藏北紫花针茅高寒草原适宜放牧率研究

通过5年的放牧试验研究了藏北紫花针茅高寒草原地上现存量和草地净初级生产力以及藏系绵羊采食量和采食率,以期能够准确制定藏北高寒草原适宜放牧率。研究结果表明,试验初期放牧强度对藏北紫花针茅高寒草地现存量的影响并不显著;随着试验后期对放牧强度增倍,草地地上现存量随放牧强度增加而减少。放牧样地地上净初级生产力在试验初期高于对照样地,但随着放牧强度和时间的增加,到2010年时对照样地净初级生产力明显高于放牧处理(P<0.05)。绵羊采食量与放牧强度间存在显著负相关(P<0.05);绵羊采食率大小顺序为:重牧>轻牧>中牧。综合分析试验结果,轻度放牧条件下,不仅草地现存量和净初级生产力最大,并且绵羊采食量也为最大,因此建议在牧草生长季内藏北紫花针茅高寒草原放牧率应低于4只/1.67 hm²为宜。     

链烷技术估测典型草原不同放牧率绵羊食性食量方法研究

为了进一步探讨饱和链烷技术在典型草原自由放牧家畜中的应用,定量研究自由放牧绵羊食性及食量,于2004年6-9月在中国科学院内蒙古草原生态系统定位研究站放牧样地进行试验,选择体重及体况相近、健康无病的二岁羯羊(内蒙古细毛羊×蒙古羊)60只,按体重(36.9±2.6) kg聚类分组,设置6种放牧率(0,1.33,2.67,4.00,5.33和6.67羊/hm²)的轮牧实验,绵羊采食量的测定选择放牧率为1.33,4.00和6.67羊/hm²的处理,试验开始,每只羊投喂1粒QSM饱和链烷缓释胶囊。食性测定选用全部的放牧率进行,同时辅助全粪法、扣笼法一同评价。试验期内定期收集试验地牧草样品及绵羊粪便样品,使用气相色谱分析牧草和粪样中的链烷含量,应用链烷技术估测放牧绵羊的排粪量、牧草采食比例和干物质采食量。结果表明,植物链烷模式存在种间差异,运用链烷技术估测的排粪量和实际测得排粪量差异不显著(P>0.05),放牧绵羊主要采食7~9种牧草,且不同放牧季节不同放牧率绵羊采食的牧草种类和比例不同,但采食量差异不显著(P>0.05)。本研究表明,运用链烷技术结合扣笼方法可以估测天然草地自由放牧家畜牧草的采食比例、干物质采食量和排粪量。     

Impact of grazing intensity on herbage intake, composition, and digestibility and on live weight gain of sheep on the Inner Mongolian steppe

High grazing pressure during the last decades caused severe ecological problems in the steppe of Inner Mongolia, China. The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of grazing intensity of sheep on herbage mass (HM) and intake, chemical composition and digestibility of herbage, and on live weight gain (LWG). A grazing experiment with six different grazing intensities (1.5, 3.0, 4.5, 6.0, 7.5, and 9.0 sheep/ha) was conducted in the growing season of 2005 in the Xilin River Basin. HM decreased from 1.5 t DM/ha at the lowest grazing intensity to 0.6 t DM/ha at the highest grazing intensity. NDF content of the herbage was high (> 700 g/kg DM) and relatively constant, whereas acid detergent lignin (ADL) content increased with grazing intensity and with proceeding grazing season. Digestibility of organic matter ingested (DOM) tended to decrease with grazing intensity as well as intake of organic matter (OMI) and of digestible organic matter (DOMI) per sheep (P = 0.090 and P = 0.065, respectively), whereas LWG per sheep decreased with increasing grazing intensity (P = 0.018). DOM and OMI were negatively related to ADL content. However, herbage intake and LWG per ha increased with grazing intensity (P < 0.001) and reached their maximum at 9 and 7.5 sheep per ha, respectively. This observation confirms the current farmers' practise of high grazing pressure ignoring long term grassland productivity and ecological problems. Therefore, the studies are continued to provide further information on long term effects. This study could show pronounced effects of grazing intensity on animal and grassland productivity and the suitability of the methods applied to measure intake and digestibility of herbage in a large scale grazing experiment with sheep.     

