Effect of genotype and level of supplementary concentrate on foraging activity and vegetation cover in an organic free-range pig system

Abstract

The objectives were to investigate the effects of genotype and level of concentrate on foraging activity and vegetation cover in an organic pasture-based system for growing-finishing pigs. A 44% reduction in the allowance of concentrate more than doubled the rooting activity. The effect of feeding strategy on grazing was less pronounced; this behaviour only tended to be more frequent in the pigs fed restrictedly compared to the pigs fed according to recommendations. There were no significant differences in rooting activity between genotypes; however, the ‘traditional’ genotype grazed significantly more than the ‘modern’ genotype. The vegetation cover declined significantly faster in the paddocks with restrictedly fed pigs than in the paddocks with pigs fed according to recommendations. A restriction in the allowance of concentrate is a valuable tool for stimulating rooting behaviour in integrated systems where the pigs’ rooting behaviour is considered a resource in relation to, for example, soil tillage.     

补奖禁牧平衡对酒泉草原生产力影响监测

为验证国家补奖政策草原禁牧促进生态平衡,酒泉市对9个主要草地类型的典型区域,设置固定样地79个,对草地植物盖度、高度、种数、产草量等四项草地生产力指标进行了定点监测,共获得有效样方150个.通过两年数据对比分析,表明该区域由于禁牧平衡利用,草地降水增多,草原植被得到恢复,草地生产力显著提高,政策效果显现.     

A methodology for characterization and analysis of plant functional composition in grassland‐based farms

Understanding the relationships between farmers' land‐use and management decisions, and plant diversity is a challenge. It requires characterization of plant diversity within and between fields and investigation of land‐use allocation to fields. To analyse how grassland functional composition [mean plant trait and functional diversity index (FD)] varies according to scale (field, land‐use type: cutting, grazing, farm), grasslands were characterized according to leaf dry‐matter content (leaf DM) and FD computed from leaf DM values. A leaf DM‐αFD framework was used to analyse how leaf DM‐based plant strategies were distributed at land‐use type and farm scales (βFD). The study was conducted on eight dairy and beef farms (169 grasslands) differing in their stocking rate. At field and land‐use type scales, leaf DM was significantly decreased and increased with N fertilizer rate and field elevation respectively. It was significantly higher for grazing than for cutting. At the farm scale, the main differences between farms resulted from differences in plant strategy distribution between land‐use types within a farm and among farms for a given land‐use type in relation to management intensity. Farms that contributed the most to αFD had the highest stocking rate, and those which had the most contrasting grasslands for management intensity had the highest βFD. Management practices need to be examined at a land‐use type scale for evaluating the within‐ and between‐field plant functional compositions. By contrast, the value of the analysis was reduced if data were collected and averaged at the farm scale.     

Benefits of Re-Integrating Livestock and Forages in Crop Production Systems

SUMMARY

Specialization is the foundation of contemporary agriculture, yet until the early decades of the 20th century, enterprise diversity was the norm. As agriculture has become more specialized in the intervening years, yields have increased dramatically, but so too have a range of economic, environmental, and health problems. This contribution presents evidence that specialization is an ecologically dysfunctional design for food production, a thesis which is supported by the predominance of problem-solving research in the contemporary literature. As demonstrated by Louis Bromfield in the 1940s and by organic and sustainable farmers today, the strategic integration of crops and livestock/ forage enterprises avoids many of the problems of specialization, while also capturing economic and ecological synergies denied to specialist producers. In addition to providing human foodstuffs, forage-based livestock production also offers a range of novel opportunities to channel natural processes to the service of humanity, from carbon sequestration and site remediation to non-chemical vegetation management.     

