Livestock Management Practices Research Articles

Influence of landscape and livestock management on dung beetle diversity in tropical cattle pastures

To achieve a balance between conservation and livestock production in the context of highly degraded tropical landscapes, we need a research approach that considers relationships among biodiversity, landscape structure, and farming practices. Given that dung beetles are sensitive to both landscape changes and local scale management practices, these insects are used as ecological indicators that provide information regarding the pasture’s health. We assessed the response of dung beetle diversity to livestock management practices and landscape structure in 22 cattle pastures from a regional relictual landscape dominated by productive land uses. Livestock management practices were the best predictors for species richness, Shannon diversity, and number of individuals. Macrocyclic lactone use was negatively related to species richness and number of individuals; high cattle densities increased Shannon diversity in the studied ranches. Patches of old secondary forest cover had a positive significant relationship with every response variable and was the best predictor for biomass, but also contributed to maintaining high species richness in cattle pastures, suggesting that secondary forests provide favorable microclimatic conditions for dung beetles in highly degraded landscapes. This study provides evidence that conservation of old secondary forests in highly modified landscapes and the rational use of macrocyclic lactones can be useful management tools to favor dung beetle diversity and the ecosystem services they provide, thus ensuring pasture health.

An Investigation on Real Time Monitoring System for Livestock and Agriculture using IoT

Farmers used to calculate the soil's readiness and assess the impact of their doubts before producing a particular type of yield. A real-time monitoring system for livestock and agriculture describes the utilization of the Internet of Things (IoT) technology. The system comprises of various sensors and devices that collect data related to the environmental conditions, health status, and behaviour of livestock, as well as the soil moisture level, temperature, and humidity of crops. The data collected from these devices is transmitted to a cloud-based platform where it is processed. The system also includes alerts and notifications to farmers in case of any anomalies or deviations from the expected norms, enabling them to take prompt corrective action. Overall, the real-time monitoring system using IoT technology has the potential to improve livestock and crop management practices, increase productivity, and enhance the overall efficiency of the agriculture industry.

Lives and Livelihoods in Smallholder Farming Systems of Senegal: Impacts, Adaptation, and Resilience to COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has had immediate and cascading impacts on global agricultural systems. In Senegal, the immediate impacts include inaccessibility of inputs due to disruption in markets and supply chains, availability of labor, and changes in crop and livestock management practices. To understand the range of impacts on the biophysical and socioeconomic dimensions of smallholder farming systems, a survey was designed to identify the risk factors, assess the impacts, and explore appropriate mitigation strategies. The survey was administered to 917 smallholder farmers in 14 regions of Senegal in collaboration with a national farmer’s organization and the Senegalese Institute of Agricultural Research (ISRA). The sample was comprised of farmers (men and women) and was stratified in each region to ensure representation from all agroecological zones of the country. The survey examined variables such as access to inputs, ability to plant, impacts on yields, markets, labor, the gendered division of labor, food security, and community well-being. The survey response indicated that 77.7% of respondents experienced a reduction in access to inputs, 70.3% experienced a reduction in ability to plant crops during the planting season, 57.1% experienced a reduction in ability to rent farm machinery, and 69.2% reported a reduction in yields. Similar findings were observed for labor, market conditions, and adaptation measures to reduce the impacts on farming systems and household livelihoods. This study advances the research on characterizing risk factors, assessing the impacts, and designing mitigation strategies for strengthening smallholder farming systems resilience to future shocks.

ASAS-NANP symposium: mathematical modeling in animal nutrition: agent-based modeling for livestock systems: the mechanics of development and application.