内蒙古典型草原草畜系统适宜放牧率的研究Ⅱ.以牧草地上现存量和净初级生产力为管理目标

本文以放牧管理中放牧率与牧草地上现存量及净初级生产力之间的关系,分析和探讨内蒙古典型草原草-畜系统的适宜放牧率。尽管草原地上现存量随着放牧率的增大而降低,采食率随着放牧率的增大而增大,但最大地上净初级生产力则以2.67羊/hm²最大。结果表明,在冷蒿小禾草退化草原,确定最大地上净初级生产力的适宜放牧率,既要考虑地上现存量的大小,又要兼顾采食量,因而将草原状况与放牧率有机结合,综合的判断标准较为适用。此类退化草原最大地上净初级生产力的放牧率约为2.7羊/hm²,此时,个体增重和公顷增重分别为最大个体增重和公顷增重的87%和70%以上。因此,冷蒿退化草原的最大放牧率不应超过该放牧率值。     

放牧绵羊行为生态学研究：Ⅳ.放牧绵羊白天主要牧食行为参数间的关系和变化

试验结果表明，在较低放牧率条件下，采食时间、进食速率和采食量相对稳定；采食口数和采食速度随放牧时期的推移而减少，每口采食量有所增大；采食口数、采食速度和每步采食口数均与每口采食量呈负相关；每步采食口数与采食速度呈高度正相关，其回归方程为ｙ∧＝６．１１８１＋４．５５２１ｘ（ｒ２＝０．８１＊＊）；各放牧时期基本上都有３个进食率峰值，且上午进食量只占全天采食量的１／３～１／２，所占比例随放牧时期推移而增大；不同放牧率的研究结果也有类似的关系。     

内蒙古典型草原草畜系统适宜放牧率的研究Ⅰ.以绵羊增重及经济效益为管理目标

(1)绵羊个体增重与放牧率呈线性负相关,个体最大增重临界放牧率,因季节不同而变化,随着个体增重与放牧率回归系数b绝对值的增大而降低,以始、终放牧期间所得临界放牧率最小,(2.04羊/hm²)。(2)公顷增重与放牧率的关系符合二次曲线,在达到公顷最大增重以前,随着放牧率的增大而增大,之后则随着放牧率的增大而下降,平均543羊/hm²。(3)公顷最大增重并不一定获取公顷最大利润,主要视买卖价格及其差值而定。(4)以冷蒿小禾草为主的退化草原,宜以个体最大增重的适宜放牧率作为管理标准,以使该类草原在利用中得以恢复。     

用食道瘘管测定放牧绵羊日采食牧草干物质量

采用食道瘘管技术与两级离体消化试验及外源指示剂Cr_2O_3测定日排粪量技术3结合的方法,在新疆南山夏秋两季牧场分别进行放牧中国美利奴细毛绵羊牧草干物质采食量的测定。测得夏牧场上18只放牧母羊采食牧草干物质量平均为96.02±7.408克/体重公斤~(0.75)和日排粪干物质量平均为38.72±4.20克/体重公斤~(0.75)。秋牧场上8只放牧母羊采食牧草干物质量平均为75.41±5.799克/体重公斤~(0.75)和日排粪干物质量为38.31±2.73克/体重公斤(0.75)。测得用3只食道瘘管羊采集夏秋牧场上牧草标样的干物质消化率分别为59.65±2.376％与49.02±5.538％,秋季采食牧草干物质量及消化率均显著大于秋季(p<0.001)。两季牧场的日排粪干物质量没有显著性差异(p>0.05)。     

Performance and Economic Returns of Stocker Cattle on Tallgrass Prairie Under Different Grazing Management Strategies

