Grazing Management Research Articles

Planning Principles of Grazing Management in Goat Breeding in Massive Forest Fire Areas (Case Study: Manavgat Forest Enterprise)

Turkey's forest area is approximately 23.1 million ha, covering 29.44% of the country's surface area. About 20 thousand villages and 7 million forest villagers live in these areasThe vital activities of forest villagers, whose main livelihood is agriculture and animal husbandry, face severe damage from forest fires. The "Regulation on Procedures and Principles on Animal Grazing in the Forests and in the Grassland, Plateau, and Winter-Passage," published by the General Directorate of Forestry (GDoF), has been entered into force in 2012. According to this regulation, the areas where grazing is prohibited and allowed are specified. According to the GDoF of Forestry, sheep and cattle are grazed systematically in forest areas in 53.1% of our country's forest areas. However, it is still being determined what kind of grazing system will be implemented for forest villagers since all areas around the forest villages are burned in massive forest fires. The study aims to determine the principles of grazing plan and management for the forest villages of Antalya province Manavgat district after the great forest fire. The original data of the study area consists of fire data in the Manavgat district, forest management plan data, and forest village data damaged by fire at various levels. Considering these data, The principles of planning on how to use approaches such as suitability analysis, SWOT and RWOT analysis, and Logit model for functional grazing management and planning of goat breeders have been determined. The most critical problem forest villagers face after the massive forest fires are the complete restriction of sustainable goat breeding. It is necessary to decide on a new grazing plan, and management approaches for such areas to maintain life practices despite legal regulations. This study established a new grazing plan, management opportunities, and principles.

A systematic strategy to analyse individual‐based models reveals pathways of degradation and recovery in Patagonian rangelands

One of the central problems in ecology is how to scale from small‐scale observations and experiments to large‐scale patterns and processes. One approach to such upscaling is to use dynamic simulation models, but their application to large scales relevant for management is limited by computational costs, and their outputs are difficult to analyse without a systematic strategy. Our general objective is to propose such a strategy. The idea is to approximate the dynamics of detailed simulation models through a set of states, external drivers, and transition matrices, and then use Markov chain and network analysis of the resulting transition matrices to gain insights into the dynamics of the underlying detailed model. We used the individual‐based model COIRON, which simulates the dynamics of semiarid grass steppes in Patagonia (Argentina) under alternative grazing management, as example. Our specific objectives are to identify pathways of degradation and rehabilitation, as well as critical grazing thresholds and early‐warning vegetation states to guide sustainable grazing management in these steppes. Our results indicate nonlinear effects of stocking rate and grazing season on steppe dynamics. Markov chain analysis suggests benefits of seasonal over continuous grazing at intermediate stocking rates, and network analysis of recovery and degradation trajectories shows that intermediate stocking rates maximize differences between grazing seasons. Finally, our analysis identified specific vegetation states as early warning signals that indicate a high risk of irreversible vegetation changes. Patagonian grass steppes should ideally be managed with multi‐paddock grazing at moderate stocking rates around 0.5 sheep ha−1. The transition matrices summarize the relevant key features of the detailed model for larger scales, and applying Markov and network theory provides a systematic strategy to analyse its dynamics to respond to biological questions, both are often difficult to obtain by direct analysis of the detailed model.

Survey of rancher grazing management practices in extensive rangeland production systems of the Central Coast of California

Survey of rancher grazing management practices in extensive rangeland production systems of the Central Coast of California

Calcareous grassland restored by clearance and subsequent sheep grazing show fast recovery of plant functional traits – Results from a 25-year-long experiment