Over the last three decades, agent-based modeling/model (ABM) has been one of the most powerful and valuable simulation-based decision modeling techniques used to study the complex dynamic interactions between animals and their environment. ABM is a relatively new modeling technique in the animal research arena, with immense potential for routine decision-making in livestock systems. We describe ABM's fundamental characteristics for developing intelligent modeling systems, exemplify its use for livestock production, and describe commonly used software for designing and developing ABM. After that, we discuss several aspects of the developmental mechanics of an ABM, including (1) how livestock researchers can conceptualize and design a model, (2) the main components of an ABM, (3) different statistical methods of analyzing the outputs, and (4) verification, validation, and replication of an ABM. Then, we perform an overall analysis of the utilities of ABM in different subsystems of the livestock systems ranging from epidemiological prediction to nutritional management to livestock market dynamics. Finally, we discuss the concept of hybrid intelligent models (i.e., merging real-time data streams with intelligent ABM), which have applications in artificial intelligence-based decision-making for precision livestock farming. ABM captures individual agents' characteristics, interactions, and the emergent properties that arise from these interactions; thus, animal scientists can benefit from ABM in multiple ways, including understanding system-level outcomes, analyzing agent behaviors, exploring different scenarios, and evaluating policy interventions. Several platforms for building ABM exist (e.g., NetLogo, Repast J, and AnyLogic), but they have unique features making one more suitable for solving specific problems. The strengths of ABM can be combined with other modeling approaches, including artificial intelligence, allowing researchers to advance our understanding further and contribute to sustainable livestock management practices. There are many ways to develop and apply mathematical models in livestock production that might assist with sustainable development. However, users must be experienced when choosing the appropriate modeling technique and computer platform (i.e., modeling development tool) that will facilitate the adoption of mathematical models by certifying that the model is field-ready and versatile enough for untrained users.

Simultaneous molecular detection of Anaplasma marginale and Theileria annulata in cattle blood samples collected from Pakistan-Afghanistan boarder region.

Theileria annulata (T. annulata) and Anaplasma marginale (A. marginale) are among the most extensively reported tick borne pathogens and are associated with huge economic losses worldwide. A total of 298 cattle blood samples were screened to report the presence of these two pathogens. The samples were collected from apparently healthy cattle (Achai, n = 155, Jersy, n = 88 and crossbred, n = 55) in Bajaur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) during June and July of 2022. A total of 31 out of 298 cattle (10.4%) were found infected with T. annulata as PCR amplified a 156 base pair fragment from Tams-1 gene of T. annulata from their blood. While 16/298 animals (5.4%) were found infected with A. marginale as they amplified a 382 base pair fragment specific for msp5 gene of this bacterium. Three animals (1%) were found co infected. Cattle susceptibility to T. annulata infection was significantly higher than A. marginale infection (P < 0.001). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Pakistani isolates of both detected pathogen clustered together and were closely related isolates from worldwide countries. Prevalence of T. annulata varied significantly among the sampling sites (P = 0.05) while no such association was observed for A. marginale among the tested cattle. Epidemiological data analysis revealed that none of the studied risk factors was found associated either with the prevalence of T. annulata or A. marginale (P > 0.05) among enrolled cattle. In conclusion, our study has revealed a relatively higher prevalence of T. annulata than A. marginale in cattle from the Bajaur district in KPK. This information is important for improving the productivity of the livestock sector, which is one of the main sources of income in the country. It is recommended that this data be taken into account for the development and implementation of effective tick control programs, as well as for the improvement of livestock management practices to prevent and manage TBDs in Pakistan.

Relationships between land-use intensity, woody species diversity, and carbon storage in an arid woodland ecosystem

Forest ecosystems play a key role in providing multiple ecosystem services, such as carbon fixation and storage, but face pressures from human development that jeopardize their integrity and functioning. Accurately understanding the relationships between land use-intensity, biodiversity, and carbon storage is important for developing viable strategies to promote carbon sequestration. Here, we analyzed the effect of land-use intensity on the relationship between woody plant functional diversity and carbon storage in Prosopis woodlands of the central Monte desert of Argentina. We worked in sixteen 900 m2 square plots along disturbance gradients, eight located in highly disturbed woodlands close to livestock settlements and eight in slightly disturbed woodlands ca. 2 km away from settlements. We measured woody plant taxonomic and functional diversity and dominance metrics, and estimated carbon stocks in biomass, necromass and soil organic compartments. Our study shows that increasing land-use intensity erodes taxonomic and functional diversities and, ultimately, carbon storage. We found that lower carbon stocks around livestock settlements were driven by shrubs, trees, roots, litter, and dead plants, but were unaffected by the herb, woody debris, and soil compartments. Furthermore, positive relationships among woody species richness and functional trait diversity seem more important than the existence of few highly dominant species in determining carbon storage, providing stronger evidence for niche complementary than for mass ratio effects. We hope our study contributes to the understanding how livestock management practices influence carbon storage in Prosopis woodlands.