A 4-yr study was conducted to determine performance of stocker calves on tallgrass prairie under three grazing management strategies. Pastures were assigned to one of three grazing treatments. Grazing was initiated in June, and pastures were grazed only during the summer months for 57 to 104 d (79.5 ± 20.7 d). Two of the pastures were grazed season-long. Calves in one of the season-long treatments were fed a protein supplement during the second half of the grazing season; calves in the other season-long treatment were not supplemented (control group). The third pasture, an intensive early stocking (IES) treatment, was grazed at twice the stocking rate used in the season-long pastures for the first half of the grazing season (40 ± 11 d) and rested for the second half (39.5 ± 10 d). Individual stocker performance during the first half of the summer was similar among grazing treatments. Providing supplemental protein during the second half of the grazing season increased BW gain by 30 kg/ha during the last 40 d of the 80-d grazing season and increased BW gain by 12 kg/ha for the entire summer. Over the summer, IES stocker calves produced 24% more gain/ha than season-long stocked calves. Nonetheless, IES management was not more profitable than season-long grazing with or without protein supplementation. Under short-term ownership of calves in the IES system, fixed costs represented a large portion of the total cost.     

Stocking rate and the productivity of Rhodes grass pastures on the Lilongwe plain,Malawi

An experiment was undertaken over three wet (summer) seasons to investigate the effects of different set stocking rates on animal performance from fertilised Rhodes grass pastures. The three set stocking rates were 2.5, 5 and 7.5 livestock-units/ha (1 livestock unit=342 kg liveweight). Pasture productivity was related to stocking intensity. Animal gain per hectare was directly related to stocking rate. Gain per animal, gain per livestock unit and number of grazing days were all inversely proportional to stocking rate. Animals on the low stocking rate were carried through almost to the end of the dry (winter) season with only small changes in liveweight. The practical significance of the results is discussed.     

Response of lambs to continuous and rotational grazing at four grazing intensities on Midmar Italian ryegrass

Abstract

Irrigated Midmar Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) was grazed either continuously or rotationally at four grazing intensities by three successive sets of weaned lambs for the winter, spring and summer periods, respectively. The “put‐and‐take” system was applied. In the case of continuous grazing, amounts of available dry matter (DM) per hectare were varied, whereas with rotational grazing different grazing intensities were established by allocating different amounts of DM per unit livemass. Amounts of DM on offer were determined in both systems to provide a basis for comparison.

There were no differences in average daily gain (ADG) at equivalent levels of available DM between grazing procedures in winter. In both spring and summer, however, ADG at given levels of available DM was greater (P ≤0,01) with continuous than with rotational grazing. Stocking rate at equivalent levels of available DM was higher (P ≤0,01) for rotational as compared with continuous grazing in winter and summer, but in summer, grazing procedure had no effect on stocking rate. There was an interaction between stocking rate and grazing method in winter (P ≤0,01). At high stocking rates, ADG were higher (P ≤0,01) under rotational than under continuous grazing. In spring and summer the ADG for continuous grazing was higher (P ≤0,01) than that for rotational grazing at equivalent stocking rates. The estimated stocking rates for maximum gains/ha ranged in the different seasons from 45 to 123 lambs/ha.     

不同放牧强度下高寒草甸矮嵩草无性系分株构件的研究

对放牧强度分别为０、２、４、８（藏羊只／ｈｍ２）的矮嵩草无性系各构件数量和地上生物量进行了研究。结果表明随放牧强度的加重每分株生殖分蘖数、分蘖地上生物量、营养和生殖地上生物量呈下降的趋势，而营养生物量占分蘖生物量的分配比例呈上升趋势。在不放牧的情况下，矮嵩草无性系分株总数小，其各构件地上生物量和生殖分蘖数高（Ｐ＜０．００１）；每分株分蘖数、营养分蘖数及杆叶比低（Ｐ＜０．００１）。     

Effects of nitrogen fertilization and dried distillers grains supplementation: nitrogen use efficiency