In this study, the long-term restoration success of calcareous grasslands was investigated using a functional trait approach. The study site is located in the Swabian Alb, Germany, where a former calcareous grassland patch was restored in the 1990s by clearance of a spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) afforestation and subsequent reintroduction of sheep grazing as mobile dispersal vector. Vegetation development was monitored over a period of 25 years, both on the restored and an adjacent never afforested ancient grassland which is still managed by traditional sheep grazing. Changes in the functional composition of fifteen ecological meaningful traits were investigated by comparing the respective attribute expressions of the restored with the ancient reference grassland for each year of observation. A RLQ-analysis was conducted in order to identify plant functional groups. The comparison of attribute expressions showed that differences between restored and ancient grassland decreased rapidly over time. The greatest differences were found in persistence-related traits (e.g., life span and growth form) while dispersal- and establishment-related traits recovered faster. The clustering of plant functional groups showed similarities with Grime’s CSR-strategy, as cluster analysis grouped species with either ruderal, competitive or stress-tolerant trait attributes. 20 years after restoration, stress-tolerators dominated, while the ruderal cluster could not longer be detected and only a small group of competitive, mostly woody species remained. In 2018, RLQ analysis revealed no differences in the functional composition between restored and ancient grassland. The quick functional recovery is most likely attributed to the reestablishment of the traditional low-intensive grazing management but also to the close vicinity of the ancient grassland as no spatial isolation prevented dispersal of plant species. Hence, the functional trait approach showed that restoration by clearance and subsequent sheep grazing was a suitable management in our study.

An Intelligent Grazing Development Strategy for Unmanned Animal Husbandry in China

Grazing is the most important and lowest cost means of livestock breeding. Because of the sharp contradiction between the grassland ecosystem and livestock, the grassland ecosystem has tended to degrade in past decades in China; therefore, the ecological balance of the grassland has been seriously damaged. The implementation of grazing prohibition, rotational grazing and the development of a large-scale breeding industry have not only ensured the supply of animal husbandry products, but also promoted the restoration of the grassland ecosystem. For the large-scale breeding industry, the animal welfare of livestock cannot be guaranteed due to the narrow and crowded space, thus, the production of the breeding industry usually has lower competitiveness than grazing. Disorderly grazing leads to grassland ecological crises; however, intelligent grazing can not only ensure animal welfare, but also fully improve the competitiveness of livestock husbandry products. Under the development of urbanization, the workforce engaged in grazing and breeding in pastoral areas is gradually lost. Intelligent grazing breeding methods need to be developed and popularized. This paper focuses on intelligent grazing, reviews grass remote sensing and aerial seeding, wearable monitoring equipment of livestock, UAV monitoring and intelligent grazing robots, and summarizes the development of intelligent grazing elements, exploring the new development direction of automatic grazing management with the grazing robot at this stage.

Species and functional diversity of cool-season pastures are influenced by warm-season grazing management

CONTEXTIn southern Brazil, livestock producers often overseed cool-season annual grasses into warm-season perennial pastures to extend the grazing season and improve animal performance. However, the effects of warm-season pasture management on the subsequent cool-season pasture are poorly understood. OBJECTIVEWe aimed to evaluate how grazing height and nitrogen (N) fertilization applied to a mixed-species pasture during the warm season affect forage accumulation and diversity in the cool-season pastures. METHODSThe experiment was conducted in a subtropical climate and consisted of two phases: warm season (November/December – April/May) and cool season (May – October/November). During the warm season, we applied a factorial combination of two pre-grazing heights (0.17 and 0.23 m) and three N rates (50, 150, and 250 kg N ha−1) to a mixed-species pasture. During the cool season, we managed all plots equally and measured forage accumulation and diversity using Simpson's and Rao's indices. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSWe found that warm-season N fertilization had no residual effect on cool-season pasture responses, but grazing at 0.17 m height during the warm season resulted in higher forage accumulation during the cool season than grazing at 0.23 m height (5100 vs. 4780 kg DM ha−1). However, grazing at 0.23 m height during the warm season increased species diversity (Simpson's index of 0.49 vs. 0.40) and functional diversity (Rao's index of 0.33 vs. 0.29) during the cool season compared to grazing at 0.17 m height. SIGNIFICANCEThis study provides novel insights into the long-term effects of warm-season pasture management on cool-season pasture diversity and productivity in a subtropical climate. It shows that grazing at a height close to the critical leaf area index during the warm season can increase legume proportion and functional diversity in the cool season, which can improve pasture resilience and sustainability. While this study offers valuable insights, it is important to acknowledge its restriction to a single location, and the need to assess the hypothesis raised here to other sites and conditions.

