Native Pasture Research Articles

Substitution of concentrate mixture with dried brewery spent grains improved biological and economical performance of 50% Dorper × Menz crossbred sheep.

The study aimed to investigate the potential of dried brewery spent grains (DBG) to substitute concentrate mixture (CM) in a diet of growing 50% Dorper × Menz crossbred ram lamb. Randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used for this study, and experimental animals were stratified into 7 blocks based on their initial body weight and age. Ram lambs from each block were randomly assigned to one of the five treatments. Native pasture hay (NPH) was fed to all experimental animals as a basal diet (ad libtum at 20% refusal) and supplemented with 400g CM (T1) or 300g DBG + 100g CM (T2) or 200g DBG + 200g CM (T3) or 100g DBG + 300g CM (T4) or 400g DBG (T5). Natural pasture hay and total dry matter (TDM) intake were not affected (P > 0.05) by the inclusion of DBG in the CM; however, supplement intake was greater (P < 0.0001) for DBG than CM alone-supplemented group. Metabolizable energy intake was decreased (P < 0.0001) as CM was substituted with DBG, whereas apparent digestibility was comparable (P > 0.05) among treatments. The treatments with the substitution of 50%, 75%, and 100% of CM with DBG were superior (P < 0.001) in body weight gain to the 100% CM-supplemented group, and the substitution of 25% CM with DBG had an intermediate growth rate. The partial budget analysis revealed that the substitution of 50% and 100% CM with DBG gave greater net returns of Birr 881.19 and 854.91 per head, respectively. Based on MRR, 200g CM + 200g DBG is the best treatment, and using this treatment, a farmer can benefit from ETB 8.94 for every 1 ETB investment. Hence, sole DBG or a mixture of DBG with a CM can be used for supplementation in growing 50% Dorper crossbred ram lambs.

Constraints Affecting the Welfare of Domestic Sheep Grazing in the Natural Pasture

The sheep like other animals need more and more welfare to produce meat of good quality, Sheep welfare problems primarily arise from mutilations, lameness, transportation, and disease. With proper grazing, breeding, and husbandry practices, most health issues in sheep can be resolved or avoided. Grazing involves seeking and choosing feed as well as grabbing and consuming it. The manner in which ruminants or grazing animals grip and consume forages varies. These variations are connected to the sorts of fodder that various ruminants prefer. Heat stress, cold stress, weariness, prolonged thirst, prolonged hunger, hampered movement, movement restrictions, resting issues, social stress, pain, fear, and distress are the welfare types that sheep may encounter during caged, all issues due to shortage of welfare, this results in sheep inside the body that acts as a substance that cannot be used in the metabolic processes and is difficult to get rid of the animal is able to get rid of these substances accumulated inside the body that are difficult to get rid of the presence of natural toxins can be produced through the accumulation of some chemical substances and elements that the animal gets from the food. They come as residues from deteriorated cells or some vital processes in the body.

Pollen beetle (Astylus atromaculatus)-associated gastroenteric disease in cattle: report of 6 natural outbreaks.

Astylus atromaculatus is a pollen beetle native to South America, commonly found in crop flowers. Experimental intoxication of sheep and guinea pigs by this beetle resulting in fibrinonecrotizing enteritis has been reported. We describe here 6 natural outbreaks of intoxication in cattle associated with consumption of alfalfa (5 of 6) and mixed native (1 of 6) pastures heavily contaminated with A. atromaculatus. The outbreaks occurred during the summer (January-February) of 2023 in Argentina (n = 4) and Uruguay (n = 2), in beef cattle under extensive or semi-extensive rearing systems, with overall cumulative incidence and mortality of 22.3% and 17.8%, respectively. The main clinical signs included acute onset of anorexia, lethargy, hyperthermia, hindlimb weakness, reluctance to move, and diarrhea, for up to 15 d. In 2 outbreaks, sudden death was observed. Eight Hereford, Angus, and/or crossbreed heifers, cows, steers, and/or calves were autopsied. Gross and microscopic findings included multifocal necrosis with fibrinous pseudomembranes in the forestomachs and/or small and large intestines. Fragments or whole specimens of A. atromaculatus were identified in the ruminal content of all animals. Testing for multiple gastroenteric pathogens was negative as was testing of A. atromaculatus for cantharidin and batrachotoxin. GC-MS and LC-MS/MS performed on the beetles did not identify any known toxic compounds. Based on the exposure to A. atromaculatus-contaminated pasture, gross and microscopic lesions, and negative results of all testing for multiple gastroenteric pathogens, a diagnosis of intoxication by A. atromaculatus is proposed. Disease caused by A. atromaculatus consumption has not been reported previously in cattle, to our knowledge.

