Semi-arid Rangelands Research Articles

Linking Ecosystem Services to Social Well-Being: An Approach to Assess Land Degradation

Land degradation usually leads to the loss of ecosystem services, which may threaten social well-being. There is no approach to identify and manage all ecosystem services based on their importance in degradation processes and social systems. This study aimed to link ecosystem services to social well-being in order to assess rangeland degradation. Eleven ecosystem services (forage production, water yield, edible plants, fuel, medicinal plants, pollination, gas regulation, soil resistivity to erosion, soil fertility, scenic beauty, and recreation) were assessed in a semiarid rangeland near Bardsir city, Kerman Province, southeast Iran. There were significant differences between the rangeland types in providing ecosystem services (p < 0.05). Four criteria and 17 indices of social well-being were weighed according to their importance for local stakeholders. Rangeland degradation was estimated using the weight of the indices for social well-being and ecosystem services. Discriminant analysis indicated that supporting services (soil fertility) and provisioning services (water yield and forage production) had the greatest impact on rangeland degradation, which is related to food security in social well-being. Ecosystem services and social well-being declined in medium and severe degradation due to plant composition change and overgrazing based on principal component analysis (PCA). More than 70% of the watershed has been highly and severely degraded. There was a trade-off relationship between ecosystem services and social well-being in very severe degraded areas because of social well-being promotion due to agriculture expansion. Based on our approach, the loss rate of the ecosystem services and social well-being indices in each degradation category is a good guide for management programs and decision-makers to meet both the needs of the people and the preservation of ecosystems.

Wildlife-friendly farming recouples grazing regimes to stimulate recovery in semi-arid rangelands

While rangeland ecosystems are globally important for livestock production, they also support diverse wildlife assemblages and are crucial for biodiversity conservation. As rangelands around the world have become increasingly degraded and fragmented, rethinking farming practice in these landscapes is vital for achieving conservation goals, rangeland recovery, and food security. An example is reinstating livestock shepherding, which aims to recouple grazing regimes to vegetation conditioned to semi-arid climates and improve productivity by reducing overgrazing and rewiring past ecological functions. Tracking the large-scale ecosystem responses to shifts in land management in such sparsely vegetated environments have so far proven elusive. Therefore, our goal was to develop a remote tracking method capable of detecting vegetation changes and environmental responses on rangeland farms engaging in contrasting farming practices in South Africa: wildlife friendly farming (WFF) implementing livestock shepherding with wildlife protection, or rotational grazing livestock farming with wildlife removal. To do so, we ground-truthed Sentinel-2 satellite imagery using drone imagery and machine learning methods to trace historical vegetation change on four farms over a four-year period. First, we successfully classified land cover maps cover using drone footage and modelled vegetation cover using satellite vegetation indices, achieving 93.4% accuracy (к = 0.901) and an r-squared of 0.862 (RMSE = 0.058) respectively. We then used this model to compare the WFF farm to three neighbouring rotational grazing farms, finding that satellite-derived vegetation productivity was greater and responded more strongly to rainfall events on the WFF farm. Furthermore, vegetation cover and grass cover, patch size, and aggregation were greater on the WFF farm when classified using drone data. Overall, we found that remotely assessing regional environmental benefits from contrasting farming practices in rangeland ecosystems could aid further adoption of wildlife-friendly practices and help to assess the generality of this case study.

Impacts of grazing by kangaroos and rabbits on vegetation and soils in a semi-arid conservation reserve