不同利用方式对天山北坡中段山地草甸草地植物生物量分布的影响

【目的】研究游牧放牧与定居放牧不同利用方式下山地草甸草地植物群落地上生物量与地下生物量的变化规律,为提高山地草甸草地生产力及确定合理的放牧方式提供依据。【方法】采用野外实地调查取样的方法,以天山北坡山地草甸草地为对象,分别在游牧放牧区和定居放牧区设置轻度放牧(Light grazing,LG)和重度放牧(Heavy grazing,HG)2种放牧强度,围栏打草场(未放牧区)为对照(Check test),分析2种放牧方式下植物群落地上生物量与地下生物量的分布。【结果】(1)在LG和HG下,不同利用方式下植物群落地上总生物量有显著差异(P<0.05)。游牧放牧和定居放牧在不同放牧强度下植物群落地上总生物量大小均为CK>LG>HG;除杂类草外,多年生禾草、多年生豆科草、多年生莎草地上生物量随放牧强度增加呈逐渐减少趋势。游牧放牧区与定居放牧区多年生莎草和杂类草地上生物量在LG下有显著差异(P<0.05),多年生豆科草地上生物量在HG下具有显著差异(P<0.05)。(2)在CK和LG下,不同放牧方式下土层0~10、10~20、20~30 cm的植物群落地下生物量有显著差异(P<0.05),且定居放牧区植物群落地下生物量比游牧放牧区分别高出36.79%、31.55%、27.38%。游牧放牧区植物群落地下生物量范围在743.99~1 229.83 g/m²;定居放牧区植物群落地下生物量分布范围在864.33~1 550.95 g/m²。(3)在LG和HG下,不同利用方式下植物根冠比有显著差异(P<0.05),定居放牧区植物群落根冠比游牧放牧区分别高出19.38%、9.91%。在不同放牧强度下,游牧放牧区和定居放牧区植物群落根冠比由大到小依次为HG>CK>LG。【结论】山地草甸草地的不同利用方式改变了植物群落地上、地下生物量的分布,定居放牧方式下植物群落地上、地下总生物量显著高于游牧放牧方式(P<0.05)。     

Effect of grazing time and intensity on growth and yield of spring wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)

A simulated grazing field experiment was conducted to determine the effect of timing and intensity of grazing on the growth and yield of a mid-late maturing spring wheat(cv. Flanker) under different watering regimes, at Wagga Wagga in southeastern Australia. The experiment was a factorial design of watering regime and pasture "grazing" as factors, with three replications. The two watering regimes were rainfed(R) and supplemental irrigation(I). There were four simulated grazing treatments: no grazing, "crash" grazing by mowing to 5 cm height on 13 June(Cut1-5), "crash" grazing by mowing to 5 cm on 15 July(Cut2-5) and "clip" grazing by mowing to 15 cm height on 15 July(Cut2-15). The lowest dry matter(simulated grazing) was obtained from RCut1-5(0.13 t ha~(–1)) and the highest(0.86 t ha~(–1)) was from ICut2-5. There was no significant difference(P0.05) among the grain yields of the grazing treatments in the respective watering regimes. However, there was significant difference(P0.05) between the grain yields of the rainfed(3.60 t ha~(–1)) and irrigated(6.0 t ha~(–1)) treatments. Under both watering regimes, the highest grain yield was obtained from the late "clip" grazings: 3.79 t ha~(–1)(RCut2-15) for rainfed and 6.47 t ha~(–1)(ICut2-15) for irrigated treatments. The lowest grain yield for the rainfed treatment was 3.26 t ha~(–1)(RCut1-5) and for the irrigated treatments, the lowest grain yield was 5.50 t ha~(–1)(ICut2-5). Harvest index(HI) was not significantly affected(P0.05) by either the watering regime or grazing. Seed weight was significantly(P0.05) affected both by the watering regime and grazing with the lowest value for 1 000-seed weight of 30.05 g(RCut2-5) and the highest value of 38.00 g(ICut2-15). Water use efficiency was significantly(P0.05) affected both by the watering regime and grazing with the lowest value of 9.94 kg ha~(–1) mm~(–1)(ICut2-5) and the highest value 13.43 kg ha~(–1) mm~(–1)(RCut2-5). By "crash" grazing late(just before stem elongation stage) to a height of 5 cm, a significantly higher(P0.05) above ground dry matter can be grazed without significantly affecting the yield both in seasons with low amount of rainfall and high amount of rainfall(irrigated in this study) although in a wet season a slightly lower(15% lower) grain yield is obtained relative to "clip grazing" to 15 cm height. Grazing of mid-late maturing wheat cultivars has the potential to fill the feed gap without significantly affecting grain yield.     

Seasonal changes in feed intake,diet digestibility and diet composition by lactating and non‐lactating goats browsing in a semi‐arid rangeland of Argentina