Minerals and Serum Metabolites Profile in Cows Reared on Natural Pastures in a Semi-Arid Area

This study aimed to profile minerals and metabolite levels in cows solely reliant on natural pastures. Mineral plays a significant role in cattle production and reproduction. Measures of serum metabolites are good indicators in disease diagnosis and nutritional status of animals. A total of 179 blood samples were collected from cases of cows of different ages and breeds experiencing dystocia (n=50), downer cow syndrome (n=34), vaginal prolapse (n=16), retained placenta (n=13), and abortions (n=69) following reports submitted to the North-West (NWU) Animal Hospital in Mafikeng Campus. Analysis of minerals and serum metabolite were done using ICP-MSand IDEXX Catalyst Chemistry Analyser. The data were coded and analysed using the Statistical Software for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 25. Descriptive statistics were used to show the distribution of the minerals and serum metabolites levels across the reproductive conditions. The results were significantly different at 5% (P &lt;0.05). Low zinc levels were seen in cows with abortions and dystocia. In downer cow syndrome, the levels of iron, magnesium and phosphorus were high. Low Iodine levels were seen in cows with vaginal prolapse, retained placenta, abortion and dystocia. Low phosphorus levels were noted in cows with vaginal prolapse. Significant differences were seen in the concentrations of Urea/BUN, Total bilirubin, Aspartate amino-transferase (AST), ammonia and lipase. The levels of minerals and serum metabolites are significant indicators in cows presenting with different reproductive conditions and could affect production.

Public contestations against the disturbance, degradation, and destruction of sámi pastoral landscapes in northern Sweden

A new wave of encroachments is unfolding in Northern Sweden on the lands of Indigenous Sámi reindeer pastoralists. Even if the State and corporations may accept that landscape transformations represent threats to reindeer pastoralists' cultural and livelihood practices, attempts to redress these grievances often involve money to cover costs associated with feeding practices or mechanized transport. This paper considers these landscape transformations as driven by industrial capitalist expansion and underlying colonial relations, examining their broader implications on human-animal relations in pastoral landscapes. We apply an ecologically informed radical geography approach and conduct a content analysis of claims-making instances around the new wave of encroachments and their associated compensation schemes, complemented with basic GIS data. Relying on three cases of public contestations, we argue that encroachments represent threats that disturb, degrade, and destroy pastoral landscapes, and that while counter-hegemonic struggles try to diminish the reach of capital into these landscapes to maintain human-animal relations based on natural pastures, hegemonic actors seek to alter such relations to deepen capital's reach. Although reindeer pastoralists have many allies, we argue that broader coalitions are likely necessary to push for reforms of planning regimes that can enable multi-functionality and sustainability of landscapes in rural areas.

Assessment on dairy goat management practice in the Korahey Zone, Somali, Ethiopia

ABSTRACT The characterization of dairy goat management practices in the Korahay Zone, Somali Regional State, was the aim of this study. The woredas and respondents were selected purposefully. Parameters, such as feeding management, housing, watering, healthcare, breeding and selection methods, were collected. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The collected data were analysed using the statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 20. According to the result, natural pasture (22.5%, 45% and 42.5%) is the main feed source and free-ranging (92.5%, 100% and 100%) is the commonly practised feeding system (p 0.05) for goats in Shegosh, Kabridahar and Shilabo, respectively. Ponds and boreholes were the main water sources for goats. The majority of respondents in study areas practised uncontrolled breeding systems (p 0.05), due to goats’ grazing together, insufficient breeding buck and lack of awareness (p 0.05). The confirmation of the buck was ranked as the first important criterion for the selection of breeding bucks in selected districts. However, the size and appearance of the doe in the Shegosh and Kebridahar districts and better milk yield in the Shilabo district were the first-ranked criteria for the selection of breeding does. Therefore, it is recommended that government attention be provided to pastoralists in goat management.