Overgrazing by introduced herbivores is widely recognized as a threatening process in Australia's semi-arid rangelands. Comparatively, grazing by native herbivores is generally considered to have benign effects. Populations of introduced herbivores are controlled in conservation reserves, but populations of native kangaroos and wallabies are seldom subject to control. We investigated the impacts of rabbit and kangaroo grazing on vegetation and soils at Yathong Nature Reserve in semi-arid Australia during the dry conditions that prevailed in 2019. We conducted spotlight and dung surveys to measure the relative abundance of kangaroos and rabbits, and assessed understorey biomass, woody plant density, soil bulk density and water infiltration rates in selective herbivore exclosures that had been established in 1979, and nearby controls that all herbivores could access. Kangaroos were the dominant herbivores at the time of our study. Grazing by kangaroos decreased grass biomass, increased soil density and reduced the rate of water infiltration. Rabbits reduced woody plant density but had no detectable effect on understorey vegetation cover or soil attributes. Our findings question the existing paradigms about how grazing by kangaroos should be viewed and prompt the question: should kangaroo populations be managed within conservation reserves to reduce their impacts on ecosystems?

Rainfall and Soils, Not Grazing Intensity, Determine the Composition and Productivity of Annual Plants in a Biodiverse Arid Winter Rainfall Region

Concentration of grazer activity around watering points and stock posts has led to well-documented vegetation impacts in arid and semi-arid rangelands. Effect of grazing and abiotic factors on perennial plant diversity have been reported in the bio-diverse winter rainfall vegetation of the Succulent Karoo in South Africa, but the impact on annuals had not been investigated. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of rainfall, soil nutrients, land forms and grazing on forage depletion, soil chemistry and the composition, diversity, richness and biomass production of annual plants in the Richtersveld National park, which is a contractual national park used by semi-nomadic pastoralists to herd goats and sheep. A grazing gradient away from stock posts at 100m, 500m and 1000m on sandy plains and rocky foothills at five study sites with different mean annual rainfall and vegetation types were used. Distance from stock posts corresponded to a gradient of forage depletion and resulted in changes in soil chemistry with distance. Biomass production, richness and diversity of annuals were correlated with rainfall but not significantly affected by landform or distance from stock posts. Rainfall and soil variables had a greater influence on species composition than grazing in this arid ecosystem. The decrease in perennial cover and richness near the stock posts was not accompanied by increase in biomass production or richness of annuals, which is expected to have adverse effects on overall plant diversity and forage availability. Keywords: Piosphere, Pastoralists, Rangeland, Succulent Karoo DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/12-10-04 Publication date: May 31 st 2021

Breeding and Genetics of Forages for Semi-Arid and Arid Rangelands

Rangelands are the Earth’s largest land type and provide the feed source for the extensive grazing of beef and dairy cattle (Bos taurus), sheep (Ovis aries), goat (Capra aegagrus hircus), horse (Equus ferus caballus), camel (Camelus spp [...]

Tracking and sensor-based detection of livestock water system failure: A case study simulation

Water is an important nutrient, and its continuous provision is a critical welfare issue for cattle grazing arid and semiarid rangelands. Time and labor are needed to monitor water availability, and automated monitoring systems are a costly input on expansive rangeland pastures. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of detecting water system failures using Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking and accelerometers, assuming the data could be monitored in real or near-real time. Water system failure was simulated in a 1 096-ha pasture in Arizona by placing metal panels around the only drinker for 4 h (0800−1200) on three occasions in 2018 and two occasions in 2019. Randomly selected cows (10 in 2018 and 23 in 2019) of the 120 cows in the pasture were tracked with GPS collars, and 7 (2018) and 10 (2019) of the tracked cows were fitted with triaxial accelerometers. Movement intensity measured by accelerometers was greater (P = 0.03) on the day of simulated water failure than on control days with available water. During simulated water failure, cows remained closer to water (P = 0.01) after approaching the drinker (< 150 m) compared with the control period the day prior. Cows typically went to the drinker, drank, and then traveled away from the drinker and rested. On simulated water-failure days, cows remained near the drinker (< 150 m from the tank) until the panels were removed and they could drink. Real-time GPS tracking with or without accelerometer data has the potential to remotely detect water system failure, which could reduce the time for managers to repair the water system and improve cattle well-being.