Effect of Grazing Management and Watering Regimen on Sudan Desert Lambs’ Body Weights

Effect of Grazing Management and Watering Regimen on Sudan Desert Lambs’ Body Weights

Effect of Grazing Management on Predator Soil Mite Communities (Acari: Mesotigmata) in Some Subalpine Grasslands from the Făgăraş Mountains-Romania.

For the first time in Romania, a complex study was conducted on soil mite communities from two types of managed grasslands: ungrazed and intensively grazed. The study was accomplished in August 2018, in the Făgăraş Mountains. Within the soil mite communities (Mesostigmata), 30 species were identified, from 80 soil samples. The following population parameters were investigated: species richness, numerical abundance, dominance, Shannon index of diversity, evenness and equitability. Eight environmental variables were also measured: soil and air humidity; soil and air temperature; soil pH; resistance of soil to penetration; soil electrical conductivity; and vegetation coverage. The results revealed that species richness, Shannon index of diversity, evenness and equitability indices had higher values in ungrazed grasslands, whereas in intensively grazed areas, the numerical abundance and dominance index had significantly higher values. The species Alliphis halleri was dominant in the ungrazed grasslands. Each type of managed grassland was characterised by specific environmental conditions, which had an important influence, even at the species level.

O5 Understanding spatial-temporal grazing management: evolution of state variables and productive results at cow-calf grassland system

O5 Understanding spatial-temporal grazing management: evolution of state variables and productive results at cow-calf grassland system

Prediction of the nutritional values by INRA (2018) feed evaluation system of Megathyrsus maximus subjected to different grazing strategies

Grazing management is a key element to optimize growth cycle of forages, which are enhanced in their chemical composition leading to the reception of greater nutritive values for feeding ruminants. Several studies have showed that the accuracy and precision of the feeding values are critical to achieve this goal, unfortunately, in Ecuador there are not referential data, despite of Megathyrsus maximus is the most forage used by livestock farmers. The predominant aim of the current study was to approach and estimate the feeding values by INRA feed evaluation system of Tanzania grass (Megathyrsus maximus) subjected at different grazing strategies. The statistical design was a randomized complete block, with a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement. Where the treatments were combinations of three grazing frequencies (GF) (30 d; termed GF30, 45 d, GF45 and 60 d, GF60) and two cutting heights (CHs; 30 and 45 cm). The agronomic data did not vary by season effect (P = 0.24 to 0.82), but GF60 had higher plant heigh and dry matter (DM) contents (P < 0.001) than other GF, although with less tiller populations (241 vs. 304 tiller/m2). By CHs effect, Tanzania grass at 30 cm had a greater DM content than 45 cm of CHs (5565 vs. 4221 ± 603 kg/ha-1; P = 0.073). All chemical determinations were affected by GF, CHs and their interaction (P < 0.001 to 0.004) with the exception on ADF between CHs (P = 0.50). Whereas only the CP and ADF values were conditioned by season effect (P = 0.001 to 0.011). Subsequently, Tanzania grass subjected at moderate rest periods and low defoliation intensities showed greater energy and proteins values than traditionally used GF60. Based in these findings, the defoliation frequency had influence on agronomic and chemical characteristics, whilst the feeding values was mainly affected by grazing intensities and weather conditions. So, the best combination regarding nutritive values should be at GF30 and GF45 combined with 45 cm of CHs.

Establishing effective conservation management strategies for a poorly known endangered species: a case study using Australia’s Night Parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis)

