sunflower. These are constituted with a high capacity for water conversion into dry matter, nutritional complementation and increased production. In addition, the implementation of practices (e.g. intercropping, irrigation, densification, mulch, etc.) contribute to the optimization of natural resources and provide better results in the continuous subsidy of forage production. With this, the present study aimed to present the environmental characteristics of the Brazilian semiarid region, to expose concepts about the levels of productivity and the main factors of the production gaps, in addition to disseminating mitigation strategies of forage production. After compiling this information, it highlights the importance of adapted forage crops and the adoption of agricultural management practices as strategies to mitigate the seasonal effects of the climate, contributing to the continuous subsidy of forage production. At the same time, the Yield Gap analysis allows for a broader knowledge of the limiting factors of production, directing agricultural planning more efficiently.Keywords: forage crops; Brazilian semi-arid; agriculture

Future climate variability will challenge rangeland beef cattle production in the Great Plains

Climate projections indicate the Great Plains will experience higher mean temperatures and greater interannual precipitation variability in the future.Greater precipitation variability will challenge the economic viability of rangeland beef cattle production by further disrupting forage supply and animal demand.Beef producers are uncertain of future climate impacts, indicating assistance with adaptive strategies is needed.Private-state-national partnerships may help sustain rangelands and economically viable beef cattle production with increasing climate variability.

Effects of wheat straw particle size as a free-choice provision on growth performance and feeding behaviors of dairy calves

In the dairy calf feeding, supplementation of forage to the starter feed is commonly practiced. However, data are insufficient about how changes in particle size (PS) of forage affect calf performance and behavior in a free-choice forage provision system. This study aimed to assess the effects of supplementing wheat straw varying in PS on performance, skeletal growth characteristics, ruminal pH, nutritional behaviors, and blood metabolites of dairy calves. Forty-eight Holstein calves (43.8 ± 3.2 kg of BW) from d 15 of age were randomly assigned to one of the four treatments (n = 12/treatment; six males and six females): (1) starter without wheat straw supplementation (CON), (2) CON supplemented with wheat straw chopped at 1 mm geometrical mean particle length (GMPL) (fine PS), (3) CON supplemented with wheat straw at 4 mm GMPL (medium PS), and (4) CON supplemented with wheat straw at 7 mm GMPL (long PS). The calves were given ad libitum access to feed and water throughout the study. All calves were weaned on d 56 of age and continued the experiment until d 90. The starter, wheat straw, and total solid feed intakes were not affected by GMPL of wheat straw; however, CON calves had a lower solid feed-, total DM- and NDF-intake than calves offered wheat straw. Further, ADG, weaning, and final BWs as well as feed efficiency were similar between treatments. No difference was observed in growth rate of hip height, hip width, body barrel, wither height, and heart girth among treatments, however, wheat straw supplemented calves tended to have greater body length at weaning. Blood concentration of serum β-hydroxy butyrate was greater in wheat straw supplemented calves compared with CON calves on d 56 and 90. Calves supplemented with wheat straw spent more time eating starter and forage, lying and ruminating and less time for standing and non-nutritional behaviors compared with the CON calves on d 49 and 63 of the study. Moreover, calves offered wheat straw had greater ruminal pH than CON calves at 4 and 8 h after offering starter feed on d 35. In conclusion, supplementing wheat straw as a free-choice increased solid feed intake, rumen pH, and calves' welfare, however, PS of wheat straw had no effect.

Ecosystem services supply and interactions along secondary tropical dry forests succession

Secondary forests will likely dominate future tropical landscapes, and the ecosystem services they provide to humanity will be particularly relevant. However, few empirical studies provide quantitative evidence of how the supply of ecosystem services change along secondary forest succession. The need for such information is particularly pressing for tropical dry forests because of their extensive global coverage and a high degree of disturbance. Here we examine the changes in the potential supply of ecosystem services and the interactions among them along secondary tropical dry forest succession for a site on the Mexican Pacific coast. Using data from a chronosequence of twelve sites followed over ten years, we characterized changes in five ecosystem services along a successional gradient from abandoned farmland to old-growth forests: forage, multiple forest resources, microclimate regulation, carbon storage and carbon sequestration. The long-term recovery trajectory for each service was modelled using linear and non-linear mixed models. Interactions among them were examined over different timeframes using Spearman correlations. The results showed rapid non-linear recovery of multiple forest resources provision, microclimate regulation and carbon storage within the first two decades of succession. Carbon sequestration increased slightly over time, while the supply of forage showed no clear trend. The strength of the interactions among pairs of services changed through successional time, being particularly higher in farmlands and old-growth forests. Our findings suggest that adaptive forest management practices that foster the natural regeneration of tropical dry forests are cost-effective mechanisms to recover the supply of critical ecosystem services for local actors by meeting their livelihood needs as well as those for the global community through climate change mitigation. Maintaining tropical dry forest resilience will highly depend on the maintenance of diversity in terms of species and ecosystem services.