Adaptive grazing management in semiarid rangelands: An outcome-driven focus

•Adaptive management should explicitly involve stakeholders, emphasize multiple iterations of identifying and prioritizing outcomes, and tightly link science-informed monitoring to decision-making benchmarks for effective feedback loops.•Short-term monitoring procedures should be simple, quick, and based on consistent methods that are focused on locations where meaningful change is expected or uncertainty is high.•Long-term monitoring procedures should emphasize consistent methodology across years that provides broader ecosystem context for multiple ecosystem services (e.g., watershed protection and grassland bird habitat).•Incorporating timely feedback from monitoring improves the capacity for rapid decision-making when benchmarks are attained and management should be modified.

Effects of seasonal grazing and annual mowing on floristic composition and plant diversity in the Saral rangeland, Kurdistan, Iran

This study examined the impact of long-term (40 years) seasonal grazing and annual scythe mowing on changes in plant diversity, floristic composition and plant functional groups in the cold semi-arid rangelands of Mangahul-Zardawan located in Saral, Kurdistan. In this investigation, 900 plots (2 m2) were sampled in grazed (450 plots) and mowed sites (450 plots) to measure vegetation and plant characteristics. Data were collected in two consecutive growing seasons from late May to early June in 2017 and 2018. Both years recorded below average rainfall. The results showed that after 40 years, seasonal grazing compared to scythe mowing increased canopy cover and species richness of different functional groups including annuals, perennial grasses, perennial forbs and total vegetation. On the other hand, both the total above-ground plant material and the palatability index were higher for the mowed than the grazed sites, although scythe mowing had caused the Boraginaceae family to disappear. Based on these results, the mean of total plant material (above-ground live + standing dead + litter) was substantially higher in the mowed area, where two-year mean totals were 271 g/m2 compared with 216 g/m2 for the grazed area. In terms of a three-level palatability classification (high, medium and low), only the plants with moderate palatability differed in contribution between the sites, with mowed sites having a significantly greater proportion of this class than the grazed sites. Our results suggested that in the long term, grazing can maintain species richness and the typical floristic composition of rangelands; but when socio-economic issues have priority, mowing has more advantages. In rangelands with the same ecological and geographic conditions, users and managers can choose the most appropriate management approach based on their long- and short-term policies.

Black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) from semi-arid rangelands in South Africa harbour Hepatozoon canis and a Theileria species but apparently not Babesia rossi.

Despite the importance of disease as a wildlife management challenge in South Africa, baseline data on the epidemiology of pathogens occurring in free-ranging species has received little attention to date. Black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) are a wide-ranging, abundant carnivore with substantial economic importance due to their role in livestock depredation. They are known reservoirs hosts of Babesia rossi, a virulent pathogen in domestic dogs in sub-Saharan Africa. We investigated the prevalence and diversity of tick-borne pathogens (TPBs) including Babesia, Theileria, Hepatozoon, Ehrlichia and Anaplasma species, together with host-attached tick diversity, in a black-backed jackal population from the semi-arid Central Karoo, a small-livestock farming region in South Africa. Using reverse line blot hybridisation, we screened 43 blood samples and sequenced the 18S rRNA gene from positive samples to confirm and characterise pathogen identity using a phylogenetic framework. Hepatozoon canis, a ubiquitous pathogen of domestic and wild canids globally, was observed in 47% of jackals, while a Theileria sp. most similar to T. ovis, a piroplasm found in small livestock, was observed in 5% of jackals. No Babesia, Ehrlichia or Anaplasma species were identified, although a Sarcocystis sp. sequence was isolated from one jackal. Host-attached ticks (n=20) comprised three species, Amblyomma marmoreum, Haemaphysalis elliptica/zumpti and Ixodes rubicundus, commonly known ticks in the region. In summary, prevalence of TBPs in black-backed jackals from this semi-arid rangeland region was lower than in jackal populations in more mesic regions. These jackals were apparently not infected with B. rossi. While this study is one of the first investigations into the epidemiology of TBPs infecting jackals and adds to the sparse literature, further studies which span landscape uses, climate conditions and seasonality are encouraged.