An evidence-based approach to the conservation management of a species requires knowledge of that species’ status, distribution, ecology, and threats. Coupled with budgets for specific conservation strategies, this knowledge allows prioritisation of funding toward activities that maximise benefit for the species. However, many threatened species are poorly known, and determining which conservation strategies will achieve this is difficult. Such cases require approaches that allow decision-making under uncertainty. Here we used structured expert elicitation to estimate the likely benefit of potential management strategies for the Critically Endangered and, until recently, poorly known Night Parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis). Experts considered cat management the single most effective management strategy for the Night Parrot. However, a combination of protecting and actively managing existing intact Night Parrot habitat through management of grazing, controlling feral cats, and managing fire specifically to maintain Night Parrot habitat was thought to result in the greatest conservation gains. The most cost-effective strategies were thought to be fire management to maintain Night Parrot habitat, and intensive cat management using control methods that exploit local knowledge of cat movements and ecology. Protecting and restoring potentially suitable, but degraded, Night Parrot habitat was considered the least effective and least cost-effective strategy. These expert judgements provide an informed starting point for land managers implementing on-ground programs targeting the Night Parrot, and those developing policy aimed at the species’ longer-term conservation. As a set of hypotheses, they should be implemented, assessed, and improved within an adaptive management framework that also considers the likely co-benefits of these strategies for other species and ecosystems. The broader methodology is applicable to conservation planning for the management and conservation of other poorly known threatened species.

A comparison of the nutritive value of perennial ryegrass, perennial ryegrass and white clover and multispecies‐based farmlet systems

AbstractBackgroundLimited information is available regarding the nutritive value and structural characteristics of multispecies swards when rotationally grazed.MethodsThree farmlet types were investigated in terms of their nutritive value: Lolium perenne (LP); L. perenne+Trifolium repens (LP+TR); and a multispecies sward containing grasses, legumes and herbs (MSS). Farmlets were stocked with beef steers (2.5 livestock units ha−1), grazed on a 1 ha scale to 6 cm (MSS) and 4 cm (LP and LP+TR) residuals.ResultsA greater ash concentration was found in MSS than LP (84 vs. 75 g kg−1 DM). Both LP+TR and MSS had higher crude protein and lower neutral detergent fibre concentrations than LP. The relative ranking of water soluble carbohydrate and dry matter (DM) concentration was LP > LP+TR > MSS. Despite the leaf component of the LP farmlet contributing more to herbage DM, the organic matter digestibilities of the swards were similar.ConclusionsThe MSS and LP+TR farmlets achieved similar forage quality under intensive grazing to LP. However, it is worth noting that MSS had a higher concentration of acid detergent lignin, which can negatively impact digestibility. Further investigation is needed to determine optimal grazing management practices that can minimise the effects of higher lignin concentration on digestibility in multispecies swards.

Enabling Regenerative Agriculture Using Remote Sensing and Machine Learning

The emergence of cloud computing, big data analytics, and machine learning has catalysed the use of remote sensing technologies to enable more timely management of sustainability indicators, given the uncertainty of future climate conditions. Here, we examine the potential of “regenerative agriculture”, as an adaptive grazing management strategy to minimise bare ground exposure while improving pasture productivity. High-intensity sheep grazing treatments were conducted in small fields (less than 1 ha) for short durations (typically less than 1 day). Paddocks were subsequently spelled to allow pasture biomass recovery (treatments comprising 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 months), with each compared with controls characterised by lighter stocking rates for longer periods (2000 DSE/ha). Pastures were composed of wallaby grass (Austrodanthonia species), kangaroo grass (Themeda triandra), Phalaris (Phalaris aquatica), and cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata), and were destructively sampled to estimate total standing dry matter (TSDM), standing green biomass, standing dry biomass and trampled biomass. We invoked a machine learning model forced with Sentinel-2 imagery to quantify TSDM, standing green and dry biomass. Faced with La Nina conditions, regenerative grazing did not significantly impact pasture productivity, with all treatments showing similar TSDM, green biomass and recovery. However, regenerative treatments significantly impacted litterfall and trampled material, with high-intensity grazing treatments trampling more biomass, increasing litter, enhancing surface organic matter and decomposition rates thereof. Pasture digestibility and sward uniformity were greatest for treatments with minimal spelling (3 months), whereas both standing senescent and trampled material were greater for the 15-month spelling treatment. TSDM prognostics from machine learning were lower than measured TSDM, although predictions from the machine learning approach closely matched observed spatiotemporal variability within and across treatments. The root mean square error between the measured and modelled TSDM was 903 kg DM/ha, which was less than the variability measured in the field. We conclude that regenerative grazing with short recovery periods (3–6 months) was more conducive to increasing pasture production under high rainfall conditions, and we speculate that – in this environment - high-intensity grazing with 3-month spelling is likely to improve soil organic carbon through increased litterfall and trampling. Our study paves the way for using machine learning with satellite imagery to quantify pasture biomass at small scales, enabling the management of pastures within small fields from afar.