Crown segmentation using Airborne Laser Scanning data in a silvopastoral system with Eucalyptus grandis

Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) remote sensing holds immense potential for characterizing and measuring forest biomass, providing a valuable inventory tool for intensive silviculture to enhance forest management and planning. Accurate estimation of total height (Ht) and crown area (CA) is crucial to model and design silvopastoral systems. The main objective of this study was to estimate Ht and CA accurately using watershed segmentation algorithm in a triple-row silvopastoral system with Eucalyptus grandis, to compare these variables based on the position of the tree in the rows. Edge trees are the most prevalent in a triple row silvopastoral system, making it important to analyze and understand their structural differences from the trees in the interior. The study was conducted in a silvopastoral system in Reboledo, Florida, Uruguay (34° 1'15.16"S, 55° 39'13.75"W). The silvopastoral system consisted of triple rows of Eucalyptus grandis N-S oriented lined with natural pastures in 14-19 m alleys. ALS data was obtained from an area of 26 ha including two silvopastoral stands planted in 2012 (10 years) and 2019 (4 years). From the canopy height model (CHM) a Watershed segmentation algorithm was conducted to obtain individual tree segmentation, yielding Ht and CA of individual trees in both stands. Individual trees were manually classified by position in the triple row as Middle (M), External West (EW) and External East (EE). Our results show data of 1,627 individual trees in the 2019 stand and 1,405 trees in the 2012 stand, EW trees showed the highest CA in the 2019 stand with a 10% difference with M trees and a 9% with EE trees. The 2019 plot showed no significant difference in Ht. In the 2012 stand, EE trees showed the highest CA with a 22% difference from M trees and an 8% with EW, and EW trees showed a 15% higher CA than M tress in the 2012 stand. The 2012 plot showed a 1% significant average difference between Externals and Middle trees and no significant difference between EE and EW trees. Correlation between field data and ALS data in Ht showed R2=0.82, n=45 and p&lt;0.0001 in 2019 plot, and R2=0.67, n=18, and p&lt;0.0001 in the 2012 plot. Watershed segmentation algorithm in combination with ALS remote sensing demonstrated to be an efficient method to estimate CA and Ht in triple-row silvopastoral systems.

Effects of Land Use on Soil Physical-Hydric Attributes in Two Watersheds in the Southern Amazon, Brazil

Changes in land use can cause degradation of soil physical quality with negative effects on the environment and agricultural production. The effects of different land uses on soil physical-hydric attributes were studied in the Renato River and Caiabi River watersheds in the southern Brazilian Amazon. Three conditions of land use were evaluated: native forest, crops, and pasture in the headwater, middle, and mouth of each watershed. Particle size, particle density, bulk density, total porosity, macroporosity, microporosity, water contents at field capacity and permanent wilting point, and available water capacity in soil were evaluated in three soil layers down to 0.4 m. Data collected were subjected to the Kruskal–Wallis nonparametric test and Pearson’s correlations. Multivariate analyses were also performed using the principal component method. In the Renato watershed, in comparison with native forest, conventional management of pasture and crops caused soil physical degradation, increasing soil density in the surface layer and reducing macroporosity and total porosity. In the Caiabi watershed, converting native forest areas into pasture and crops altered water quality, influencing the water dynamics in the soil, by reducing soil water conductivity. Soil attributes varied by watershed, with texture variations between the headwater and mouth, indicating that changes in soil properties result from both management and the granulometric composition of the soil in different regions of the same watershed. Adoption of crop and pasture conservation practices can improve soil physical attributes in regions bordering agricultural areas in the southern Amazon.