Beauty or beast? Farmers' dualistic views and the influence of aesthetic appreciation on tolerance towards black-backed jackal and caracal.

Various species of wild, adaptable, medium-sized carnivores occur outside of protected areas, often coming into contact with people and their domestic animals. Negative human-carnivore interactions can lead to antagonistic attitudes and behavior directed at such species. In the South African Karoo, a semi-arid rangeland, the predation of small-livestock by mesopredators is common and farmers typically use a combination of non-lethal and lethal methods to try and prevent livestock losses. We used ethnographic field observations and semi-structured interviews as part of a mixed methods approach, including the quantitative and qualitative analysis of farmers’ narratives to illustrate the nuanced ways in which sheep farmers relate to the two mesopredators that consume the most livestock on their farms; black-backed jackal and caracal. Overall, farmers attributed negative characteristics to jackal and caracal but farmers’ narratives provided evidence of complex perceptions in that the animals were admired as well as disliked. Both species were seen as charismatic due to traits such as their physical appearance, their “cunning” nature and their remarkable adaptability to human activities, including lethal control. Aesthetic appreciation was an important predictor of tolerance towards both species whereas negative attitudes were associated with the perception that mesopredators should only occur within protected areas. Attitudes towards jackals also appeared to have been affected by cultural representations of them as “thieves”. We showed that perceiving mesopredators as beautiful increased the average marginal probability of a farmer tolerating them, and that this strong relationship held when controlling for other covariates such as livestock predation. We advocate the importance of understanding the cultural and aesthetic aspects of predators and considering existing positive dimensions of human-wildlife relationships that may encourage increased farmers’ tolerance, which might promote coexistence.

Effects of different banana crop wastes on nutrient intake and digestibility, microbial protein synthesis, feeding behavior, and animal performance of ¾ Holstein × Zebu heifers in a semiarid rangeland.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of banana crop wastes in diets of ¾ Holstein × ¼ Zebu heifers on the intake and digestibility of nutrients, microbial protein synthesis, feeding behavior, and animal performance. Eight ¾ Holstein × ¼ Zebu heifers were utilized with an average age of 18 ± 1.0 months and an average body weight (BW) of 298 ± 3.06 kg. The experiment was distributed in two simultaneous 4 × 4 Latin squares. The treatments were as follows: Diet 1 (SS)-sorghum silage as exclusive dietary roughage; diet 2 (SSL)-sorghum silage (50%) associated with 50% leaf hay of banana trees (on a DM basis); diet 3 (SSBP)-sorghum silage (50%) associated with 50% banana peel hay; and diet 4 (SSPS)-sorghum silage (50%) associated with 50% pseudostem hay of banana trees. The roughage:concentrate ratio was 75:25. The greatest dry matter intake (DMI; p < 0.01) was found in heifers that received the SS and SSBP diet, mean of 10.19 kg/day. The SS diet showed greatest dry matter digestibility (DMD; p < 0.01) and crude protein digestibility (CPD; p < 0.01). The concentration of total purines (p < 0.01) and absorbed purines (p < 0.01), microbial protein synthesis (p < 0.01), and microbial efficiency (p < 0.01) was higher in the SSBP diet in comparison with SS and SSL diets. The longest eating time was observed in animals that received the SSL diet, being 17.79% higher (p = 0.01) than the SSBP diet. The final BW (p = 0.39) and BW gain (p = 0.39) were similar, with averages of 319.84 kg and 1.08 kg/day, respectively. Biometric measurements were not altered as a function of bedtime (p > 0.05). Banana wastes can be used to feed ¾ Holstein × ¼ Zebu heifers in partial replacement for sorghum silage as they do not alter the animals' weight gain and body development.

Milk Yield and Composition of Mixed-Breed Goats on Rangeland during the Dry Season and the Effect on the Growth of Their Progeny.

