Sward characteristics, grass dry matter intake and milk production performance is affected by timing of spring grazing and subsequent stocking rate

The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of contrasting spring grazing dates (GD) and stocking rate (SR) on sward characteristics, grass dry matter intake and milk production performance of autumn calving dairy cows during the spring period. Two swards were created by grazing in March (early grazing; E) or by delaying first grazing until mid-April (late grazing; L). Two stocking rates, high (H; 5.5) and medium (M; 4.5) were applied across each sward. Forty eight autumn calving Holstein cows (160 ± 35 days in milk) were assigned to one of four (n = 12) different grazing treatments. The experiment began on April 17th and finished after 2 grazing rotations on June 20th. Later spring grazing significantly increased herbage mass (kg DM/ha) above ground level (+ 933, P < 0.05) and > 50 mm (+ 738, P < 0.05). Compressed sward height (+ 22.1 mm, P < 0.05), extended tiller height (+ 73 mm, P < 0.001) and pseudostem height (+ 35 mm, P < 0.001) were also significantly higher for later grazed swards. In the grazing horizon (> 80 mm— extended tiller height), later grazed swards had significantly lower leaf proportion (− 0.09, P < 0.05) and higher dead material (+ 0.05, P < 0.001). Daily herbage allowance (> 50 mm) was on average 12.7, 15.9, 18.2 and 21.9 kg DM/cow for EH, EM, LH and LM, respectively. Daily leaf allowance (> 80 mm) was 10.1, 12.3, 13.3 and 14.5 kg DM/cow for EH, EM, LH and LM, respectively. The EM (16.2 kg DM/cow), LH (+ 0.1 kg) and LM (0.8 kg) treatments all had similar grass DM intake, however there was evidence of an interaction (P < 0.10) between GD and SR, this was due to the low grass DM intake of the EH (13.9 kg DM/cow) treatment. When expressed as UFL (Fill unit) intake the EM treatment recorded the highest value. There was a significant interaction between GD and SR (P < 0.01) for milk, protein yield, 4% fat corrected milk yield (P < 0.05) and protein concentration (P < 0.001). Cows grazing the EM treatment produced 23.9 kg of milk, 876 and 685 g of fat and protein yield. The difference in milk production (cow/day) between EM and EH treatments was + 3.6 kg milk, + 98 g fat and + 107 g protein. The production yield difference between LM and LH treatments was + 1.1 kg milk, + 27 g fat and + 29 g protein in favour of the LM treatment (23.9 kg of milk, 877 and 687 g fat and protein yield). Herbage quality and morphological characteristics are clearly improved with early spring grazing as herbage mass is reduced on subsequent rotations. Swards grazed in early spring allow higher grass utilisation and high milk production performance when grazed at a medium stocking rate. Improved milk production from herbage can be achieved provided herbage mass and allowance are maintained at levels where herbage quality decreases are minimised.     

牧草施肥研究进展

综述了牧草施肥的研究概况,主要内容包括牧草施肥的时期、方法与效果。提出了禾本科牧草、豆科牧草及混播牧草特点各异,针对不同的牧草采取相应的施肥方法具有十分重要的意义。已有的研究和实践表明,氮、磷、钾及中微量元素肥料合理施用对牧草的产量、品质及对食草动物的生长、发育与品质均会产生明显的促进作用。结合发达国家牧草施肥的先进经验,对我国当前牧草施肥存在的问题进行了分析,最后展望了牧草施肥的发展方向。     

内蒙古北部荒漠草原带的严重荒漠化及其治理

位居干旱气候区的内蒙古高原中北部的荒漠草原地带 ,面临着严重荒漠化的威胁。目前已有 90 %以上的天然草场退化与沙化 ,变成寸草不生的不毛之地。大大扩展了我国北部沙尘暴频繁发生的地带 ,成为北方生态安全最危险的地区。这是多年来盲目增畜 ,超载过牧 ,滥垦乱挖的掠夺式生产经营中又加上干旱气候因素的耦合作用所造成的必然恶果。面对这一严峻形势 ,急需采取果断措施抢救荒漠草原地带的整体生态环境。应立即实行禁牧封育 ,人畜转移 ,调整结构 ,移民扩镇。使荒漠草原地带与农牧交错地带以及城市之间建立起产业化可持续发展的新途径     