PSX-15 Precision Beef Dry Matter Intake Estimation on Extensive Rangelands

Abstract Predicting dry matter intake (DMI) for beef cattle on extensive rangelands presents a significant challenge to determining stocking rates. Traditionally, DMI is estimated by taking full body weight (BW) multiplied by a percentage selected based on animal class, production phase, and forage quality, which introduces tremendous levels of accumulated error at the herd level. Animal Unit Months (AUMs) are utilized to simplify the determination of stocking rate (animal units per area per a specific period of time) of pastures. This challenge represents a tremendous opportunity to leverage precision technology to account for individual animal variation in BW and growth, with subsequent impacts on herd-level decisions. Therefore, the objective of this study was to utilize precision livestock technology (PLT) collected data to build a precision system model (PSM) to evaluate the differences in predicted DMI using either initial BW, expected mid-season BW, or PLT measured BW. The PSM model was built utilizing BW data measured using SmartScale (C-Lock Inc.) for 60 days during the summers of 2021 and 2022 on Angus yearling steers (average initial BW 393.71 ± 39.01 and 315.23 ± 53.91 kg, n = 130 and 124, for year 2021 and 2022, respectively) on native pastures at the South Dakota State University Cottonwood Field Station. The PSM evaluated total forage consumption and deterministically estimated hectares of pasture required to meet the herd forage demands relative to available biomass (kg/ha). the PSM estimated 4.49% and 6.94% more DMI at the herd level compared with using initial BW for years 2021 and 22, respectively, and 1.64% less DMI than mid-season BW in 2021. This resulted in an additional 14.03 and 17.95 ha required for years 2021 and 22, respectively, according to PSM estimates compared with initial BW, while animals were understocked by 5 and 0.3 ha for 2021 and 2022, respectively, using mid-season BW. Individuals expressed a divergent growth rate, resulting in greater misalignment between static and PSM predicted DMI as the grazing period progressed (Menendez et al., 2023), indicating greater opportunities for targeted grazing management in long grazing periods. Therefore, applying precision data provides more precise DMI estimates and demonstrates the advantages and disadvantages of herd-level estimates. The use of PSM helps to identify high-leverage precision tools to minimize a performance gap like overgrazing extensive rangeland systems and demonstrates the critical need to develop robust data-collection and processing steps to leverage continuously collected PLT data.

PSI-21 The Role of N-Carbamylglutamate Supplementation During Last Third of Gestation in Nutrient Restricted Twin-Bearing Ewes

Abstract Nutrient restriction in sheep during pregnancy normally occurs in Patagonia with negative effects on ewe body condition (BCS) and reproductive performance. N-carbamylglutamate (NCG), an analogue of N-acetylglutamate, is postulated to improve urea recycling, nitrogen utilization and antioxidant capacity in ruminants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of oral NCG supplementation in naturally nutrient restricted grazing twin-bearing ewes, on maternal body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS), serum biochemical indexes and antioxidant capacity in mid-late gestation. Ten twin-bearing ewes were orally dosed once-daily with 60 mg/kg BW NCG in a water carrier from 100 to 140 days of gestation (dg) and were compared with unsupplemented controls (CON; n = 8). Maternal BW, and BCS were recorded every 10 days, from 100 to 140 dg. Blood samples were collected at the same time points to evaluate plasma metabolites (NEFA, urea, total protein, albumin, globulin, Ca, P, Mg, Cholesterol, ASAT, CK, GGT, GLDH, total bilirubin and triglycerides), antioxidant status [malondialdehyde (MDA)], and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Ewes were managed as a single mob in a paddock with natural pasture (3.3% CP, 1.9 Mcal/kg ME), supplemented with alfalfa hay (600 g· ewe-1· /day-1; 13% CP and ME 2.2 Mcal/kg ME) from 130 dg, with a stocking rate of 0.9 ewes per hectare and a dry matter availability of 525 kg per hectare, representative of Patagonian prairie conditions. The effect of treatment on ewe BW, BCS and plasma metabolites were analyzed using REML analysis in R using lme4 R package with time (dg) and treatment (and their interaction) as fixed effects and animal as the random effect. Ewe BW increased (P &amp;lt; 0.0001) and BCS decreased (P = 0.005) with advancing gestation, but there was no effect of treatment. There was a tendency for a treatment effect (P = 0.07) on plasma urea with ~10% less concentrations in NCG than CON ewes at 130 dg (P = 0.08) and 140 dg (P = 0.04). There was a treatment by time interaction for total bilirubin (P = 0.005), phosphorus (P = 0.02), and a similar trend for albumin (P = 0.09). Ewes supplemented with NCG had~10% lower concentrations of bilirubin at 100 (P = 0.01) and 120 dg (P = 0.04), less concentrations of phosphorus (P = 0.003) and albumin (P = 0.02) at 140 dg compared with CON ewes. No other effects of treatment on blood metabolites or antioxidant status or capacity were observed. Collectively these results suggest that supplementation of nutritionally restricted ewes with 60 mg/kg BW from 100 to 140 dg did not influence BW or LWT but may have some effects on liver function, protein metabolism, urea recycling, feed intake and/or feed efficiency which warrant further investigation.*Funded by FONDECYT Project N°1221042; AgResearch Strategic Science Investment Fund.