Simple SummaryWe tested whether the milk yield capacity and composition of mixed-breed goats on rangeland in northern Mexico during the dry season affects body weight gain and weaning weight of their progeny. Maternal body weight positively influenced milk yield and milk components (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). Lactose and solids-non-fat content of milk differed (p < 0.05) between goats with different milk yield capacity, whereas milk protein content tended to differ (p = 0.08) and milk fat content did not (p > 0.05). Milk yield and composition throughout 105-d lactation did not influence body weight gain and weaning weight of the offspring.We tested whether the milk yield capacity of mixed-breed goats on a Chihuahuan desert rangeland in northern Mexico during the dry season affects milk composition, body weight gain, and weaning weight of their progeny. Milk yield and composition, and progeny postnatal growth performance, were recorded weekly. One week after kidding, mixed-breed goats (a mixture of Criollo × dairy breeds; n = 40) were allotted into medium (MP) or low (LP) milk yielding groups (20 goats per group). Mean 105-d total milk yield for MP and LP goats was 45.2 ± 12.5 and 20.7 ± 5.2 L, respectively. Milk lactose (4.3 vs. 4.2%) and solids-non-fat (SNF; 8.2 vs. 8.0) differed (p < 0.05) between MP and LP goats; milk protein content tended to differ (p = 0.08) between MP and LP goats with no difference for milk fat content (p > 0.05). Maternal body weight was positively associated with milk yield, milk lactose, and SNF content (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). Goats giving birth to males produce more milk than goats giving birth to females, but milk fat percentage was higher in goats bearing females (p < 0.001). Milk yield and composition throughout lactation did not influence body weight gain (47.8 vs. 48.7 g/day for kids from MP and LP goats) and weaning weight (6.7 vs. 6.7 kg from MP and LP goats) of the offspring (p > 0.05). Birth weight and weaning weight of the progeny were positively related to maternal body weight (p ≤ 0.05). The postnatal growth of the kids was reduced, extending the time to reach market weight. Nevertheless, non-supplemented mixed-breed goats reared on semi-arid rangeland of northern Mexico have the potential for moderate milk production. Therefore, due to the limited nutrients ingested by grazing goats during the dry season, a nutritional supplement is necessary to keep up milk production and adequate growth of kids.

The effects of Acacia mearnsii (black wattle) on soil chemistry and grass biomass production in a South African semi-arid rangeland: implications for rangeland rehabilitation

Globally, grasslands are under threat from woody encroachment by invasive alien plants and this undermines grass production. The study sought to determine the effects of Acacia mearnsii clearing on soil physico-chemical properties and grass production. Soil samples were collected from three A. mearnsii invasion statuses and analysed for representative physico-chemical variables. Using line transects and a disc pasture meter (DPM) approaches, equations were developed to predict annual grass dry matter production in areas cleared of A. mearnsii. A. mearnsii significantly (p < 0.05) altered most of the physico-chemical soil characteristics that affected grass production. Predicted grass dry matter production from sites cleared of A. mearnsii ranged from 284 to 362 g m−2 y−1. These production rates were similar to those from uninvaded landscapes, suggesting that background grass production can still be attained even if there is no active soil management. Autogenic recovery thresholds have not been surpassed despite a long history of landscape invasion in the area. Management of invaded grasslands should be informed by an appreciation of local soil background characteristics. The equations developed for grass dry matter prediction may enable farmers to non-destructively estimate forage availability and fuel loads.

Assessment of soil surface scarification and reseeding with sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.) of degraded Mediterranean semi-arid rangelands

Climate change and degradation of natural resources pose daunting challenges in arid and semi-arid rangelands of southern Mediterranean region. Overcoming these challenges requires considerable management actions efforts. In this context, the current two-year (2017/2018 and 2018/2019) study investigated the effects of soil surface scarification and reseeding of rangelands with sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.) on botanical composition, biomass production, water productivity and pastoral value in the Sbaihia community, Tunisia. The experimental design consisted of a randomised complete block design with six replications. The treatments were: (i) soil surface superficial scarification; (ii) reseeding sulla following soil scarification; and, (iii) control. Despite the relatively important interannual variation, the highest aboveground net primary production (2 307 and 5 330 kg dry matter ha−1), water productivity (9.5 and 11.8 kg DM mm−1), and pastoral value (2 099 and 4 853 forage units ha−1) values were recorded in the rangelands reseeded with sulla in both growing seasons. Sulla contribution in the species composition of reseeded rangelands increased from 1.7% in 2018 to 2% in 2019. Although soil surface scarification increased the vegetation cover, its effect on biomass production was not significant. Therefore, combined soil scarification and reseeding well-adapted native forage species has a great potential to improve productivity of semi-arid rangelands.