In a 3-yr study, 135 crossbred steers (330 ± 10 kg) were used in a randomized complete block design to evaluate corn dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) fed to yearling steers as a substitute for forage and N fertilizer and its effect on N use efficiency in yearling steers grazing smooth bromegrass pastures. Steers were initially stocked at 6.8 animal unit months (AUM)/ha on nonfertilized smooth bromegrass pastures (CONT), at 9.9 AUM/ha on smooth bromegrass pastures fertilized with 90 kg of N/ha (FERT), or at 9.9 AUM/ha on nonfertilized smooth bromegrass pastures with 2.3 kg (DM) of DDGS supplemented daily per steer (SUPP). Paddock was the experimental unit, with 3 replications per treatment per year for 3 yr. Paddocks were strip-grazed, and put-and-take cattle were used to maintain similar grazing pressure among treatment paddocks during the 160-d grazing season. Steers consumed less forage (P < 0.01), but total N intake for SUPP was greater (P < 0.01) per steer and per hectare than for FERT, and both were greater (P < 0.01) than for CONT. Nitrogen retention for steers in the SUPP treatment was increased (P < 0.01) by 31% compared with N retention in the CONT and FERT treatments. Nitrogen retention per hectare for SUPP was 30 and 98% greater (P < 0.01) than N retention per hectare for FERT and CONT, respectively. Nitrogen excretion per steer and per hectare were also greater (P < 0.01) for SUPP than FERT, and both were increased (P < 0.01) compared with CONT. Animal N use efficiency was similar (P = 0.29) for steers in the CONT, FERT, and SUPP treatments. However, system-based N use improved (P < 0.01) by 144% for SUPP compared with FERT. The DDGS increased N intake and N excretion in yearling steers. However, because of improvements in BW gain and increases in stocking rate of pastures, DDGS can be a useful tool to increase the efficiency of N use in smooth bromegrass grazing systems.     

草原放牧系统持续管理试验研究:试验设计及放牧率对草-畜系统影响分析

在内蒙古典型草原区中国科学院草原生态定位站研究不同放牧率、放牧方式和放牧季节对草原植物和家畜生产的影响。结果表明,地上现存量随着放牧率的增加而降低,但达到峰值的日期提前了。地上生物量与放牧率无明显趋向性变化。家畜增重随着放牧率的增大而下降,公顷总增重与放牧率成二次曲线关系。将放牧率对草原生产力的动态确定为可持续放牧率和改良放牧率。     

Steers performance in dwarf elephant grass pastures alone or mixed with Arachis pintoi

The inclusion of legumes in pasture reduces the need for mineral nitrogen applications and the pollution of groundwater; however, the agronomic and animal husbandry advantages with tropical legumes are still little known. The objective of this study was to quantify the effect of the use of forage peanut (Arachis pintoi cv. Amarillo) in dwarf elephant grass pastures (Pennisetum purpureum cv. BRS Kurumi) on forage intake and animal performance. The experimental treatments were dwarf elephant grass fertilized with 200 kg?N/ha, and dwarf elephant grass mixed with forage peanut without mineral fertilizers. The animals used for the experiment were 12 Charolais steers (body weight (BW)?=?288?±?5.2 kg) divided into four lots (two per treatment). Pastures were managed under intermittent stocking with an herbage allowance of 5.4 kg dry matter of green leaves/100 kg BW. Dry matter intake (mean?=?2.44 % BW), the average daily gain (mean?=?0.76 kg), and the stocking rate (mean?=?3.8 AU/ha) were similar between the studied pastures, but decreased drastically in last grazing cycle with the same herbage allowance. The presence of peanut in dwarf elephant grass pastures was enough to sustain the stocking rate, but did not allow increasing forage intake and animal performance.     