Pastoralism in the high Himalayas: Understanding changing practices and their implications for parasite transmission between livestock and wildlife

Rangelands are increasingly being affected by climatic variations, fragmentation and changes in livestock management practices. Along with resource competition between livestock and wildlife, disease transmission has implications for people and wildlife in these shared landscapes. We worked with two pastoral communities in the Western Indian Himalayas: the migratory Kinnauras that travel to the Trans-Himalayan Pin valley in summer and the resident herders of Pin Valley. Asiatic ibex (Capra sibirica) is the predominant wild herbivore in Pin. The pastures in Pin are grazed by both livestock (migratory and resident) and ibex, with the potential for disease transmission. We investigate the effects of herding practices on livestock health and disease transmission, while focusing on gastro-intestinal nematodes (GINs) as they can spread by sharing pasture between wild and domestic ungulates. Surveys were carried out between June and August 2019, the period when migratory Kinnauras, local herders and Asiatic Ibex are found in Pin Valley. We found that the Kinnaura flocks share pasture with ibex during their time in Pin, exhibiting significantly higher endo-parasite burdens than sedentary livestock, and the Kinnaura flocks are increasing in number. This suggests GIN cross-transmission is possible, as GINs have low host specificity and a free-living, environmental stage that is trophically acquired. As local (sedentary) sheep and goats rarely share pasture with ibex, have low endo-parasite burdens and are few in number, they are unlikely to transmit parasites to ibex. However, increasingly large local stock numbers may be contributing to pasture degradation which could cause nutritional stress and resource competition, exacerbating GIN impacts. We also find evidence for transhumance persisting, in spite of signs of pasture degradation that are seemingly affecting livestock productivity and potentially disease transmission. It is critical that proactive measures are taken, like participatory disease management with the Kinnauras, to align livelihoods with wildlife and rangeland conservation.

Water management infrastructure alters plant species composition, functional diversity and soil condition in a livestock‐impaired mosaic of wetlands

AbstractAimsWetlands are key ecosystems due to their economic, social and environmental contributions. Because of their highly productive habitats and their dependence on hydro‐meteorologic regimes, they are threatened worldwide by land use and climate change. In most wetlands, intensification of productive activities has been mostly accompanied by the implementation of a water management infrastructure, disrupting water and nutrient dynamics. Our aim was to analyze whether intensification of livestock raising erodes the structure and function of plant communities, as well as the quality and fertility of soils in wetlands.LocationNon‐insular portion of the Lower Delta of the Paraná River, Argentina.MethodsPlant communities were characterized on the basis of their floristic composition, structural and functional diversity. Soil samples were also collected to assess soil fertility, texture and quality. Generalized mixed linear models were used to contrast these attributes across livestock management practices characterized by differing water management infrastructure (polders and channelizations) and livestock type (bovine, bubaline).ResultsRemarkably fertile hydromorphic soils supported a structurally rich and functionally diverse species composition. Nevertheless, most dominant populations were terrestrial, perennial, invasive species, partially adapted to conditions of temporary flooding. Polderized livestock fields exhibited not only the lowest quality, least fertile, most compacted soils, but also lower species richness and diversity, as well as the lowest values in all non‐redundant components of functional diversity. Channelized livestock fields exhibited lower species richness and taxonomic diversity as well as reduced soil quality and fertility, yet an overall increase in most non‐redundant components of functional diversity.ConclusionsPromoting the loss of native flora, water management infrastructure impairs the sustainability of anthropic activities and thwarts biodiversity conservation efforts. Traditional and sustainable practices that embrace the periodicity of the flood pulse are required to preserve the taxonomic and functional diversity of plant communities, as well as the quality and fertility of soils.

Local Perception and Adoption to climate Change: A Review of Agricultural perspective

The main objectives of the research is to understand the perception of the local people on climate change and examine the impact of such change on agriculture and livestock management practices among the people. Moreover the research also attempted to analyze the present adaptive strategies of the local people which ultimately increase their adaptive capacity and resilience in the face of change. The framework of cognitive anthropology and human ecology helped to compare and analyze the difference in the perception about change in climatic variables and climate related risk and disasters, their impact on agriculture and livestock management practices and present coping and adaptive strategies followed by the people in their respective surroundings. Furthermore, the study also used the sustainable livelihood framework to assess the climate change impacts on agriculture and livestock systems of the studied communities. It attempts to understand the perception of the people on climate change through the change in the climate related parameters such as precipitation, temperature, and mist and dews and climate related extremes and disasters such as the long drought, heavy rainfall, landslide and soil erosion, windstorms and hailstorms.

