Livestock Forestry Research Articles

IntroductionThe domestication of cattle has shaped their adaptation to livestock environments, although management conditions often limit their welfare and productivity. This study investigated whether integrated livestock–forestry (LF) systems improve the behavior, welfare, and productivity of beef cattle compared to conventional livestock (L) systems.MethodsEighteen Angus steers were monitored for ten consecutive months under continuous grazing. Welfare indicators were assessed according to the Welfare Quality® protocol, with adaptations for grazing conditions.ResultsBoth systems ensured adequate feeding, health, and rest conditions. However, animals in the LF system performed better in thermal comfort and human–animal interaction. Specifically, LF cattle had a 2.5 °C lower body surface temperature, a 63% smaller flight zone, and an 85% lower reactivity score than cattle in the L system. Average daily weight gain and body condition score did not differ between systems.DiscussionIntegrated livestock–forestry systems enhanced adaptive behaviors and animal comfort without compromising productivity. These findings highlight LF systems as a sustainable approach to balancing animal welfare with production efficiency.

Livestock-forestry (LF) systems enhance the delivery of ecosystem services and sustainability by providing shade, increasing diversity, and improving carbon sequestration. Despite these benefits, more evidence is needed to establish LF systems as a viable alternative for reducing enteric CH4 emissions and improving thermal comfort in beef cattle production. We aimed to evaluate the impact of the forestry component into a forage-based livestock system on animal performance, thermal comfort, and its consequences on enteric CH4 emissions. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with two systems: livestock (L) and LF, each with four replicates. During both seasons, microclimate variables such as relative humidity, photosynthetically active radiation, black globe temperature, and black globe temperature-humidity index were greater in the L system. Plant-part and chemical compositions did not differ between the systems, except for a 10% greater leaf proportion in LF during the rainy season. During the dry season, the LF system showed a 47% greater total gain per ha and 33% greater stocking rate. There was no system effect on CH4 production (g/day). However, in the dry season, LF presented greater CH4 emissions per area. These results indicate that integrating trees into forage-based livestock systems can improve thermal comfort and animal productivity without increasing individual CH4 emission, enhancing long-term productivity and sustainability.

Sustainable agriculture relies on effective soil management, making it crucial to assess soil health, especially in areas of agricultural expansion, such as the Cerrado in the MATOPIBA region. Sustainable strategies, such as integrated production systems (crop–livestock–forestry), are essential to mitigate these impacts. However, little is known about the effects of these systems on soil microbial communities. The objective of this study was to evaluate bacterial communities associated with soils under different integrated production systems in the MATOPIBA region. Soil samples from the 0–10 cm depth layer were collected from the following land use systems: (i) native Cerrado vegetation (NCV), (ii) native Babassu forest (NPV), (iii) no-tillage soybean—regional standard system (NT-S), (iv) crop–forest integration (CFI), (v) crop–livestock integration (CLI), and (vi) livestock–forest integration (LFI). We measured chemical properties and bacterial communities using next-generation sequencing (NGS) of the V3-V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene. The results revealed that the integration systems (CFI, CLI, and LFI) resulted in changes in soil chemical properties, which contributed to the modulation of the bacterial communities. The most abundant taxa in integrated production systems shows a positive correlation with soil pH and phosphorus content. Members of the Nitrosomonadaceae and Sphingomonadaceae families are more related to integrated production systems containing a forestry component (CFI and LFI), while Bacillaceae are more evident in crop–livestock integration systems (CLI).

Abstract Understanding how forage can be utilized in the rumen is important for optimizing system efficiency. We aimed to evaluate the ruminal fermentation parameters and methane (CH4) production of Marandu palisadegrass [Brachiaria (syn. Urochloa) brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) R. D. Webster] growing in monoculture or in integrated systems. The experiment was conducted over 3 years to evaluate four systems [livestock (L), livestock‐forestry (LF), crop‐livestock (CL), and crop‐livestock‐forestry (CLF)] during the dry and rainy seasons. In the dry season, palisadegrass in CLF presented the greater crude protein (CP) and the lesser neutral detergent fibre (NDF) concentrations. The greatest gas volume was produced in L, while LF and CL reduced CH4 production compared to L. The greatest ammoniacal‐nitrogen concentration, propionate and valeric acid proportions, and degradability of NDF were in CLF. In the rainy season, palisadegrass in LF and CLF presented the greater CP concentration and the lesser CH4 production. Integration of crop and forestry components in a forage‐based livestock system affected ruminal fermentation parameters of Marandu palisadegrass, consequently, reducing CH4 production. In addition, the inclusion of a forestry component enhanced forage CP concentration. Integrated systems can improve ruminal fermentation, supporting sustainable livestock production and optimizing forage utilization.