We determined the seasonal nutrient and secondary compound intake, in vivo diet digestibility (DD) and diet species composition of goats in different physiological states in a desert rangeland of Argentina. During the wet and the dry seasons, 24 mature female Creole goats (six non‐lactating, non‐pregnant and six lactating in each season) were used in a 2 × 2 factorial design. Diet botanical composition, DD and dry‐matter intake (DMI) were estimated by the combined use of visual observation, microhistological analyses of faecal samples and n‐alkane technique. Browse species dominated the goats’ diets (>80%) in both seasons and physiological states, with a twofold increase in the proportion of forbs during the wet season (p < 0.10). Lactating goats showed greater DMI than non‐lactating animals, and they also displayed greater intakes of some tanniferous (Mimosa ephedroides) and high‐protein (Atriplex lampa) shrubs (p < 0.10). Lactating and non‐lactating goats selected diets with adequate crude protein (CP) and fibre content but insufficient energy, although lactating goats tended to increase energy and tannin content in their diets (p < 0.20). Physiological state did not influence DD, but digestibility was greater (p < 0.10) in the wet season, attributed to the greater protein content and lower tannin content of the diet. These results have important implications for managerial interventions on traditional goat production systems in the study area aiming at enhancing goat nutrition and welfare, as well as the sustainability of rangeland resources in the region.     

Heavy grazing effects on stem elongation and internode allometry: Insights from a natural pasture grass

Limited plant stem elongation is hypothesized to be the primary cause of decreased plant growth in response to long‐term heavy grazing (LHG). However, it remains largely unknown how LHG‐induced changes in stem elongation are mediated by internode traits. Accordingly, we experimentally investigated the effects of LHG (defined as twice the stocking rate recommended by the local government) on plant stem elongation and internode allometry in Leymus chinensis in Xilinhot, Inner Mongolia, China. Plant size and internode traits, including internode length (IL), internode diameter (ID), and internode number (IN), from plant individuals were measured according to their phytomer position from base to apex. The results revealed that IN and their distributions were changed in response to LHG. Although LHG negatively affected IL and ID of each L. chinensis internode from base to apex and eventually stem length, the plasticity index of IL and ID increased initially and then decreased from the lowermost to the uppermost internode in response to LHG. These contrasting responses of internode traits were result of allometry between internode traits determined by both LHG and internode position. Ultimately, IL and IN were identified to be key traits influencing stem length reduction under LHG conditions and explaining 52.51% and 47.49% of variation in stem length, respectively. Overall, our findings suggest that the limitation of L. chinensis stem elongation induced by LHG is mediated by the plasticity and allometry of internode traits. This result emphasizes the sensitivity of individual plants to LHG and is potentially valuable for optimal grassland management.     

Post‐grazing cutting management in tall fescue affects the sward structure,forage and liveweight production

Tall fescue is the main perennial grass of the pastures of the temperate region of Argentina. However, after flowering in spring, tall fescue loses productivity and quality. Based on this, the objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of different post‐grazing mechanical cutting managements on the forage mass, leaf proportion, stocking rate, liveweight gain and liveweight production of tall fescue pastures. The treatments were post‐grazing mechanical cutting at anthesis (FC), post‐grazing mechanical cutting throughout spring and summer (SSC), and no post‐grazing mechanical cutting (NC). The experiment was performed from 2011 to 2014 in Argentina. The greatest and lowest forage mass were determined in September–November and May–September respectively. The leaf proportion of the SSC treatment was greater than that of the NC treatment, except in September–November. NC had higher stocking rate and lower liveweight gain than SSC, and neither NC nor SSC differed from FC. The liveweight production of the treatments was characterized by a trade‐off between stocking rate and liveweight gain. We conclude that FC is an attractive management because, with a single post‐grazing cutting, swards remain productive and leafy.     

Sward patterns created by patch grazing are stable over more than a decade

Under extensive grazing, a mosaic pattern of frequently defoliated short patches and rarely defoliated tall patches is often formed. The agronomic and ecological consequences of this patch‐grazing pattern strongly depend on its stability between successive years. We assessed patch structure and temporal stability under three intensities of cattle stocking (moderate, lenient and very lenient) in a cattle grazing experiment established in 2002. Aerial images of the whole area taken in 2005, 2010, 2013 and 2015 were classified into short and tall patches using random forest classification. These were complemented by annual sward height measurements (2007‐2017) at 10 permanent plots per paddock, which were classified into sward height classes. The mean proportion (0.72, 0.32, 0.19) and size of short patches decreased with stocking intensity, while size of tall patches increased. Inter‐annual stability depended on patch type and stocking intensity and was particularly high for the respective dominant patch type. Of the short patch area in 2015, 0.62, 0.29 and 0.30 were classified as short in all four aerial images under moderate, lenient and very lenient grazing, respectively; the corresponding proportions for tall patches were 0.10, 0.53 and 0.65. Our results imply that short and tall patches experience persistent differences in local grazing intensity over extended periods. The long‐term effects of this heterogeneity on soil properties and vegetation composition need to be monitored to assess agronomic sustainability and ecological potential of patch‐grazed pastures.