Constraints and prospects of utilising mountain pastures in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan

In the mountain regions of northern Pakistan, pasture-based animal husbandry is a substantial element of people’s livelihood. To study the implications of herding strategies on rangeland utilization patterns, individual interviews with 90 herders and 10 group interviews with five to eight herders per group, respectively, were conducted in three valleys each of Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region. Data collection targeted number and species of animals kept, livestock management practices and seasonal pasture use and included GIS-based participatory mapping of spring, summer, autumn and winter pastures of yak, small ruminants and cattle. Households kept 10 yaks on average, along with 4 cattle and 15 small ruminants. Herding practices varied between valleys and seasons and were influenced by topographic as well as social factors. Full-time herding led to a more uniform distribution of yaks on pastures than part-time herding and unattended grazing, but in small ruminants promoted higher animal numbers near campsites. Many livestock keepers perceived rangeland degradation as a veritable challenge and identified lack of herding labour as one important problem. Training programmes for young herders, strengthening of group herding schemes and prevention of lowland pasture conversion into farmland were suggested as effective countermeasures.

Resource Selection of Domestic Sheep on Mountainous Summer Habitat in Utah, United States

Past research has documented livestock grazing patterns and dynamics across pastoral landscapes. We used spatial locations of domestic range sheep (Ovis aries) obtained from Global Positioning System collars to study habitat selection on summer mountain habitat North of Scofield Reservoir Utah, United States. Data were collected between the months of July to September 2020. We developed a resource selection function to determine the influence of slope, distance to water, aspect, ruggedness, elevation, and vegetation types on habitat selection by sheep while grazing on summer mountain habitat. We found sheep selected for sites closer to water, with more gentle terrain, higher in elevation, and north-facing slopes. Vegetation types were less predictive, ostensibly due to the lack of species composition information in available geographic information system layers and the possibility of sheep being herded to avoid areas of overuse. Although it is often assumed that sheep use slopes more than their heavier and larger cattle counterparts, overall they tended to avoid steep slopes compared with all other predictor variables. This information on selection for higher elevations and avoidance of steep slopes can be used to improve livestock management practices including flock management that increases sheep foraging patterns and energy efficiency.

Measuring the Economic Value of the Negative Externality of Livestock Malodor in South Korea

The South Korean livestock industry has increased in scale and production, generating positive impacts on the national economy. However, livestock externalities, primarily malodor, have subsequently led to increased conflicts between producers and affected communities. This study estimated Korean households’ willingness-to-pay (WTP) for government subsidies to help address livestock malodor using a contingent valuation method (CVM) derived from a double-bounded dichotomous choice model. The annual average household WTP was estimated at 29,206 Korean won (KRW) (USD 25). This was slightly higher than the respondents’ self-reported average amount of KRW 25,457 (USD 22). The estimated economic value nationally is KRW 628 billion (USD 546 million) annually, for a total of KRW 3.14 trillion (USD 2.73 billion) over a proposed five-year period. The public’s estimated WTP can be leveraged to improve livestock management practices, more efficient waste disposal techniques, and improved husbandry methods to address conflicts between producers and surrounding communities.

Exploring why animal health practices are (not) adopted among smallholders in low and middle-income countries: a realist framework and scoping review protocol.

BackgroundImproving livestock health is considered critical to address poverty, malnutrition and food insecurity in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Modifications of livestock management practices is also increasingly recognized as an important strategy to mitigate global threats such as climate change and novel disease emergence. Smallholders are, however, under various constraints which prohibit them from altering health practices for livestock and little is known about how the adoption of these practices may be promoted. The proposed scoping review aims to systematically map evidence around “what practices are (not) adopted by smallholders under what circumstances, how and why?.”Method and analysisWe conducted initial scoping searches to broadly define types of animal health practices relevant for smallholders in LMICs and formulated search terms. A scoping review protocol was designed and registered. A systematic literature search will be conducted using electronic databases including CAB , Scopus, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science Core Collection. Gray literature will be searched from AGRIS and Standards for Supporting Agricultural Livelihoods in Emergencies. Articles in English, pertaining to the animal health practices considered highly relevant will be considered eligible for inclusion. Articles will be screened at two stages by two independent reviewers; screening of titles, abstracts, and keywords, followed by full-article screening. The first reviewer will review 100% of the articles at both stages. The second reviewer will review a random sample of 20% of the articles at both stages. Any disagreements will be resolved using inputs from the third reviewer. A thematic analysis will be conducted to catalog contexts and mechanisms for adoption and discussed under a realist framework.DiscussionUnderstanding of the mechanisms underlying the adoption of animal health practices by livestock smallholders in LMICs is crucial for successful implementation of interventions including those which are based on a One Health approach. This review will identify the extent of this knowledge across disciplines and inform future research priorities for the design of effective and feasible interventions which can contribute toward Sustainable Development Goal 2.RegistrationThis protocol is registered within the Open Science Framework (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/FUQAX).

