Costs and Returns of Camels,Cattle and Small Ruminants in Pastoral Herds in Eastern Ethiopia

Two questionnaire surveys (2×44) were conducted among pastoral households, using three grazing management systems. The average number of Tropical Livestock Units (250 kg) was 4.0 per member of the household. Milk production was the most important source of revenue (66% of the total) followed by sale of livestock (17%) and transport (16%). High mortality rates were recorded for all livestock. About 27% of the milk was sold fresh or as butter. Sedentary and transhumant grazing management systems showed similar levels of income, but nomads had a 2.6-fold higher overall net income. The average total gross income from the entire herd amounted to US$ 6382 per household per year. The calculated costs were 29% of the gross returns. The contribution to the total gross revenues of camels, cattle and small ruminants was 58%, 25% and 17%, respectively.     

Bush cover and range condition assessments in relation to landscape and grazing in southern Ethiopia

Progressive growth of bush cover in dry savannahs is responsible for declines in range conditions. In southern Ethiopia, the Booran pastoralists assisted our understanding of spatial patterns of bush cover and range conditions in 54 landscape patch types grouped into six landscape units within an area of 30000 km². The size of landscape patches sampled was 625 m². We assessed the relationships between bush cover, grass cover and bare soil and grazing pressure and soil erosion and changes in range condition. Externally, political conflicts and internally, break down of land use, and official bans on the use of fire promoted bush cover and the decline in range conditions. Bush cover was negatively correlated with grass cover, and positively correlated with bare soil. Grass cover was negatively correlated with bare soil and grazing pressure in most landscape patch types. Grazing pressure was not significantly correlated with bush cover or bare soil, while soil erosion was directly related to bare soil. Soil erosion was absent in 64% of the landscape patch types, and seemingly not a threat to the rangelands. The relationship between bush cover, grass cover, bare soil and soil erosion is complex and related to climate, landscape geology, and patterns of land use. Main threats to range conditions are bush climax, loss of grass cover and unpalatable forbs. Currently, >70% of the landscape patch types are in poor to fair range conditions. Decline in range conditions, unless reversed, will jeopardise the pastoral production system in southern Ethiopia.     

三江源区高寒草甸草场放牧牦牛采食量的测定

试验选用约2．5岁公牦牛8头，在三江源地区玉树县的高寒草甸草场，应用4N盐酸不溶灰分法（4N—AIA）和木质素标记物法测定了不同物候期（青草期和枯黄期）放牧牦牛日采食量及牧草营养成分的消化率。结果表明：2．5岁牦牛在青草期、枯黄期的100kg体重日采食量分别为3．69kg和2．96kg，差异极显著（P〈0.01）；其不同物候期的千物质消化率分别为65．70％、61．72％（P〉0．05），粗蛋白的消化率为62．25％、39．00％（P〈0．01），粗脂肪为49．36％、58．18％（P〈0．05），ADF的消化率为57．88％、62．67％（P〉0．05），NDF的消化率为69．09％、79．38％（P＜0．01）。     

暖季放牧犊牦牛对高寒草甸地区人工草地的影响

为更好地了解青藏高原高寒草甸区暖季放牧条件下人工草地牧草的生长特点,为制定合理放牧制度提供依据,于2001~2003年开展了暖季放牧牦牛对多年生人工草地影响的试验。结果表明:放牧2年后轮牧人工草地播种牧草比例为95.27%,连续放牧人工草地为86.15%,无放牧人工草地为58.01%。轮牧人工草地牧草月风干重最高值3 198.8 kg/hm2,连续放牧人工草地为3 023.2 kg/hm2。放牧可以提高人工草地牧草生长率,轮牧人工草地的牧草生长率高于连续放牧人工草地。放牧还影响着第2年播种牧草的生长,轮牧能促进种子出苗数,播种牧草的鲜重,风干重和种子产量分别达到了5 088.88 kg/hm2,3 053.33 kg/hm2和480 kg/hm2,均高于连续放牧人工草地和无放牧草地,轮牧人工草地杂草鲜草产量最低,为193.33 kg/hm2。适宜的放牧是保持人工草地可持续利用的手段之一。     

农牧交错区枯草期绵羊对补饲物采食行为研究

东北农牧交错区与牧区畜牧业生产不同,其中一个重要的不同点就是农牧交错区具有多种农副产品,这些农副产品在枯草期成为家畜丰富的干物质来源。而这些农副产品由于所含蛋白、纤维、口感等存在很大差异,因而家畜对其有不同的采食行为。对10种东北农牧交错区枯草期最主要的补饲物进行家畜采食行为的试验,为家畜的日常补饲及管理提供参考资料。结果表明:绿豆秸秆、葵盘、葵叶、羊草、玉米叶为补饲物的首选。     