PSII-25 Use of Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence for Determination of Indigestible Markers in Digesta Samples

Abstract Titanium dioxide and chromium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid are commonly used as indigestible markers for determining passage rates of diets to aid in determination of digestibility. However, commonly used methodology involving acid digestions and utilizing inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy and atomic absorption spectroscopy for both Ti and Cr analysis involves hazardous chemicals, destruction of samples, and low sample throughput. The objective of this experiment was to develop and validate an accurate and precise method for measuring both Ti and Cr using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF). Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence is an analytical technique used for analyzing elements in various sample types. The samples are added to the ED-XRF machine and irradiated with X-rays and the intensity of the X-rays emitted (termed fluorescent X-rays) are used for calculation of the concentration of the element. The method for Ti was constructed using fecal samples from cattle consuming three different diet types (finishing diet, dairy lactation diet, and grazing native range pasture). The Cr method was developed for rumen fluid analysis. To determine accuracy and precision of the method, samples were spiked with various amounts of Ti or Cr and measured for their respective compounds with percent recovery and inter- and intra-assay CV calculated thereafter. Additionally, a regression was performed using PROC REG in SAS 9.4 to determine the relationship between grams of Ti added and grams of Ti recovered for each diet type. The average recovery for Ti across all diet types was 100.3%, and the recovery for Cr in rumen fluid was 95.7%. The average inter- and inter-assay CV for Ti, across all diet types, were 9.70 and 2.16%, respectively. For Cr, the average inter- and inter-assay CV were 5.41 and 8.45%, respectively. Across diet type, the regression for grams of Ti added versus grams of Ti recovered indicated the recovery was not altered by the amount added (P ≤ 0.062). The ED-XRF method requires minimal additional chemicals, is cost-effective, and allows for sample preservation as well as a high throughput of samples. Our results indicate utilization of ED-XRF is an accurate and precise method for determination of Ti in feces and Cr in rumen fluid.

218 Methane and Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Crossbred Beef Cattle Fall-Grazed on Native Aspen Parkland Pastures

Abstract Over 20 M ha of grazing land is utilized for beef production in western Canada, significantly contributing to the Canadian economy. Cattle are recognized for contributing to methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2), and individual animal contribution varies with several factors, one of them being feed efficiency as measured using residual feed intake adjusted for off-test backfat thickness (RFIfat). Given that commercial cattle spend a large portion of their production lifecycle grazing on diverse pastures in western Canada, understanding whether and how RFIfat measured in drylot and CH4 emissions reflect animal performance on pasture remains essential. This study quantified CH4 and CO2 production from beef cattle while grazing diverse diets on open-range aspen parkland pastures during fall. Cattle had been previously measured for RFIfat in drylot. Production of CH4 and CO2 (g/day) from crossbred beef cows (n = 22, with a range of -2.2 to +1.3 kg DM/day in RFIfat) and replacement heifers (n = 15; with a range of -2.6 to + 3.0 kg DM/day in RFIfat) were monitored using the GreenFeed emissions monitoring system over 40 days while grazing on native rangeland (70 ha) in the fall of 2022. Fall grazing was divided into two 20 ± 1 day' grazing periods; 20 days in September (SEP) vs. 20 days in October (OCT). Total spot measurements of CH4 and CO2 emissions in SEP and OCT were 1,096 vs. 1,054 for cows and 644 vs. 571 for heifers, respectively. The average number of daily visits per animal to the GreenFeed unit for cows and heifers were 2.8 ± 0.1 vs. 2.5 ± 0.1 in SEP, and 2.5 ± 0.1 vs. 2.0 ± 0.1 in OCT, respectively. Cows had greater average daily CH4 (SEP: 268.4 ± 6.1 vs. 196.1 ± 4.3; OCT: 243.9 ± 6.1 vs. 185.0 ± 4.3 g/day) and CO2 emission (SEP: 9,105.0 ± 143.1 vs. 6,485.3 ± 108.6; OCT: 8,544.3 ± 143.2 vs. 6,308.7 ± 108.9 g/day) than heifers (all P &amp;lt; 0.01). A negative relationship was evident between the CH4 emission and RFIfat in heifers (SEP: R2 = 0.043 vs. OCT: R2 = 0.014; P &amp;lt; 0.01), as well as CO2 emission and RFIfat (SEP: R2 = 0.083 vs. OCT: R2 = 0.020; P &amp;lt; 0.01), although the amount of variation explained by RFIfat is very small and is in disagreement with previous data. We speculate that the decline in CH4 and CO2 emissions from cattle in Oct might be due to various factors, including but not limited to changes in overall intake, daylight hours, air temperature, plant community, feeding and ruminating patterns, and rumen microbial profiles. Further analysis of forage quality, step counts, and GPS location, as well as rumen bacterial community, may shed more light on methane production in the fall.