Long-Term Grazing Exclusion Increases Ecosystem Carbon Stock but Decreases Nitrogen Stock in the Karst Alpine Grassland of China

Grazing management practices are a major factor regulating nutrient cycling and plant growth in grasslands. However, the response of long-term grazing regimes to ecosystem carbon and nitrogen accumulation and plant productivity remains uncertain in karst landscapes. The purpose of this research is to assess the effects of long-term management measures on plant biomass and ecosystem organic carbon (EOCS), total nitrogen (ETNS), and phosphorus (ETPS) stocks in a karst alpine grassland. A 17 year-long field experiment, constituting the methods of grazing exclusion (GE), continuous grazing (CG), mowing and grazing (MG), and rotational grazing (RG) was established in 2001. Plant and soil samples were collected in 2017. Grazing treatments significantly reduced the aboveground and root biomass (MG and RG) compared to GE. SOC of GE was higher than that of CG, MG, and RG in each soil layer. Grazing promoted the mean TN content with a significant increase in CG and RG. GE significantly increased the EOCS and decreased the ETNS and ETPS. The EOCS increased by 22.29% (MG) and 16.31% (RG) and ETNS increased by 7.76% (RG), and MG significantly decreased ETNS compared to CG. EOCS were positively related to SOC, stoichiometry, and aboveground biomass, while being negatively correlated with TP; ETNS were positively related to TN and TP, while being negatively correlated with C/N, C/P, aboveground biomass, and root biomass; ETPS were positively correlated with TN and TP and negatively correlated with NH4+-N and stoichiometry. GE can provide significant improvements in plant recovery and ecosystem carbon stock, whereas RG is beneficial for promoting ecosystem nutrient stock under the condition of pasturing utilisation in the karst grasslands.

An Overview of Permanent Grassland Grazing Management Practices and the Impacts on Principal Soil Quality Indicators

Grasslands are at risk of degradation due to unsustainable management practices and climate change. Here, we review the principal soil quality indicators (SQIs) to evaluate the sustainability of different grassland management practices globally. We discuss the importance of SQI assessment and the Soil Quality Minimum Dataset (MDS) specifically in the context of grasslands. We then review two potential solutions, the first of which is adopting grazing management, whereby sustainable grazing management plans (GMPs) offer great potential. The other solution is the development and adoption of novel grassland species, which may improve either drought resistance or infiltration rates, erosion and flooding. Sustainable grassland soil management can promote ecosystem service delivery and improve the resilience of the entire grassland ecosystem to anthropogenic change.

Grazing and fertilizer, compost or manure application effects on a meadow bromegrass pasture on a thick black chernozem I. Productivity and sustainability

Short duration, intensive grazing management with high stocking rates may result in sufficient turn-over of nitrogen (N) to compensate for production-limiting soil-N deficiencies for grass pasture. In central Alberta a 0.5 ha block was seeded to “Fleet” meadow bromegrass ( Bromus riparius Rehmann) in August 2002. Within this block, six fenced (9 m × 30 m) treatments were established in three replicates. They were (1) ungrazed—clip removal, (2) grazed—alone, (3) grazed—fertilizer, (4) grazed—fertilizer-compost, (5) grazed—hog manure, and (6) grazed—alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) grass. Measurements were conducted over a 4-year period between 2003 and 2006 and grazing occurred at identical times as vegetative mass permitted. Biomass was harvested before and after grazing for calculation of dry matter (DM) yield and biomass consumed. Sub-samples were used for determination of N concentration and in vitro digestibility. Mean herbage N-yield for grazed treatments was 131% of ungrazed and greatest for grazed-fertilizer and grazed-fertilizer plus compost. Grazed paddocks with no added N produced similar DM yield to those with added N. Estimated nitrogen fixation contributed an annual average of 82 kg ha−1 to herbage-N yield from the alfalfa-grass paddocks. Barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) silage grown after termination of the grazed pastures produced 72% more herbage DM from grazed paddocks than ungrazed, but no significant ( P < 0.05) differences occurred among amendments.