Rancher Experiences and Perceptions of Climate Change in the Western United States

Ranchers in the western United States have long managed working landscapes prone to drought and wildfires. As the frequency and intensity of climate change impacts increase, ranchers will be front-line workers in the climate crisis—both adapting to climate impacts and managing landscapes with mitigation potential. This Forum paper first summarizes recent peer-reviewed research on ranchers and climate change in the western United States and then offers conceptual clarification of climate change adaptation based on this empirical research. Many ranchers remain unconvinced by climate science and express skepticism about long-term and anthropogenic climate change, though this may change as climate extremes intensify. Researchers working with ranchers often avoid climate change terminology, instead focusing on impacts, especially drought. Ranchers adjust their land and livestock management practices, as well as livelihood strategies, to cope with weather variability. Ranchers identify increasing management flexibility and diversifying ranch income as key adaptation strategies. While studies often focus on how to transition ranchers from reactive and toward proactive adaptation planning, few ranchers are actively planning for climatic change. Yet in this ranching context, many practices that begin as reactive coping strategies become longer-term adaptations as the impact, such as drought or recurrent wildfire smoke, persists. As ranchers observe positive outcomes of short-term adaptations or are unable to return to previous strategies, reactive coping strategies become proactive. We provide a conceptual clarification of adaptation in ranching systems, forwarding adaptation as a process, inclusive of a continuum from coping actions to more transformative adaptation strategies. Centering ranchers’ experiences, perceptions, and responses related to climate change can help land managers, agricultural advisors, and policy makers increase the pace and scale of adaptation and mitigation in range systems.

Geographical indications in cheese mountain areas: Opportunity or threat to landscape and environmental conservation? The case of Cabrales (Spain)

This paper examines the impact of Geographical Indications in cheese mountain areas, exploring their potential to contribute to landscape and environmental sustainability by drawing on field work and documental evidences from Cabrales (Asturias, NW Spain). The Cabrales mountain, nestled in the Picos de Europa National Park, embraces a millenary culture linked to the elaboration of an intense flavor blue cheese. The commercial success of this cheese motivated, 40 years ago, the creation of the Cabrales Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). From that moment on, the implementation of certain control measures that affect the production process, together with the increase in demand, led to the disappearance of small producers and to the intensification of livestock management practices. Cheese producers took the opportunity that the PDO label gave them, and the PDO provided the context in which cheese production became an effective barrier against the degradation of the rural system. However, nowadays the intensification of livestock management practices constitutes the main threat to landscape and environmental conservation. Therefore, Local administrators and stakeholders should consider the need to reinforce the idea of a product whose quality is linked to environmental and landscape sustainability through the maintenance of the traditional extensive management practices.

Organic and inorganic soil carbon in a semi-arid rangeland is primarily related to abiotic factors and not livestock grazing

Soil has the ability to sequester carbon (C) and mitigate anthropogenic enrichment of carbon dioxide, however numerous variables influence its C storage potential. Climate, soil properties, plant species composition, and livestock management practices, may all influence C storage in rangeland soils. The purpose of this study was to examine the relative importance of these factors in predicting organic and inorganic soil C in a semi-arid rangeland in northern Arizona USA. Sampling sites at 60 locations within the 40,469 ha Diablo Trust Ranches were selected using a stratified random method to encompass five distinct soil series across a precipitation gradient (230 mm–623 mm mean annual precipitation) with fence-lines that separate actively grazed areas with adjacent areas that have excluded livestock for at least 20 years. A total of 240 soil samples were collected from two depths (0–5 cm and 20–25 cm) in grazed and adjacent ungrazed sides of fences. Soil texture, bulk density, plant community composition, root biomass, soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil inorganic carbon (SIC) were measured. Across the precipitation and soil gradient, SOC was highest (up to 28.6 Mg ha−1) in the surface layer of clay-rich soil derived from basalt and SIC was highest (up to 74.7 Mg ha−1) in subsurface soil derived from limestone. General linear models showed that grazing had no significant impact on total soil C, instead, soil depth and soil texture were the main predictors of SOC and SIC. Precipitation was positively correlated with SOC and negatively correlated with SIC. Soil texture and precipitation were highly autocorrelated, so only soil texture was included in structural equation models (SEMs). Separate SEMs for surface and subsurface soils showed that soil texture (and autocorrelated precipitation) was the strongest predictor of SOC, SIC and plant community composition at both soil depths. The relative abundance of C4 grasses was higher in grazed plots and was positively correlated with root biomass at the soil surface. Also, surface root biomass was weakly positively related to SOC while both surface and subsurface roots were negatively related to SIC. This study shows the importance of interactions among multiple factors in predicting soil C stocks and that SIC can be a substantial C reservoir in dryland soils, especially those derived from sedimentary parent material. We could not detect an influence of livestock grazing on either SOC or SIC in this landscape scale study. This suggests that in this semi-arid rangeland it may be difficult to increase total soil C storage through livestock management.