Crop, livestock, and forestry integration to reconcile soil health, food production, and climate change mitigation in the Brazilian Cerrado: A review

Evidence of the potential benefits of digital technology integration in Asian agronomy and forestry: A systematic review

Developing causal loop diagrams for the perusal of soil health in agricultural practices – A case study of rice nursery cultivation practices in India

Intensification of livestock systems becomes essential to meet the food demand of the growing world population, but it is important to consider the environmental impact of these systems. To assess the potential of forage-based livestock systems to offset greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the net carbon (C) balance of four systems in the Brazilian Amazon Biome was estimated: livestock (L) with a monoculture of Marandu palisade grass [Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) R. D. Webster]; livestock-forestry (LF) with palisade grass intercropped with three rows of eucalyptus at 128 trees/ha; crop-livestock (CL) with soybeans and then corn + palisade grass, rotated with livestock every two years; and crop-livestock-forestry (CLF) with CL + one row of eucalyptus at 72 trees/ha. Over the four years studied, the systems with crops (CL and CLF) produced more human-edible protein than those without them (L and LF) (3010 vs. 755 kg/ha). Methane contributed the most to total GHG emissions: a mean of 85 % for L and LF and 67 % for CL and CLF. Consequently, L and LF had greater total GHG emissions (mean of 30 Mg CO2eq/ha/year). Over the four years, the system with the most negative net C balance (i.e., C storage) was LF when expressed per ha (−53.3 Mg CO2eq/ha), CLF when expressed per kg of carcass (−26 kg CO2eq/kg carcass), and LF when expressed per kg of human-edible protein (−72 kg CO2eq/kg human-edible protein). Even the L system can store C if well managed, leading to benefits such as increased meat as well as improved soil quality. Moreover, including crops and forestry in these livestock systems enhances these benefits, emphasizing the potential of integrated systems to offset GHG emissions.

Methane emissions and growth performance of beef cattle grazing multi-species swards in different pesticide-free integrated crop-livestock systems in southern Brazil

Integrated Crop–Livestock–Forestry Systems (ICLFS) offer stakeholders sustainable options to produce goods and services. Those additionally manifest as enablers of environmental conservation of soil functioning. We, therefore, analyzed the quality of Ultisol for physical and chemical properties under restorative or regenerative models of long-term (nine years) ICLFS. The arrangements comprised integrated Crop–Livestock; integrated Crop-Livestock-Forestry, integrated Crop–Livestock–Forestry with a single or triplicate rows of Eucalyptus; and Eucalyptus plantation, natural vegetation, and bare soil with resurgence of grasses (reference). We collected samples of soil at 0.05, 0.05–0.1, and 0.1–0.2 m depths throughout the areas to quantify standard properties, including water infiltration, hydraulic conductivity, degree of flocculation, mechanical resistance to penetration, stability of aggregates, physical fractioning of organic matter, and fertility. We applied principal component analysis to analytical data to calculate accurate discriminant variables to distinguish systems by structural quality. We obtained evidence for the crop–livestock framework improving physical and chemical properties; hence, this intervention outperformed others in developing environmental restoration. Additionally, as the reference consisted of comparable properties to those in integrative systems and native vegetation, it supported the ability of the soil to gradually recover itself over time. Therefore, our study provides knowledge to advance the field’s prominence in implementing ICLFS for the environmental reclamation of the condition or process degrading the soil and its functions for sustainable agricultural production.