114 Evaluation of Assertions from Educational, Outreach and Engagement Programs in Pasture-Based Livestock Systems

Abstract Assertions about grazing management and grazing systems should be evaluated based on the scientific literature. Prior assumptions can limit our ability to achieve constructive dialogue regarding the merits of various stocking methods. These include the assumption that rotational stocking is inherently superior to continuous stocking, regardless of the nature of the overall grazing system, and the presumption that continuous stocking implies overgrazing. We revisited assertions about grazing management in general, but more specifically the choice of the stocking method, and considered their merit in the context of evidence from the literature, including a chapter titled Prescribed Grazing on Pasturelands from a National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) literature synthesis published in 2012. We framed those assertions in the form of questions. The questions were: a) Does choice of rotational stocking ensure well-managed pastures?, b) Does rotational stocking result in greater accumulation of soil carbon than continuous stocking?, c) Does rotational stocking increase pasture productivity and optimal stocking rate compared with continuous stocking?, d) Does forage nutritive value and individual animal performance increase in rotational versus continuous stocking?, and e) Do pastures “look better” in rotational versus continuous stocking?. The objectives were to consider whether these often-stated assertions about grazing management were supported, refuted, or simply not adequately assessed by the body of scientific evidence. It is important to recognize that choice of stocking method is only one element of grazing management and grazing management is only one element of a grazing system. Thus, stocking method is “one piece of a very large pie”. Additionally, stocking rate (grazing intensity) is a separate and independent grazing management choice from stocking method, such that both rotationally and continuously stocked pastures can be understocked, overstocked, or optimally stocked. It is unfortunate that choice of stocking method dominates discussions of improving grazing management to the expense of other issues, when in fact intensity of grazing has been shown conclusively to be the most important determinant of a wide array of soil, plant, animal, and ecosystem responses. We have observed that terminology such us regenerative grazing, holistic planned grazing, adaptative multipaddock grazing, management intensive grazing, high intensity low frequency grazing, and others, arise frequently and can dominate discussions in the realm of education, outreach and engagement programs in pasture-based livestock systems. These words/themes lack clear definition, and this lack of specificity may promote misconceptions, thus hindering the opportunity for critical thinking and ultimately the advancement and improvement of grazing systems. Educational efforts in pasture management should strive to remain relevant by focusing on experimental evidence. Local (i.e., state or county level) outreach and engagement programs are challenged with providing timely and specific information with implementable guidelines based on frequent observations at the landscape and farm levels.

109 Invited Talk: Grazing Management and Stocking Strategy Decisions for Pasture-Beef Systems: Experimental Confirmation vs Testimonials and Perceptions

Abstract The primary objectives of forage-based livestock grazing systems are to enhance sustainability of pastures and cattle production, and to maintain economic stability in the presence of changes in input costs and returns. Grazing management strategies and implementation vary for adapted forages according to vegetational-hardiness zones, livestock production objectives, and manager preferences for grazing systems, stocking rates, and stocking methods. Stocking methods are strategies or techniques to manipulate grazing animals in space and time and may be considered as variations of continuous or rotational stocking. In many stocking method discussions, the debates are often focused on experimental confirmational data vs testimonials and perceptions. Acceptable methodology and statistical analyses of grazing experimentation on continuous vs rotational stocking provides repeated measures of forage nutritive value, forage mass, grazing intensity, and stocking rate on gain per animal, gain per unit land area. Additional measurements may include effects on forage stand maintenance and soil nutrient analyses-status. Recent adaptations of mob stocking and intensive rotational grazing via popular press and consultants have received acclaims for methods to enhance ecosystem services, soil health, and other non-experimentally documented attributes. Managers may adopt these testimonials of stocking methods of 60 days or more deferment based on their perception of protecting and enhancing the environment rather than logic of seeking experimental evidence. However, when given a choice of forage available for consumption, cattle select more than 80% of their diet as leaves. Thus, with respect to average daily gain per animal (ADG), only a small percentage of pasture studies have shown an advantage for rotational stocking. The lack of ADG was attributed to reduced nutritive value of forage available for selection during the residence time. Selecting management and stocking strategies for optimum utilization for forage produced, individual animal performance, and overall gain per unit land area has led to flexible grazing systems. These grazing systems may not be “hardcore rotationally, time-scheduled stocked,” but they do involve multiple pastures with strategies to incorporate movement of cattle based on current paddock forage status and forage mass estimates for desired animal performance. Grazing management strategies control the degree of intensity of beef cattle production based on level of economic risk and desired-expected environmental stewardship goals. Of all the strategies that management may adopt for grazing, the primary factor that controls resultant sustainability of pastures is that of grazing intensity as measured by stocking rate or forage height-density. Implementing revised or new management strategies requires attention to detail and the use of data-results-recommendations from comparative experiments conducted by a recognized source without conflict of interest in the method promoted.

