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.     

豆科牧草接种根瘤菌增产技术的应用

豆科牧草接种根瘤菌技术，即在种植豆科牧草时，将牧草种籽进行丸衣化接种根瘤菌技术处理，使豆科牧草幼苗提早形成有效根瘤，增强其固氮能力，固定空气中的游离氮素，使其转化为能被牧草吸收利用的氮肥，进而提高牧草产量和营养品质，降低畜牧业生产成本，增加养畜效益。同时，可改善土壤结构，提高土壤肥力，节省施用化肥带来的巨大经济投入，避免施用化肥造成的对土壤、环境和产品的污染问题。对于生态农业和生态畜牧业建设，实施可持续发展战略，具有广泛的应用价值和前景。１试验地基本概况试验地设在齐齐哈尔市所属富裕、甘南、依安、…     

草原畜牧业发展与牧民收入增长

长期以来,由于自然、社会、历史等多方面的原因,我国草原严重退化,草原生态环境持续恶化,草原畜牧业发展后劲不足、牧区经济发展落后、牧民收入增长缓慢的三牧问题逐渐显露,经济发展与生态保护的矛盾日益突出。本文以全国农村固定观察点牧区住户调查数据为基础,对内蒙、青海、西藏、甘肃、新疆等五大牧区的固定观察户近几年生产与收入数据进行系统测算,在全面分析牧区草地资源和农牧民收入现状的基础上、探讨影响农牧民收入增长的原因以及增加农牧民收入面临的矛盾和困难,结合牧区当前的发展实际,提出促进牧区发展、牧民增收的对策建议。     

辽宁省饲草供需及草畜平衡现状分析

本文利用《2008年辽宁省统计年鉴》中粮食、青饲料、家畜存栏量等农业产量和草地面积等资料,运用定量与定性分析相结合的方法,对辽宁省饲草供给与需求进行分析论证,指出优质牧草的严重短缺成为限制辽宁省畜牧业发展的主要因素,开发利用优质高效人工饲草是饲草产业发展的重点和方向。     

西藏日喀则地区野生优良牧草驯化利用现状

西藏日喀则地区地理环境独特,该地区草地建设中长期存在牧草品种、类型单一及适应性差等问题。主要简述了野生优良牧草植物特点、驯化意义,以及西藏日喀则地区的自然概况、牧草引种驯化研究现状与制约因素．并介绍了野生牧草驯化方法,以期为促进西藏日喀则地区野生牧草合理利用与草业科学的发展提供参考。     

北方牧区种草养畜综合配套技术及其推广效益

通过对草地进行科学管理、合理利用及培育改良,建立优质高产的饲料基地,开展饲草料加工、调制、青(微)贮,采用以肉羊为主的模式化育肥技术,提高了种草养畜的整体生产水平。1996～1997年新增总产值7555.15万元,新增纯收益5037.67万元,实现了草地生态、牧业生产的良性循环,为发展草地畜牧业现代化走出了一条新路。     

白羊草灌丛草地优势种牧草营养物质及瘤胃降解动态研究

对白羊草灌丛草地优势种牧草白羊草、达乌里胡枝子、尖叶铁扫帚、铁杆蒿和隐子草的营养动态进行了研究,结果表明:随着生育期的延续,牧草粗蛋白质和粗灰分含量逐渐降低,而酸性洗涤纤维和中性洗涤纤维则呈相反的趋势;豆科牧草与铁杆蒿的粗蛋白质含量以现蕾期为转折点,禾本科牧草则以开花初期粗蛋白质含量较高.同时,对白羊草和达乌里胡枝子在绵羊瘤胃内的降解动态的研究表明:粗蛋白质含量高的其粗蛋白质降解率高,白羊草在开花期的粗蛋白质降解率高于抽穗期,但稍低于拔节期,达乌里胡枝子在现蕾期的粗蛋白质降解率高于分枝期;瘤胃降解率在前24h迅速上升,之后则较平缓;8月份白羊草处于开花期,为地上生物量的高峰期,对放牧极为有利.     

Grass tetany in a herd of beef cows

Five cows in a herd of 15 cattle that had just been turned out onto lush pasture after having over-wintered on poor quality hay died suddenly. Biochemical profiles collected from the cadavers revealed reduced serum levels of magnesium, urea, and beta-hydroxybutycate. Classical grass tetany (hypomagnesemia) was diagnosed on postmortem examination.     