The landscape impact of unmaintained rangeland water control structures in southern Arizona, USA

Water development has transformed the topography of rangelands. This study investigated the associated hydrologic and geomorphic impacts of structures such as earthen berms, stock tanks, and road drainages in a semiarid rangeland in the Altar Valley in the southwestern USA where land use has been dominated by livestock production since the late 1800 s. The condition of remnant and operational runoff and erosion control structures was inventoried, mapped, and assessed using aerial imagery and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data. A total of 377 stock tanks are distributed throughout the valley where they are a control on runoff and sediment transfer. Almost half of 59 identified lateral channel berms (41%) have been breached and 17% have experienced lateral scour; 15% of 667 shorter water spreader berms have been breached and 29% have experienced lateral scour. Although landscape evolution in the valley is ultimately driven by regional geomorphic instability caused by channel incision and land cover changes, manmade structures are currently an important control on hydrologic and geomorphic processes, especially where not operating as intended. Due to the spatial extent of rangelands managed for livestock grazing and the large number of manmade structures distributed within, the results of this study are important for informing the role of humans in altering even seemingly sparsely impacted lands.

Assessment of post-wildfire soil quality and its recovery in semi-arid upland rangelands in Central Iran through selecting the minimum data set and quantitative soil quality index

Recovery of soil quality after wildfire is essential for soil functioning such as nutrient cycling, resistance to biochemical degradation and sustainable plant growth. Post-fire soil quality is crucial for the maintenance of ecosystem sustainability. The objective of this study was to develop a soil quality index (SQI) for assessing post-fire soil quality in upland rangeland ecosystems of a semi-arid region in Central Iran. Soil samples were collected from burnt and unburnt plots at six rangeland sites two years after a wildfire event and analyzed for 22 soil properties. The soil microbial and biochemical properties indicated a greater magnitude of post-fire changes than soil chemical properties. The contribution of microbial respiration to soil quality, obtained using factor analysis, was the highest (36%) followed by particulate organic carbon (22%), microbial biomass carbon (15%), available phosphorus (15%) and alkaline phosphomonoesterase activity (12%). This indicates that microbial properties, labile carbon and phosphorus availability are the most important soil quality indicators to detect the wildfire effects in the study rangelands. The SQI value was, on average, 28% lower in burnt rangelands (0.39–0.55) than unburnt rangelands (0.56–0.75); indicating disturbance by wildfire would be accompanied by the loss of soil functioning. This illustrates that fire decreased soil quality, which did not recover two years after fire, probably due to the high grazing pressure and climatic conditions (i.e., longer drought periods and water limitation). Apparently, a longer period of time would be required for the complete recovery of soil quality in these semi-arid rangelands. In this study, we demonstrate that an integrated SQI would be more useful to assess post-fire soil functions than single soil properties in fire-affected rangelands of semi-arid climates.

Assessing Extensive Semi-Arid Rangeland Beef Cow-Calf Welfare in Namibia. Part 2: Categorisation and Scoring of Welfare Assessment Measures.