Single farming systems (SFS) such as monocultures may negatively affect soil structural quality. This study tested the hypothesis that integrated farming systems (IFS), i.e., the combination of cropping and forestry and/or livestock farming, improves soil structural quality, root development and soil organic carbon. An experimental area was set up in 2012 at the Canguiri experimental farm belonging to the Federal University of Paraná, Southern Brazil. The soils are predominantly Ferralsols. The experimental treatments representing different farming systems, organized in a random block design with three replicates, were: Forestry (F), Conventional Crop Production (C), Livestock (L), and integrated Crop-Forestry (CF), Crop-Livestock (CL), Livestock-Forestry (LF), and Crop-Livestock-Forestry (CLF). In situ measurements and sampling were carried out in the 0–0.3 m layer during summer 2019/20, and included soil penetration resistance (PR), soil structural quality based on visual evaluation of soil structure (SqVESS scores), root length (RL), root volume (RV) and soil organic carbon content (SOC). Soil structural quality, penetration resistance, root length and volume, and SOC varied between farming systems, but no significant differences were found between single (C, L, F) and integrated farming systems (CF, CL, LF, CLF). The single system Forestry (F) and the integrated systems including forestry (LF, CF, CLF) tended to have higher SqVESS scores, i.e. poorer soil structural quality, and higher PR, which we associate with the generally drier soil conditions that are due to higher soil water uptake and higher interception and reduce the frequency of wetting-drying cycles. Roots were concentrated in the shallow soil layer (0–0.1 m depth), and this was especially pronounced in the Crop (C) single farming system. Based on the measured values, our results suggest an acceptable soil structural quality in all farming systems. Our data revealed strong, significant relationships between soil structural quality, penetration resistance, root growth and SOC, demonstrating that improvements in soil structure results in lower soil penetration resistance, higher root volumes and higher SOC, and vice versa. Soil PR was positively correlated with SqVESS (R2 = 0.84), indicating that better soil structural quality resulted in lower soil mechanical resistance. This, in turn, increased root length and volume, which increases carbon input to soil and therefore increases SOC in the long run.

The present work aimed to characterize the chemical, physical and organic matter attributes on three land use systems (No Tillage System-NTS, Livestock Forestry Integration-LFI and Native Forest-NF), adopted in an agricultural property. Soil deformed samples were collected for texture and chemical analysis. For density, particle density and soil density analysis, undisturbed samples were collected at different depths. As for texture, the NTS was characterized as clayey and the LFI and NF systems as sandy. For the Particle Density (Pd), the systems did not differ statistically at the depth of 0-5 cm, and the other depths differed significantly only between NTS and NF. As for the Soil Density Sd, the LFI and NF systems did not differ from each other and showed the highest value. In macroporosity, at depths of 0-5 cm and 5-10 cm, there was a significant difference only between NF and LFI systems. In NTS the microporosity, the levels of Ca, Mg, P and K and O.M (0-10cm) were higher. For the O.M the NTS and NF presented similar values. The evaluated characteristics were influenced by the soil texture and not by the adopted system. The producer makes use of that information to implement the appropriate system.

Context Integrated crop–livestock–forestry systems can be an alternative to monoculture pastures; however, the effect of the arboreal component on tillering and tussock dynamics of understorey grass canopy is not well understood. Aims Our objective was to evaluate the patterns of tillering dynamics, population stability and tussock distribution of Piatã palisadegrass (Urochloa brizantha) as affected by contrasting shading regimes in the Brazilian Amazon biome. Methods The following three shading regimes were assessed: pasture with no trees (no shading, NS), moderate shading (MS, 338 trees ha−1), and intense shading (IS, 714 trees ha−1). Pastures were rotationally grazed by dairy heifers. Paddocks from MS and IS were stratified into three sampling strips, including two closer to the tree rows (i.e. lateral) and one between the two lateral strips (i.e. central). Two methods for monitoring sward canopy light interception (LI) were used for IS regime, namely, LI taken under the tree canopy (i.e. inside) and LI was taken above the tree canopy (i.e. outside). Key results Relative to NS, there was a reduction in photosynthetically active radiation transmittance of 18.1% and 37.1% on MS and 49.9% and 52.0% on IS for central and lateral shading strips respectively. Overall, the increase in shading level was associated with a decrease in average tussock perimeter, tiller population density, and an increase in the frequency of bare ground. Conclusions Our findings clearly indicate the key role of the light environment as a determinant of Piatã palisadegrass horizontal structure. Implications It highlights the importance of planning the levels of tree density and layout in areas of crop–livestock–forestry integration.