182 Custom Bovine Heifer Development to Advance Onset of Puberty in a Limited-Resource Beef Cow-Calf Operation

Abstract Age at puberty in bovine heifers is controlled largely by genetic and environmental factors, among which nutrition has a major influence. This study evaluated the utility of cool-season forages for heifer development in a limited-resource beef cow-calf system. Beef heifer development was evaluated at 4 time periods: Period 1 (Birth-Weaning) heifers sucked dams until weaning, Period 2 (Weaning-Puberty) heifers grazed natural pastures and supplements in Fall and Winter, Period 3 (Puberty-Breeding) heifers grazed cool-season forages, Period 4 (Breeding-Pregnancy) heifers were maintained on Spring and Summer forages. The supplements were fed at a rate of 0.45 kg/68.2 kg. calf BW and consisted of a 1:1 ratio of cracked corn and commercial grower pellets. Cool-season pasture consisted mainly of Rye grass and clovers. Hay, water, and minerals were provided free choice. Heifer body weights were obtained at quarterly intervals. They were synchronized with two doses of prostaglandin F (PGF) 2α, 14 days apart before bull introduction on June 1st. Pregnancy was confirmed by ultrasonography at the end of breeding in August. The growth trajectory was evaluated by mixed procedures of SAS. A stair-step pattern of body weight gain was observed from birth to pregnancy. There was rapid growth pre-weaning, average daily gain (ADG) = 0.95 ± 0.0.17kg ∙heifer-1∙day-1. Limited growth during the juvenile period (ADG = 0.24 ± 0.17kg∙heifer-1∙day-1) and compensatory growth during the pre-pubertal period (ADG = 1.32 ± 0.17kg∙heifer-1∙day-1). These preliminary results indicate that limited-resource beef cow-calf producers should utilize winter forages to leverage compensatory growth in their heifer development programs. Funded by FAMU World Class Scholars Program and NIFA CBG # 2021-38821-34599

Wavelet Analysis of a Sentinel-2 Time Series to Detect Land Use Changes in Agriculture in the Vega Alta of the Guadalquivir River: Cantillana Case Study (Seville)

Historically, the Vega Alta of the Guadalquivir River (southern Spain) has been an anthropized space. Over time, the dominance of latifundia agriculture has evolved towards more intensive citrus-based agriculture. In this study, wavelet algorithms applied to Sentinel-2 time series were used to determine both the expansion of citrus plantations and the level of intensification of these plantations within the municipality of Cantillana. Sentinel-2 provides comprehensive global coverage from March 2017 to the present. Our study applied a 90% power wavelet transformation for the creation of a wavelet-smoothed time series for four years of Sentinel-2 NDVI data. Based on the data, it can be stated that within our research region covering 5000 hectares of agricultural land, over a span of four years (2017 to 2020), more than 980 hectares of native vegetation and pasture were transformed into citrus orchards, giving rise, at the end of 2020, to a total area of 3250 ha. Analyzing unique spatial patterns within a wavelet-smoothed time series data is very useful for land management, as it allows land use changes to be controlled. For this reason, it becomes feasible to assess the reliability of the wavelet method using both remote sensing and GIS tools.

Feed resources used for small ruminant nutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa: a case study of Uganda.