Simple SummaryBasing welfare assessment standards on protocols developed for industrialised beef exporting countries could enhance the beef production and export standards in Namibia. This paper compares imposed thresholds of welfare measures of categorisation and derived thresholds to see—which was the most appropriate to the range of observations and welfare implication in three cow-calf production systems in Namibia. Using the same thresholds as the New Zealand protocol, regardless of the farm system, commercial herds achieved most welfare measures thresholds, but semi-commercial and communal herds attained acceptable welfare thresholds only in a few measures. For measures with significant welfare implications, the stricter threshold was retained, while derived thresholds appeared more appropriate for commonly occurring traits (but of less welfare importance), and some measures threshold were temporarily adjusted to reflect drought conditions. The welfare assessment identified the strengths and weaknesses in thresholds in measures across the farm types, which is envisioned to draw attention for remedial intervention to improve welfare standards of the beef industry.This paper aims to develop standards for a welfare assessment protocol by validating potential categorisation thresholds for assessing beef farms in various beef cow-calf production systems in Namibia. Forty measures, combined from a New Zealand-based protocol plus Namibia-specific measures, are applied to 55 beef farms (17 commercial farms, 20 semi-commercial and 18 communal village farms) during pregnancy testing, and a questionnaire guided interview. The categorised measures on a 3-point welfare score (0: good, 1: marginal, and 2: poor/unacceptable welfare) are subsequently compared with the derivation of thresholds based upon the poorest 15% and best 50% of herds for each measure. The overall combined thresholds of continuous measures across the three farm types show 10/22 measures that posed welfare compromise across Namibia, whereas commercial farms have 4/22 measures, and semi-commercial and communal village farms have 12/22 and 11/22, respectively, with high thresholds. Most measures-imposed thresholds are retained because of significant importance to the welfare of animals and preventiveness of the traits, while leniency was given to adjust good feeding and mortality measures to signify periods of drought. Handling measures (fearful, falling/lying) and abrasions thresholds are adjusted to reflect the temporary stress caused by infrequent cattle handling, and faulty yard designs/design and possible cattle breed influence on handling. Hence, Namibia needs prioritised investigation of underlying contributing factors and remediation to reduce the high thresholds.

Cattle Grazing Distribution Patterns Related to Topography Across Diverse Rangeland Ecosystems of North America

Livestock distribution in extensive rangelands of North America can present management challenges to land managers. Understanding the role of topography on livestock distribution, within and across diverse rangeland ecosystems, could provide land managers valuable information for adaptive management of livestock to address both conservation and production goals from these ecosystems. Here, we examine the influence of topography on grazing distribution unevenness and intensity of use of beef cattle in seven rangeland ecosystems spanning arid, semiarid, and subtropical environments. We focused on grazing distribution during the late growing season (summer and autumn) periods when topographic variation in rangelands is more coupled to low and nonuniform availability of high-quality forage. Pasture size and water sources strongly influence grazing distribution across ecosystems. High unevenness of grazing occurred in pastures with extensive distances to water, low stock density, and more rugged topography. Conversely, more uniform grazing distribution occurred in smaller, well-watered pastures that support higher stock density (animals per unit area) and gentler terrain. Comparison of two topographic indices, topographic wetness index and topographic position class index, in terms of their ability to predict cattle grazing distribution, revealed that categorical topographic position classes were more effective. For most arid and semiarid rangelands, livestock grazing distributions showed affinities for lowlands and flat plains compared with open slopes and uplands. In contrast to drier rangelands, livestock grazing distributions exhibited preference for upland and sloped areas of subtropical pastures, as low-lying areas with water-inundation likely curtailed selection. Across these diverse rangeland ecosystems of North America, results provide benchmark information on livestock grazing distribution to formulate improvements in adaptive management and decision making and incorporate technological advancements in precision livestock management to integrate abiotic environmental information with spatial movements of livestock and temporal vegetation dynamics.

Assessing Extensive Semi-Arid Rangeland Beef Cow-Calf Welfare in Namibia: Part 1: Comparison Between Farm Production System's Effect on the Welfare of Beef Cows.