Given the social and economic importance of the cultivation of Agave mezcalero in Oaxaca, researchers from the Central Valleys of Oaxaca Experimental Field of the National Institute for Agricultural and Livestock Forestry Research (INIFAP) have carried out research over the years on plant nutrition alternatives for a better productivity for the benefit of the producers, arriving to determine several options that consider from the conventional nutrition with synthetic fertilizers to the totally organic nutrition with composts, bovine manure and mycorrhizae; which have been validated on the land of producers in the mezcal region; however, there is no economic criterion on production costs, income, profitability and competitiveness that these fertilization options imply for producers. Therefore, the objective of this work was to know the impact of three fertilization options that have been generated through research, in the profitability and competitiveness of the production of Agave angustifolia raw material considering chemical fertilization, organic fertilization and without fertilization, likewise determine which alternative is more convenient for the producer. For this, the Policy Analysis Matrix (MAP) was used and the economic indicators total cost, total income, net profit cost-benefit ratio were estimated; To determine the competitiveness of the production system, the Private Cost Ratio (RCP) indicator was used. The results showed that the mezcalero agave crop is profitable and competitive, with no significant difference in competitiveness between organic and conventional fertilization, so its application can be recommended in the mezcal region, unlike the option without fertilization, which was less competitive.

Context Soil structural quality (Sq) influences soil water dynamics, greenhouse gas emissions and plant productivity in natural and agricultural environments. Hence, assessing soil structural quality using simple methods is crucial to identifying potential impacts of different land uses. Aims Identify correlations between Sq and macroinvertebrate communities in seven land use systems (LUS). Methods Seven LUS were studied: native mixed ombrophylous forest (NF), native grassland (NG), native grass pasture (NP), Eucalyptus sp. plantation (EP, 20-years-old), no-tillage annual cropping (NT), integrated crop–livestock (ICL) and crop–livestock–forestry (ICLF). Each LUS had three plots and Sq and macrofauna community were evaluated. Sq was assessed through visual evaluation of soil structure (VESS) – a Sq score was assigned to each identified layer. Soil macrofauna were hand-sorted from each of these layers. Soil samples were taken in each LUS to describe selected chemical and physical attributes related to soil quality. Results All LUS had non-degraded soil structure quality (Sq ≤ 3); however, with differences in Sq among LUS mainly in deeper layers. The VESS showed better Sq in NF (1.53) and NP (1.85) compared to the other LUS, with highest Sq scores for ICL and NG. The NP had the largest macrofauna communities (12 183 ind. m−2), comprising mainly termites and earthworms, with taxa richness highest in NF. Conclusions Correlations between soil macrofauna (i.e. total density, termites and other groups) and Sq were observed, demonstrating that larger macrofauna populations were associated with better soil structural quality. Implications Biological indicators, like soil macrofauna, can be easily measured at low cost and linked to visual Sq, facilitating simultaneous assessment of soil physical and biological health.

Haematobia irritans is a hematophagous insect that affects the welfare of cattle reducing weight gain and it is present in most countries. The objective of this work was to determine the prevalence of flies, mainly H. irritans in 36 Red Angus calves under four farming ecosystems in Brazil, and to assess an individual threshold limit to treat for horn fly and to attain better animal welfare and farm sustainability. The animals (n = 9) were allocated in livestock (L), crop-livestock (CL), livestock-forestry (LF) and the full integration of crop-livestock-forestry (CLF) conditions. Adult flies were determined between systems on each animal at weekly intervals and in each environment by counting larvae and pupal stages that emerged from selected dung pads. Individual animals were treated for H. irritans infestation after reaching the transient threshold abundance (TTA) of > 100 flies. The data from 1008 evaluations showed that animals in the CLF had significantly (P < 0.05) more horn flies, than animals from the other systems. The level of infestation by horn flies was strongly influenced by the particular ecosystem (P < 0.002), and by the month of the year (P < 0.001). However, the difference in fly numbers did not influence the weight gain of the animals. We found four other genera of the Diptera order (Brontaea spp., Cyrtoneuropsis spp., Fannia spp. and Morellia spp.) that emerged from dung pads. The data suggests that it may be possible to perform evaluations in one animal at a time to control H. irritans with no impact to the performance of the animals when using a low TTA index of infestation. CLF was considered to be the richest environment, favoring fly populations. In our conditions, cattle and different fly species/genera may coexist using sustainable TTA management protocols at farm level in opposite to the concept of fly eradication or mass acaricidal treatment.