Population estimation and livestock loss by spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) in Damota community managed forest, Southern Ethiopia

The spotted hyena is positioned at the top of food chains and has the ability to influence the diversity of herbivores. Knowledge of this predator through research can assist in effective management decisions which will ensure ecosystem integrity. A study on population estimation and livestock loss by the spotted hyenas was conducted from January 2019 to December 2020 in the Damota community managed forests. Data was collected through distance sampling techniques, and the economic impacts of spotted hyena predation on livestock were quantified using a questionnaire survey with randomly selected households. Twenty-five transects were monitored over a period of two consecutive years. A mean of 113 ± 0.51 individuals of spotted hyena was observed per 100 km 2 . The density of spotted hyena was 1.34 ± 0.42 and 0.69 ± 0.12 individuals/km2 and 0.55 ± 0.97 and 0.75 ± 0.14 individuals/km 2 in farm and forest during 2019 and 2020, respectively. The mean sex ratio of the adult male to adult female was 0.56:1.00 and 0.74:1.00 during the dry and wet seasons, respectively. Moreover, the mean sex ratio of adult to cub was 1:0.25 and 1:0.29 during the dry and wet seasons, respectively. Respondents indicated a total loss of 377 livestock due to the depredation of spotted hyenas over the past five years. The total estimated economic loss caused by depredation, theft, and diseases was US$ 47,885. On average, US$ 9577 per year (US$ 26 per day) has been lost over the past five years. The average annual depredation per household was 0.98 head of livestock worth US$ 95.6. Among depredated livestock, 64.8% of sheep were lost by spotted hyena, followed by donkey (16.4%). Therefore, livestock management practices, assessment of spotted hyena population, and economic loss are very important for carnivore conservation and scaling up human livelihood development.

Climate change impacts shifting landscape of the dairy industry in Hawai'i.

Proper knowledge and understanding of climatic variability across different seasons are important in farm management. To learn more about the potential effects of climate change on dairying in Hawaii, we conducted a study on site-specific climate characterization using several variables including rainfall, wind speed (WS), solar radiation, and temperature, at two dairy farms located on Hawai`i Island, Hawai`i, in Ookala named “OK DAIRY” and in Upolu Point named “UP DAIRY.” Temperature–humidity index (THI) and WS variations in the hottest four months (June to September) were analyzed to determine when critical thresholds that affect animal health are exceeded. Rainfall data were used to estimate the capacity of forage production in 6-mo wet (November to April) and dry (May to October) seasons. Future projections of temperature and rainfall were assessed using mid- and end-century gridded data products for low (RCP 4.5) and high emissions (RCP 8.5) scenarios. Our results showed that the “OK DAIRY” site received higher rainfall than the “UP DAIRY” site, favoring grass growth and forage availability. In addition, the “UP DAIRY” site was more stressful for animals during the summer (THI 69 to 73) than the “OK DAIRY” site (THI 67 to 70) as the THI exceeded the critical threshold of 68, which is conducive for high-lactating cattle. On the “UP DAIRY” site, the THI did not drop below 68 during the summer nights, which created fewer opportunities for cattle to recover from heat stress. Future projections indicated that air temperature would increase 1.3 to 1.8 °C by mid-century and 1.6 to 3.2 °C by the end-century at both farms, and rainfall will increase at the “OK DAIRY” site and decrease at the “UP DAIRY” site by the end-century. The agriculture and livestock industries, particularly the dairy and beef subsectors in Hawai`i, are vulnerable to climate changes as higher temperatures and less rainfall will have adverse effects on cattle. The findings in this study demonstrated how both observed and projected changes in climate support the development of long-term strategies for breeding and holistic livestock management practices to adapt to changing climate conditions.