Small ruminants are of great importance to the livelihoods of many people in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) since they act as a source of meat, income, hides and skins and for cultural identity. Despite their great importance, especially to rural smallholder farmers, their production in Africa is hindered by poor nutrition. The first stage of establishing development strategies to increase feed quality and quantity is to conduct a comprehensive inventory of the feed resources that are currently available, especially in SSA. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the availability and nature of the common feed resources that are used in the feeding of small ruminants in Uganda. This study involved a comprehensive review of various scientific, technical and economic literature that has been published up to date. Our results show that the available feed resources in Uganda can be grouped mainly into:- crop wastes and residues, agro-industrial by-products, conserved feeds, natural pastures and browse. The main feed resources for small ruminants in Uganda have been identified as natural pastures, which are generally characterised by a low nutritive value. However, browses are seen to have a high crude protein content and could be used as a supplement to grass forages and crop residues. It has been noted thatfarmers lack knowledge related to feed processing and management, in addition to a lack of policy governing feed quality. Therefore, there is a need to train farmers on how to process and utilise crop residues, in addition to proper feed management practices like pasture cultivation and conservation. It is also necessary to introduce widely new pasture species with better nutritional values that are suitable for the local production systems.

A rural resilience development indicator system oriented to common prosperity: The case of a coastal village in Zhejiang Province

China’s coastal village is a typical synthesis of material and intangible culture, such as natural landscape, marine pasture, and belief in the sea god. Simultaneously, it is also a valuable resource that can be universally utilized for the development of innovative industries such as the marine industry and leisure fisheries. However, with the rapid development of industrialization and urbanization, the coastal village has not received much attention and the eco-environment has been damaged to some extent. Rural resilience development becomes the future trend of humanistic ecological wellbeing communities, while being able to circumvent rural vulnerability to varying degrees in a wave of global rural revitalization. Thus, establishing an evaluation system for resilience development of coastal rural eco-environment can provide a baseline for rural revitalization for sustainability. This article constructs an evaluation system for the rural resilience development based on the DPSER (driver, pressure, state, effect, and response) model. 29 indicators and corresponding weights of drivers, pressures, states, effects, and responses are evaluated using the objective and subjective weighting methods. Thereby, the study ascertained the conditions and dilemmas of resilience development of coastal rural eco-environment, and revealed that the response indicators have the greatest influence. This evaluation system can not only contribute to quantify the qualitative assessment or take the qualitative social assessment of resilience to a quantitative level, but it can also provide guidance and apply to the issues of well-being sharing and social equity in resilience development of rural areas.

Maternal undernutrition induced by a lower natural pasture allowance affects muscle characteristics in newborn lambs

We evaluated the effects of differential levels of maternal nutrition induced by contrasting natural pasture allowances (days −23 to 122 of gestation) on newborn lamb’s muscle characteristics. Multiparous ewes were assigned to two nutritional treatments: High-pasture-allowance (HPA) ewes grazed on natural grasslands at 10–12 kg of dry matter (DM)/100 kg of BW/day; and Low-pasture-allowance (LPA) ewes grazed on 5–8 kg of DM/100 kg of BW/day. Samples (Semitendinosus and Longissimus lumborum) were collected from eighteen (9/treatment) male newborn lambs. LPA treatment reduced fiber diameter, nuclei number/fiber and muscle tissue proportion (P ≤ 0.0002) and tended to reduce fiber density (P = 0.097) in the studied muscles. A lower maternal pasture allowance reduced DNA concentration and increased protein/DNA ratio in both muscles (P ≤ 0.002). LPA treatment reduced (P = 0.046) protein concentration in the Semitendinosus. Muscles from LPA lambs showed greater mRNA expressions of MyHC-I and PAX7 (P ≤ 0.014), lower mRNA expression of IGF1 (P = 0.008) and tended to show increased mRNA expression of GLUT-4 (P = 0.09). The Longissimus from LPA lambs showed higher mRNA expressions of GLUT-4 (P = 0.032). Our results demonstrate that a reduced gestational pasture allowance induces several negative effects that might seriously limit postnatal muscle growth. Although LPA muscles showed some insights which could indicate an attempt to compensate for the negative effects (greater GLUT-4 and PAX7 expressions), the local endocrine (autocrine-paracrine) environment (reduced IGF1 expression) could be a major limiting factor for such compensation. Thus, a lower maternal pasture allowance affects newborn lambs muscle characteristics with possible future effects over animal health and meat-producing performance.