1 Challenges in the Pasture

Abstract Cow-calf farms are abundant across the southeastern US and there is a wide diversity of farm sizes and types of farmers. Farms include small-scale part-time farms, and large commercial-scale farms, often integrated with other farm enterprises. Many farmers have full-time employment off the farm and little if any hired labor, such that there is little time to devote to farming activities. In contrast, large farms often have access to labor, equipment and other inputs that may not be available to small farms. The diversity of farms and farmer demographics makes extension programming challenging as motivational factors vary considerably. Many pasture management practices proven by research have very low levels of adoption including active grazing management, pasture renovation, hay testing, etc. We assume that all farmers are focused on profitability, but this is clearly not the case especially with small part-time farmers. Other motivations may be enjoyment of spending time with animals, time spent with family, improving animal welfare, interest in machinery and “gadgets”, and other non-farm interests including using a cow-calf enterprise to hold land in some kind of agriculture for future development. New management practices may make sense from a profitability perspective but might require the development of new skills that the farmer does not have. Additionally, there may be other barriers including access to necessary equipment, conflicting information provided by advisers, and expertise in simple practices such as planting and spraying. As an example, novel endophyte tall fescue (NETF) has potential to eliminate the negative aspects of endophyte infected tall fescue while maintaining the desirable agronomic characteristics. While NETF technology is research proven and has been available to producers for over two decades, adoption has been very slow. The Alliance for Grassland Renewal is a multi-state private/public collaborative formed to promote the appropriate adoption of NETF. The Alliance conducts workshops to teach farmers and their advisors about how to best implement the NETF technology. The collaborative effort provides a more uniform set of recommendations than was formerly available through each member state. Through workshop evaluations we found several important factors that limit adoption including 1) the balance of cost and benefit is unclear, 2) farmers have limited financial resources, 3) the land is rented or unsuitable for renovation, and 4) farmers lack of knowledge, and 5) farm forage reserves are limiting. Many of these pasture management practices are difficult to adopt because they require many sequential steps that must be completed in a timely way. This may leave the farmer hesitant to take the first step in the process. For practices that are very different than standard management, use of on-farm demonstrations and hands-on learning have proven valuable.

Parasite control in regenerative livestock farming

Advocates of regenerative livestock farming claim a multitude of benefits following adoption of practices based on high intensity, short duration, long rest rotational grazing, amongst which is a reduction in parasitism and the use of anthelmintics. There are limited scientific data to support such claims and much of what little evidence there is emanates from North America and South Africa, so it would be useful if the observations and experiences of UK adoptees could be backed up with some well-controlled field studies. In their absence, considerations of some aspects of known parasite biology, such as the larval ecology of parasitic nematodes, can shed light on likely outcomes of various types of pasture, grazing and animal management. Minimising the use of anthelmintics in regenerative systems requires effective monitoring to ensure that animal performance and health do not suffer as a result of parasitism; for youngstock, growth rate is the most reliable marker for subclinical parasitic gastroenteritis. Consideration should also be given to other parasites that can affect grazing livestock, such as lungworm, fluke, ticks and flies, in order to determine the influence of regenerative management on the parasite fauna and their collective impact on sheep and cattle.