Livestock-Carnivore Coexistence: Moving beyond Preventive Killing.

Simple SummarySustainable Development Goals for 2030 indicate that zero hunger (SDG 2) and halting biodiversity loss (SDG 15) are key priorities. Livestock management practices that allow coexistence with top predators are necessary to achieve both objectives in Latin America. This article addresses the situation in local indigenous communities near key biodiversity hotspots that protect top predators in Mesoamerica. Results show that livestock predation is related to landscape variables and human influence. Jaguar and puma conservation requires measures that facilitate human–carnivore coexistence and comply with SDG 2 and SDG 15. This study serves as a baseline to provide livestock management recommendations that mitigate the prevalent conflict with jaguars and pumas to reconcile SDG 2 with SDG 15.Livestock predation is a global problem and constitutes the main source of conflict between large carnivores and human interests. In Latin America, both jaguar and puma are known to prey on livestock, yet studies in Mesoamerica have been scattered and few have been carried out in Honduras. We interviewed ranchers in a biosphere reserve where jaguars and pumas are present. Local indigenous communities reported livestock predation (average annual loss of 7% from 2010–2019), with preventive and retaliatory killing as their main actions against predation by the jaguar and puma. Other sources of cattle loss included diseases and theft. The extensive management system (free grazing) lets cattle access forests where predators are more common. We found that livestock predation is not random, but rather, related to landscape variables and human influence. Sites farther from human influence and closer to forest cover were more susceptible to predation. Jaguar and puma persistence in the biosphere reserve will require measures that facilitate human–carnivore coexistence and comply with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2 and 15 (zero hunger and biodiversity conservation). We propose management practices to mitigate livestock predation in the presence of large carnivores based on examples of proven human–carnivore coexistence in Venezuela, Brazil, Paraguay, and Nicaragua, such as improving the spatial arrangement of livestock (maintaining a distance from forest areas) and the incorporation of confinement pens for young calves (at least the first three months of life) and their mothers. If the pens are built close to the property’s house and have constant surveillance and/or dogs, the results are likely to be more effective. Deploying these proven tools may help change the current negative perception of ranchers towards large carnivores that is essential to conservation under the aims of SDG 15. We recommend government policies and support aimed to strengthen livestock health to increase productivity and to reduce their vulnerability to predation. Finally, this study represents a baseline to understand the magnitude of the human–carnivore conflict over cattle in one of the largest biosphere reserves in Mesoamerica.

Technology, infrastructure and enterprise trade-off: Strengthening smallholder farming systems in Tamil Nadu State of India for sustainable income and food security

The complexities of smallholder farming systems pose a challenge in demonstrating the potential benefits or risks of new technologies and policies. Using Integrated Analysis Tool, a rule-based dynamic simulation model, this study tried to improve the performance of major farming systems in the Tamil Nadu State of India. Amongst the four major farming systems viz. Black gram-based (BFS), Paddy-based (PFS), and Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) in Villupuram district and Dryland Farming System (DFS) in Virudhunagar district, IFS was found to be the most profitable and resilient based on their performance simulated for a 3-year rotation. Setting IFS as a benchmark, potential interventions were evaluated under other farming systems to improve their relative performance. The analysis allowed understanding the interactions in smallholder farming systems and the potential impact of interventions in a whole farm way considering the cash flows, cost intensity, and input-output trade-offs. While multi-bloom technology in black gram increased the net profit of BFS without much stress on input and labour, area expansion under rainfed groundnut incurred high expenditure. Trading-off paddy with maize and groundnut significantly increased the net profit of PFS but replacing sugarcane with tapioca and turmeric was not remunerative. Improved livestock management practices have substantially increased the net profit of DFS wherein crop yield could not be enhanced substantially without the prospects of good irrigation infrastructure. The irrigation endowed PFS has achieved 90% performance, whereas the water-starved BFS and DFS could achieve only 65% performance of IFS. We conclude that agricultural policy must not only focus on potential interventions that are profitable but also consider what is acceptable to the farmer, considering synergies and trade-offs between competing resources at the farm level.