农牧交错带适度人口规模与人口再分布初步研究——以阴山北部丘陵区武川县为例

农牧交错带即是国家一直重视的区域也是众多专家学者高度关注的区域,作为一个生态脆弱区,人口、环境与社会经济的协调发展一直是寻根问底的问题。在众多的研究成果中多从生态环境优化、土地利用、经济发展等角度进行了探讨。本文在众多学者研究基础上,测算了土地适度人口规模、经济适度人口规模,并进一步测算了武川县乡城人口转化的进程与规模,从理论与现实角度展示了控制人口,加快转化的必要性。     

放牧因子与VA菌根的相互作用对鸭茅养分吸收和生长发育的影响

探讨了放牧因子与VA菌根的相互作用对鸭茅(Dactylis glomerataL.)养分吸收和生长发育的影响。菌根效应表现在不施磷肥条件下的鸭茅地上部生育与地上、地下部的磷素营养上,但对地上部生育的效应因刈割次数的增加而降低,对地上、地下部磷素营养的效应因土壤镇压而降低。菌根对鸭茅钙素营养的效应只见于不施磷肥条件下的土壤镇压处理,而在相同条件下菌根却降低了鸭茅的镁含量。说明VA菌根对鸭茅磷素营养和生长发育的效应与土壤磷营养有关,而且因地上部的过度采食和土壤镇压而降低。     

Can the occurrence of Senecio jacobaea be influenced by management practice?

Senecio jacobaea is a poisonous weed in grasslands of various countries (e.g. Great Britain, New Zealand, Central European states) and the further spread of the species into farmland must be prevented. To assess the influence of management practice and site conditions on the occurrence of S. jacobaea, we conducted a survey in the northern and central part of Switzerland. Botanical assessments were carried out on grassland plots with S. jacobaea occurrence and on neighbour plots without S. jacobaea. For these plots, we analysed the soil nutrients and the details of management practice, such as type and intensity of management and fertiliser application. The most important factors influencing the occurrence of S. jacobaea were related to management: There was a high risk for the occurrence of the species on parcels with low nitrogen fertilisation, continuous‐extensive grazing (set stocking) and a very open sward. Senecio jacobaea was not present in intensively managed meadows cut more than twice per year. As an exception, with a high propagule pressure from the vicinity, S. jacobaea was also found in intensively grazed pastures and in meadows of moderate management intensity (two cuts). We conclude that long‐term control of S. jacobaea can best be achieved by avoiding sward damage and by preventing the species’ seed formation in the pasture and local vicinity.     

高山草原绵羊放牧生态及消化代谢的研究：Ⅰ放牧绵羊嗜食性研究

利用植物显微技术镜检法和食道瘘管法对放牧绵羊采食的高山草原植物成分与嗜食性指数进行分析。结果表明，绵羊在黄草期采食植物成分比青草期多，其嗜食性指数在不同时期变幅较大，随着冬季来临，绵羊对草地植物的嗜食性不如青草期强烈，至某些植物嗜食性是相对稳定的。     

Vegetation,Wildlife, and Livestock Responses to Planned Grazing Management in an African Pastoral Landscape

Rangelands are vital for wildlife conservation and socio‐economic well‐being, but many face widespread degradation because in part of poor grazing management practices. Planned grazing management, typically involving time‐controlled rotational livestock grazing, is widely touted as a tool for promoting sustainable rangelands. However, real‐world assessments of its efficacy have been lacking in communal pastoral landscapes globally, and especially in Africa. We performed landscape‐scale assessment of the effects of planned grazing on selected vegetation, wildlife, and cattle attributes across wide‐ranging communally managed pastoral rangelands in northern Kenya. We found that planned grazing enhanced vegetation condition through a 17% increase in normalized difference vegetation index, 45–234% increases in herbaceous vegetation foliar cover, species richness and diversity, and a 70% reduction in plant basal gap. In addition, planned grazing increased the presence (44%) and species richness (53%) of wild ungulates and improved cattle weight gain (>71%) during dry periods when cattle were in relatively poor condition. These changes occurred relatively rapidly (within 5 years) and despite grazing incursion incidents and higher livestock stocking rates in planned grazing areas. These results demonstrate, for the first time in Africa, the positive effects of planned grazing implementation in communal pastoral rangelands. These improvements can have broad implications for biodiversity conservation and pastoral livelihoods. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.