Simple SummaryNamibia is in the process of updating animal welfare legislation. This needs to include an assessment protocol for beef cattle production systems that is sufficiently rigorous for the country to gain and maintain access to high-value beef export markets. Beef is produced in commercial and semi-commercial systems and in communal village farms. Privately owned commercial farms allow maximum herd and rangeland management to ensure optimum productivity and profitability. Village farms (semi-commercial and communal) have limited grazing land, with consequent challenges of grazing and water management, as well as traditional customs of cattle management. A protocol was developed to assess the welfare of beef cattle in the context of these production systems. The application of the welfare assessment protocol indicated that the standards of welfare differed across production systems, with commercial farms achieving the best standard of welfare, followed by semi-commercial, then communal village farms. The greatest opportunity for change exists within the semi-commercial village farms, which need to attain to the requirements imposed by international markets to maximize their returns; hence herd management and welfare status is better than in the purely communal farms. This suggests that commercialization of communal farming may have benefits for animal welfare.A proposed animal welfare assessment protocol for semi-arid rangeland-based cow–calf systems in Namibia combined 40 measures from a protocol developed for beef cattle in New Zealand with additional Namibia-specific measures. Preliminary validation of the protocol had been undertaken with five herds in one semi-commercial village. The aim of the current study was to apply this protocol and compare animal welfare across three cow–calf production systems in Namibia. A total of 2529 beef cows were evaluated during pregnancy testing in the yards of 17 commercial, 20 semi-commercial, and 18 communal (total: 55) herds followed by an assessment of farm resources and a questionnaire-guided interview. Non-parametric tests were used to evaluate the difference in the welfare scores between the production systems. The results indicated a discrepancy of animal welfare between the three farm types, with a marked separation of commercial farms from semi-commercial, and communal village farms in the least. The differences in these production systems were mainly driven by economic gains through access to better beef export market for commercial farms and semi-commercial villages, as well as by the differences in the available grazing land, facility designs/quality, and traditional customs in the village systems. The results indicate an advantage of commercialization over communalization.

Plant Morphoecological Traits, Grass-Weed Interactions and Water Use Efficiencies of Grasses Used for Restoration of African Rangelands

Degradation characterized by depleted vegetation cover is a serious environmental problem in African rangelands. It poses a serious threat to millions of pastoralists and agropastoralists who depend on livestock as a source of livelihood. Consequently, there has been a growing global interest to consolidate efforts to restore degraded ecosystems. For example, the UN decade of Ecosystem Restoration initiative aims at uniting the world behind a common goal of preventing, halting and reversing the degradation of ecosystems. Grass reseeding using native perennial species has been identified as one of the practical ecological strategies for restoring degraded African rangelands, enhancing vegetation cover and forage production. Knowledge of the multifaceted performance of African rangeland grasses in terms of morphoecological traits, interaction with weeds and water use efficiencies is however largely limited and often elusive. Perennial grasses indigenous to African rangelands Cenchrus ciliaris L. (African foxtail grass), Enteropogon macrostachyus (Hochst. Ex A. Rich.) Monro ex Benth. (Bush rye grass) and Eragrostis superba Peyr. (Maasai love grass), were established in an African semi-arid rangeland under natural conditions to fill this knowledge gap. Morphoecological plant traits: aboveground biomass (shoot, leaf and stem) production, plant densities, basal cover, tiller densities and plant height were measured 9 months after establishment. Interaction between the target grass species and weeds and water use efficiencies (WUE) were also determined. Enteropogon macrostachyus displayed significantly higher values for plant densities, tiller densities and basal cover, indices commonly used to estimate the potential of grasses for ecological restoration. Eragrostis superba produced the highest shoot biomass and water use efficiencies. This is attributed to its higher leafy biomass fraction. Higher aboveground biomass production of E. superba demonstrate its suitability for enhancing rangeland productivity. Cenchrus ciliaris suppressed the weeds. This is linked to its aggressive and allelopathic nature. In conclusion, the three perennial grasses displayed distinct morphoecological traits. In order to achieve successful seed-based restoration of degraded African rangelands using native perennial grasses, careful selection species to maximize on their unique traits is recommended. Ultimately, this selection process should match the desired restoration outcomes and subsequent use of the rangeland.