Natural shade from integrated crop–livestock–forestry mitigates environmental heat and increases the quantity and quality of oocytes and embryos produced in vitro by Gyr dairy cows

Integrated crop, livestock, and forestry systems (iCLF) have been widely heralded as a sustainable farming method in comparison to conventional pastures. However, intensive soil use and management modify ecosystem function, particularly biogeochemical cycling. The aim of this study was to determine whether there are changes in soil chemistry or biochemistry after the conversion of pasture into iCLF in the Brazilian Cerrado. Additionally, we compared three iCLF areas initiated 3, 5, and 8 years before this study to test the effect of time since conversion to iCLF (age) on soil chemistry and biochemistry and on microbial carbon (C). Conventional pasture and native Cerrado soils were used as controls. Microbial C and biochemical activity were dependent on the plant cover and age of the iCLF, but soil physicochemical properties were sensitive only to the agroecosystem type. Enzyme activity and microbial C were higher in native Cerrado soils, followed by iCLF and pasture soils, respectively. There was an inverse relationship between iCLF age and microbial C and β-Glucosidase and phenol oxidase activities. The results suggest that the response of the microbial community depends on the soil composition and the iCLF age. Nutrient cycling in iCLF increases with age of the system and varies by management subtype within the iCLF (i.e., forestry or grazing areas). The implementation of iCLF changes soil conditions, which generates a positive response in the microbial community. The adoption of iCLF increases microbial activity and enhances soil quality over short–medium timescales (5 years).

Brazil is one of the few countries in the world that can produce animal products, grains, fibers, and bioenergy in the same area, either in a consortium, rotation, or succession. Our objective was to compare pasture productivity and animal performance in agroforestry systems with grass monoculture in the Brazilian Amazon Biome. The experiment was carried out in Sinop, MT, Brazil, with Nellore steers in a continuous stocking with variable stocking rate. The experimental design was a randomized complete block, with four systems and four replicates. The palisadegrass [Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) R. D. Webster cv. Marandu] was planted in the four systems: livestock (grass monoculture); livestock–forestry [eucalyptus trees (Eucalyptus urograndis; hybrid of Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden and Eucalyptus urophylla S. T. Blake) arranged in three-row groves spaced 30 m apart]; crop–livestock (palisadegrass after two years of crops); and crop–livestock–forestry (palisadegrass after two years of crops with single rows of eucalyptus trees spaced 37 m apart). The herbage accumulation was greater in the systems with the two previous cropping years (crop–livestock and crop–livestock–forestry) than in the livestock and livestock–forestry, in both seasons. In the crop–livestock–forestry, the greatest herbage accumulation associated with the modified microclimate supported the greatest average daily gain (0.750 kg BW day− 1), stocking rate in both seasons, resulting in the greatest gain per area (940 kg BW ha− 1). We conclude that agroforestry systems assure pasture productivity and animal performance similar or greater than livestock (grass monoculture). Furthermore, the combination of two previous crop years and the least tree density optimized the synergy between crop, livestock, and forestry components, improving beef cattle productivity in crop–livestock–forestry systems.

Abstract To meet the global demand for animal protein, sustainable intensification of existing livestock systems may be possible, especially through integration of livestock with crops or forestry. Thus, our objective was to compare forage production and animal performance in grass monoculture and integrated systems in the Brazilian Amazon biome. The four systems were (a) livestock (L) with Marandu palisadegrass {Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) R. D. Webster} as monoculture, (b) palisadegrass pastures integrated with eucalyptus trees (Eucalyptus urograndis; hybrid of Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden and Eucalyptus urophylla S. T. Blake) arranged in three‐row groves with groves spaced 30 m apart (livestock–forestry; LF), (c) palisadegrass after two years of crops (crop–livestock; CL) and (d) palisadegrass after two years of crops with single rows of eucalyptus trees spaced 37 m apart (crop–livestock–forestry; CLF). From July 2016 to July 2017, all experimental units were continuously stocked using a variable stocking rate. Greater herbage accumulation (HA) occurred in CL and CLF in comparison with L and LF (21,310, 24,050, 19,500 and 18,890 kg DM/ha respectively). The gain per hectare of L, LF and CL (average of 932 kg ha–1) was less than CLF (1,190 kg ha–1). Average daily gain was similar among systems (0.69 kg/day). We conclude that integrated systems can support similar (LF or CL) or greater (CLF) levels of animal production than palisadegrass monocultures while increasing diversity of outputs, thereby providing a greater range of viable systems for livestock production in the Brazilian Amazon biome.