Textured vs pelletted feed impact on dairy heifers pre-weaning

Textured vs pelletted feed impact on dairy heifers pre-weaning

A Comparison of Growth Characteristics, Dry Matter Yield, and Forage Quality Between Mixed Cropping and Pure Stand Systems (Monoculture Systems)

Smallholders beef cattle are facing many problems, such as the unsustainable supply, limited quantity, and poor quality of forage, which all are crucial to increase the population and productivity of their beef cattle. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of monoculture and mixed cropping system between dwarf napiergrass with siratro and centro on growth characteristics, fresh and dry matter (DM) yield, and forage quality. The study was carried out for 4 months. There were 3 experiment treatments, namely P0 = dwarf napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum cv Mott) planted on monoculture system; P1 = dwarf napiergrass planted in mixed cropping system with siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum cv Siratro); and P2 = dwarf napiergrass planted in mixed cropping system with centro (Centrocema pubescent). All treatments were replicated 3 times. All plants on each treatment were planted on 3 3 m plots, with 1 m of distance between the plots. Data were collected four times after transplanting, i.e. August 20th, September 17th; October 28th; and December 16th of 2017, respectively. The results of study indicated that neither plant height nor tiller number in all treatments and measurement periods were significantly affected (p&gt;0.05), except in month-3 (plant height) and month-4 (tiller number). Although treatments did not alter fresh and DM yield (p&gt;0.05), the DM yield from mixed cropping system tended to be higher. Hence, it can be concluded that growth characteristic, productivity, and forage quality in mixed cropping system were better than in monoculture system.

Biomass production and nutritional characteristics of quinoa subjected to cutting and sowing date in the midwestern China

AbstractThere is an increasing demand for forage supply to feed domestic animals with the rapid development of livestock husbandry. In adverse environments where plant growth is largely restricted, new forage crops are urgently needed to provide other forage source. Quinoa has a strong potential to be a forage crop in the midwestern China. We explored the responses of quinoa to sowing and cutting date to assess its potential as a forage crop. Cutting treatments with four cutting dates were designed as cutting at bud formation, 15 days after bud formation, flowering and grain filling stages at Zhangye and Qingyang sites. For sowing date test, sowing of quinoa was performed on April 11 (Sap), June 10 (Sju) and August 11 (Sau) at Qingyang site. Dry matter yield, plant height and nutrient status under different treatments were measured. Total dry matter yield was about 7.0 t/ha at flowering stage, which was greater than those cutting at other stages and crude protein content was 16.0%. After cutting, nutrition status of quinoa tended to be improved, but the total biomass decreased significantly except that there was equaling biomass yield at Zhangye site when cutting was performed at 15 days after bud formation. Early sowing increased plant height (for Sap: 138 and 145 cm at flowering and maturity; for Sju: 119 and 113 cm) and biomass yield (7,402 kg/ha for Sap and 4,360 kg/ha for Sju at maturity), with little influence on the nutritional status of quinoa. It is suggested that quinoa has a great potential to be used as a forage crop in the midwestern China. In the practice, early sowing and cutting in late June are recommended to produce forage quinoa in these areas.

Cobalt deficiency in cattle and its impact on production

ABSTRACT: Two outbreaks of cobalt deficiency in beef cattle were diagnosed in Midwestern Brazil. We discuss the clinical, epidemiological, pathological features, therapeutic measures, and impact aspects of the production system associated with these outbreaks occurring outbreaks in two farms of extensive cattle raising-system in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. Seven affected cattle were euthanized and necropsied. Tissues for histopathology and microelements dosage were secured. At Farm A, 3100 cattle of all ages got sick, and 396 died; at Farm B, 148 were affected, and 110 died. In both farms, cattle were fed the same mineral supplement. The main clinical signs were weight loss and weakness, even though a good supply of forage was available in the paddocks. Many cattle stop grazing and chew at tree barks, wood chips from fence posts, and bones. In addition to the deaths, there was a compromised growth, and the reproductive rates fell sharply. The necropsied cattle were thin, with rough hair coat and pale mucous membranes. The liver was diffusely orange and showed a lobular pattern. The bone marrow was gelatinous and diffusely yellow. Histological changes included hemosiderosis in the liver and spleen, hepatocellular vacuolar degeneration, and myeloid and erythroid hypoplasia of the bone marrow. In the white matter of four cattle’s brains, the myelin sheath was markedly distended (spongy degeneration). Proliferative parasitic abomasitis was observed in three cattle. The presumptive diagnosis was based on the association of the clinical picture, the necropsy findings, and the ruling out of other possible causes. The diagnosis was confirmed by the favorable response to treatment with cobalt and vitamin B12 orally and by mineral supplementation.