Morphoagronomic characterization and reproductive versatility in polymorph clover

Trifolium polymorphum Poir. is a legume of natural pastures that combines amphicarpy with vegetative reproduction, but with little morphoagronomic information in populations of southern Brazil. In this study, plant height and diameter, number of primary stolons, dry matter, number of inflorescences, number of flowers per inflorescence, number of flowers with legume with seeds, number of flowers without legume or with legume without seeds, seed production, number and dry weight of storage roots were evaluated in populations of T. polymorphum. Little variation was observed for most characteristics, including low dry matter and aerial seed production. There were positive correlations between plant height and dry matter (r = 0.44), plant diameter and dry matter (r = 0.43), number of inflorescences and number of flowers per plant (r = 0.98) and number of inflorescences and seed production (r = 0.84). T. polymorphum presented low dry matter yield, however, the reproductive versatility of the species with the amphicarpic condition combined with vegetative propagation are mechanisms that allow the species to increase its frequency and contribution in natural pastures.

Ixodid tick infections of horses, and seasonal dynamics and infection of pasture ticks with piroplasmids in Gorny Altai

The purpose of the research is the characterization of species composition and abundance of ixodid ticks that parasitize on horses, seasonal dynamics of ticks inhabiting natural pastures and their piroplasmid infection. Materials and methods. The studies were performed in four Gorny Altai physiographic provinces. Ticks were manually collected from horses (1183 specimens). Ticks were counted on natural pastures every ten days with subsequent determination of the species composition (1109 specimens). Collected ticks of the genus Dermacentor (443 specimens) were examined by nested PCR in the presence of genus-specific primers for Babesia spp. and Theileria spp.; the species identification of discovered piroplasmas was determined by 18S rRNA gene sequencing. Results and discussion. Ixodid ticks of three genera (Dermacentor, Ixodes, Haemaphysalis) and 6 species: D. nuttalli, D. silvarum, D. reticulatus, D. marginatus, H. concinna and Ix. Persulcatus, were recorded in the collections from horses and pastures. The most numerous species was D. nuttalli (56.1%), and the most common, Ix. persulcatus, that was recorded in all districts except Kosh-Agachsky in South-Eastern Altai. D. silvarum accounted for 14.9%, and other species were represented to a lesser extent. The highest species diversity, 5 species, was observed in the Northern Altai pastures and only 1 species, D. nuttalli, was recorded in the South-Eastern Altai. The seasonal dynamics of ticks in the pasture was characterized by two peaks in numbers, namely, the spring peak in the 3rd decade of April and the autumn peak in the 2nd decade of October. The spring-summer period (March-June) had 87.1% of recorded ticks, and the autumn period (September-October) had 7.2%. Three species of the examined ticks (D. silvarum, D. marginatus, D. nuttalli) were found to have DNA of three piroplasmid species (Babesia caballi, Theileria equi and Babesia sp). Piroplasmids infection rate in ticks was 2.7-25.0%, and 2.7% on average in Gorny Altai.

Assessing crop–livestock water productivity in mixed-farming systems across climatic zones of Burkina Faso

Abstract Climate change adversely impacts food and feed production, depletes water, and increases the vulnerability of the people living within arid and semi-arid areas. The current study aims to assess crop–livestock water productivity within such drought-recurrent or water-stressed regions. This was done through secondary data collection and interviews from 589 households across the Sudan, Sudan–Sahel, and Sahel climatic zones of Burkina Faso. The findings confirm that the feeding strategies of livestock were based essentially on natural pasture, crop residues, and agricultural by-products. Moreover, crop–livestock total water productivity (TWP) was found generally higher in the Sudan zone (0.29 ± 0.02 $US/m3) characterized by more favorable climatic conditions than the Sudan–Sahel and Sahel regions that experienced a similar TWP (0.21 ± 0.01 $US/m3). The research gives insight into the valuation of virtual water contained in livestock feeds. Improving the accessibility in quantity and quality of such feeds through informed policy actions could enhance returns on transpired water. Additionally, other water harvesting and conservation methods are also essential to sustain more productive crop–livestock systems within water-stressed regions like Burkina Faso.