甘南玛曲夏季牧场欧拉型藏羊牧食行为的研究

为研究甘南玛曲夏季牧场草地状况对欧拉型藏羊牧食行为的影响,根据草地植被特征,通过野外调查了解甘南玛曲夏季牧场的草地状况,并采用跟踪观测的方法对欧拉型藏羊的牧食行为进行观察。结果表明:在夏季草场的昼采食时间最长(约450 min),游走时间较长(约80 min);反刍和站立时间基本相近,分别为32 min和28 min;夏季牧场白天的卧息时间非常少,约8 min。采食时间与地上生物量和牧草盖度成正相关(r=0.782, 0.902; P>0.05);昼反刍时间与牧草高度成极显著正相关(r=0.995; P<0.01);昼卧息时间与地上生物量成极显著负相关(r=-0.9994; P<0.01);昼站立时间与牧草高度成显著正相关(r=0.989; P<0.05),与牧草盖度成极显著负相关(r=-0.995; P<0.01);昼游走时间与牧草盖度成负相关(r=-0.905; P>0.05)。随牧草高度的增加,欧拉型藏羊的昼采食时间呈下降趋势,但采食时间占放牧时间的71.4%;由于夏季牧场牧草幼嫩多汁,欧拉型藏羊采食牧草后的反刍和卧息行为较少。     

放牧强度对高寒草地产草量及羊体质量增加的影响

以托云牧场高寒草地为研究对象,通过设置3个放牧样地,一个对照样地,研究不同强度放牧对草地地上生物量的影响以及在不同放牧压力下羊体质量增加的效果。结果表明,1）托云牧场是以银穗草（Leucopoa albida）、羊茅（Festuca arioides）、点地梅（Androsace umbellata）和棘豆（Oxytropis falcatae）为优势种的高山草地;2）高寒草地地上生物量较低,禁牧区7月地上生物量（干物质）仅830 kg·hm-2;3）放牧活动对地上生物量有较大影响,重度放牧能显著降低牧场地上生物量;4）以羊体质量增加值为评价指标,该高寒牧场在载畜量为1.05羊单位·hm-2时能获得较好的体质量增加效果。     

短花针茅草原放牧系统植物补偿性生长的研究：Ⅰ.植物净生长量

试验于１９９６￣１９９７年在内蒙古农牧学院哈雅教学牧场，研究２岁杂种羯羊在短花针茅荒漠草原不同载畜率下植物的净重复一。结果表明，１９９６年５个载畜率处理地上净生长量与对照区差异不显著（Ｐ〉０．０５），植物表现等补偿性生长。在１９９７年干旱年份，当载畜率小于２．０只羊／半年／ｈｍ＾２时，放牧区地上净生长量与对照间差异不显著（Ｐ〉０．０５），植物表现等补偿性生长。当载畜率大于２．０只羊／半年／ｈｍ＾２     

Grazing Systems for Yearling Cattle on Tallgrass Prairie

This 9-yr study tested steer gains, residual aboveground biomass (AGB) in mid-July and early October, and economic returns and risk for tallgrass prairie grazed annually under season-long stocking (SLS) at 1.62 ha · steer⁻¹ until early October or intensive early stocking (IES) at 0.81 ha · steer⁻¹ until mid-July compared to a composite grazing system. The three-pasture, three-herd “IES+ System” is a 3-yr fixed sequence of SLS, IES, and IES (0.81 ha · steer⁻¹) plus late-season grazing (LSG; 1.62 ha · steer⁻¹) until early October (IES/LSG). All grazing treatments began in late April. Average gains per steer for SLS and SLS in the IES+ System did not differ, but were significantly less than gains for steers that grazed the entire season under IES/LSG. Gains per steer in mid-July under IES alone or in combination with LSG were similar to the same repeated grazing treatments, but were significantly less than those for steers grazed season-long. Gains per hectare under SLS did not differ, but were significantly less than those for IES treatments and the IES+ System. Gain per hectare in July was similar for IES repeated annually and IES/LSG, but there was greater gain per hectare for IES-treated pastures rotated within the system. Residual grass and total aboveground biomass (AGB) in mid-July did not vary among years and was generally greater on SLS than IES. In early October, grass AGB was similar for all treatments except IES/LSG, which had less residual AGB. When pasture rent was charged per head, the IES+ System increased the 20-yr mean return per hectare by $5.98 compared to repeated use of IES, and $8.52 compared to using only SLS. Measures of economic risk were generally intermediate for the IES+ system compared to IES, which consistently had the highest risk, and SLS.     