Livestock ectoparasites: integrated management in a changing climate

The prevalence of livestock ectoparasites is the result of a complex interaction of factors such as parasite and host abundance, host susceptibility, climate and, critically, farmer husbandry and intervention strategies, all of which change seasonally in space and time. Given the complexity of the interacting factors, the effects of any climate change on disease incidence are hard to predict, as accordingly are the optimal husbandry responses required to ameliorate any effects. Here cutaneous myiasis in sheep, by the blowfly Lucilia sericata in the United Kingdom, is used to highlight the impact of a range of such issues. Cutaneous myiasis would be expected to be highly sensitive to even small changes in climate and therefore provides a good model to illustrate the problems inherent in attempting to predict the effect of climate change on livestock disease incidence. Both simulation and spatial species distribution models, show that the range of elevated temperatures predicted by current climate change scenarios are likely to result in an elongated blowfly season with earlier spring emergence and a higher cumulative incidence of strike. Strike incidence would be expected to increase, particularly for ewes in early summer. However, under higher IPCC emissions senarios (+3 °C), parts of central and southern England may become too hot and dry for strike by L. sericata to persist in mid-summer. Under these conditions, it is possible that other, more pathogenic Mediterranean agents of myiasis, such as Wohlfahrtia magnifica could replace L. sericata. Nevertheless, the models suggest that simple changes in some husbandry practices, such as shearing or trap use, could have an important effect in reducing early season ewe strike incidences by L. sericata. The work reviewed here, suggests that climate warming is likely to increase the risk of fly strike incidence, with consequent animal welfare and economic problems. However, practical measures exist which, with modest changes in husbandry practices, should be able to manage expected increases in strike, under the range of climate changes currently predicted. The work demonstrates that attempts to predict the likely impact of climate change on disease incidence must take into account changes in farmer behaviour and animal management practices as well as parasite biology.     

Retroperitoneal Abscess Associated With a Migrating Grass Awn in a Cat: Treatment With Omentalization and Grass Awn Removal

An 18-month-old domestic short hair male castrated cat presented with a history of fever of unknown origin of 1-year duration. Abdominal ultrasound revealed a mixed echogenicity mass. Cytological examination of the fluid obtained through fine needle aspiration was consistent with a retroperitoneal abscess. The cat underwent a midline celiotomy and the abscess was opened, lavaged, and omentalized. Antibiotics were also administered. Two months after surgery, the cat represented with a fluctuant swelling in the right flank region at the lumbodorsal triangle. Abdominal and mass ultrasound showed a mixed echogenicity swelling in the right flank. Under gas anesthesia, the swelling was surgically explored and a 0.4 cm long grass awn was found and removed. Telephone communication with the owners 6 months after surgery found the cat to be free of clinical signs.     

Increasing hatchability of turkey eggs by injecting eggs with pyridoxine

1. In field trials, eggs from two flocks of Large White turkey hens were injected with about 0.2 ml saline solution containing 600 μg of pyridoxine hydrochloride in order to examine its effect on hatchability.

2. Also, in an aseptic laboratory trial, eggs from Large White turkey hens were injected with 0.2 ml of saline solution and 0.2 ml of saline solution containing 600 μg of pyridoxine hydrocholoride.

3. In field trials, hatchability of pyridoxine‐injected eggs was 4.6% higher (P<0.05) than the control (non‐injected) eggs.

4. In the aseptic laboratory trial, hatchability of pyridoxine‐injected eggs was 4.2% higher (P<0.05) than saline‐injected and control (non‐injected) eggs.     

Shrub Encroachment Under the Trees Diversifies the Herb Layer in a Romanian Silvopastoral System

Rangelands with scattered trees are complex and dynamic systems with a long history in Europe. Generally referred to as “wood-pastures,” they are considered to have outstanding conservation value. Thorny shrubs are important for supporting the biodiversity of these wooded rangelands, as well as facilitating the regeneration of trees by acting as nurse species. We assess the direct effects of temporary shrub encroachment under the cover of mature sparse trees on overall plant and habitat diversity. We surveyed the herb layer of the main landscape features of a wood-pasture: open pasture, trees with a grass understory, trees with shrubs, and adjacent forest edges. The herb layer under trees with shrubs resembled that of forest edges more than open pastures and trees with grass. Trees with grass had a higher cover of ruderal species than trees with shrubs, while forest edges and open pastures had a lower cover of them. Forest species were absent from open pastures but were well represented in the other sites. The herb layer of trees with shrubs and forest edges had similar cover values, while trees with grass had a significantly lower cover of herbs than the other types. Trees with shrubs had higher species richness than any of the other three landscape features and had a much higher proportion of diagnostic species. We conclude that the scattered trees and shrubs of the studied silvopastoral system have additive facilitative effects on their understory, probably through modifying the microenvironment and grazing pressure, leading to the formation of temporary diversity hot spots with distinct vegetation. Thus maintaining a moderate level of shrub-encroachment under sparse trees is recommended for not only creating safe havens for tree recruitment but also increasing the overall species and habitat diversity of wood-pastures.