Cattle performance and production when grazing Bermudagrass at two forage mass levels in the southern Piedmont

Performance and production of growing cattle (Bos taurus) on Coastal Bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] pasture are affected by forage allowance, but possible interactions with fertilizer nutrient source (i.e., inorganic vs. organic) and time have not been well described. We evaluated the effects of 3 nutrient sources with equivalent N rates: 1) inorganic, 2) crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) cover crop plus inorganic, and 3) chicken (Gallus gallus) broiler litter, factorially arranged with 2 residual forage mass levels [grazing to maintain high (4,528 +/- 1,803 kg/ha) and low (2,538 +/- 1,264 kg/ha) forage mass], on cattle stocking density, ADG, and BW gain during 5 consecutive summer grazing seasons. Across grazing seasons, residual forage mass and nutrient source both affected response variables, but interactions between these variables were rarely significant (P < or = 0.10). Across grazing seasons and nutrient sources, increasing grazing pressure to maintain a lower forage mass reduced ADG (0.67 vs. 0.88 kg/d; P < 0.001) but increased BW gain/ha (726 vs. 578 kg/ha; P < 0.001) due to greater stocking density (8.7 vs. 5.8 steers/ha, P < 0.001; mean BW of growing Angus steers of 212 kg). Inorganic fertilization led to greater stocking density than other nutrient sources (8.2 vs. 6.8 steers/ha, P < 0.001) because of greater forage production. Stocking density to achieve the 2 targeted forage mass levels was widely different during the initial grazing seasons of the study but nearly similar at the end of 5 yr. Cattle performance tended to decline with time during each grazing season under both residual forage mass levels, perhaps as a result of declining forage quality, because performance was positively associated with grazing season precipitation under high forage mass. Steer BW gain/ha was greater (P < 0.05) with lower forage mass early in the grazing season of all years but not necessarily later in the grazing season. Steer BW gain/ha was also greater (P < 0.05) with a lower forage mass during the early years of the study but was similar during the later years of the study. Significant variations in cattle performance and production with time confirmed the short-term seasonal effects but suggested that the long-term effects may also be of importance in maintaining productivity and environmental quality of grazed pastures.     

Livestock Grazing Impacts on Herbage and Shrub Dynamics in a Mediterranean Natural Park

Shrub encroachment can be explained by the abandonment of extensive livestock farming and changes to land use, and it is a common problem in the Mediterranean mountain pastures of Europe, with direct effects on biodiversity and landscape quality. In this paper, the effects of livestock exclusion vs. grazing on the dynamics of shrub and herbaceous vegetation were analyzed in a Spanish natural park located in a dry Mediterranean mountain area over a 5-yr period. Twelve 10 × 10 m exclosures were set up in six representative pasture areas of the park (with two replicates per location). Each year, the shrub number, volume, and biomass were measured in April, and the herbage height, biomass, and quality were measured in April and December (which represent the start and end of the vegetative growth season). A sustained increase of the shrub population and individual biomass was observed throughout the study, which was reflected in total shrub biomass per ha. Growth was greater in nongrazed exclosures (2 563 kg dry matter [DM] · ha^?1 · yr^?1), but it also happened in the grazed control areas (1 173 kg DM · ha^?1 · yr^?1), with different patterns depending on the location and shrub species. Herbage biomass did not change when grazing was maintained, but it did increase in places where grazing was excluded (291 kg DM · ha^?1 · yr^?1), mostly as a consequence of the accumulation of dead material, with a concomitant reduction in herbage quality. It was concluded that at the current stocking rates and management regimes, grazing alone is not enough to prevent the intense dynamics of shrub encroachment, and further reductions in grazing pressure should be avoided.