放牧对草地土壤微生物的影响

土壤质量是草地生态系统生产力可持续发展的关键所在。健康的土壤必定拥有丰富的物种多样性、活跃的生命体、高效的内部养分循环及较好的抗干扰能力。土壤微生物作为土壤系统中各种生物进程的主要推动者,其作用不可小觑。因此,我们可以利用土壤微生物的数量、群落结构和多样性等特征监测土壤质量。本文综述了放牧对草地土壤微生物数量、生物量、群落结构和多样性的影响。指出通过了解土壤微生物与放牧行为间的关系,如何评估土壤质量,选取适宜的放牧梯度,完善草地管理模式,并介绍了土壤微生物群落结构和多样性研究方法的利弊。解决两个关键问题：1）土壤微生物的各种特征是如何响应放牧行为的。2）如何通过这些指标评价土壤质量,然后提出合理的放牧模式,改善和维护草地的生产力。     

荒漠草原不同放牧强度下土壤酶活性及养分含量的动态研究

研究了内蒙古荒漠草原不同放牧强度下土壤中4种酶活性及养分含量的动态变化.结果表明,土壤酶活性和养分含量随季节变化有着明显的变化,但各类群变化规律并不完全相同.放牧对蔗糖酶影响不显著,但显著增加了多酚氧化酶活性.轻度放牧显著或极显著增加了蛋白酶活性,脲酶活性略降低.重度放牧显著增加了脲酶活性,蛋白酶活性极显著降低.重度放牧降低了土壤中养分含量,围栏封育和轻度放牧有助于土壤肥力的保持和提高.     

禁牧封育措施改良高寒地区退化草地的效果

2003-2005年,通过对青海省玉树县上拉秀乡高寒草甸和高寒沼泽化草甸退化草地进行为期3年的禁牧封育改良试验,结果表明:禁牧封育措施对恢复高寒草甸、高寒沼泽化草甸退化草地植被有明显的效果,禁牧封育后草地中植物的盖度、高度和产草量明显提高;牧草成分发生显著变化,优良莎草科、禾本科牧草种类与产量增加,杂类草的种类、产量下降.     

补饲非蛋白氮补充料对放牧牛群生产性能的影响

本试验旨在研究补饲非蛋白氮（NPN）补充料对放牧牛群生产性能的影响。试验在春末夏初放牧前,选择30头9~10月龄、体重150~170 kg的中国西门塔尔太行类群小公牛,分为对照组、试验1组和试验2组,进行放牧加补饲试验。试验1组日补饲玉米粉1.0 kg;试验2组在试验1组的基础上增补NPN补充料0.25 kg。进行了为期100 d的放牧补饲效果试验。结果表明,对照组、试验1组、试验2组日增重分别为0.622、0.839和1.051 kg。试验1组比对照组日增重提高217 g;试验2组比对照组和试验1组日增重分别提高429和212 g。3组间增重差异显著。因此,北方山坡草地放牧牛群补饲少量精料效果明显,同时,补喂少量NPN补充料经济效益更为显著。     

不同轮牧方式对荒漠草原土壤理化性质及草地健康的影响

研究轮牧方式对草地土壤理化性质的影响,对草地科学利用和草地生态保护具有重要意义。以宁夏面积最大的荒漠草原为研究对象,通过放牧试验,研究围封禁牧、连续放牧、二区、四区和六区轮牧对0—40cm土壤理化性质的影响,并运用模糊评判法对草地健康状况进行评价。结果表明:(1)六区和四区轮牧土壤粉粒含量和含水率较高;轮牧方式对土壤容重和孔隙度影响较小;四区和六区轮牧有利于土壤物理结皮、地衣—藻类结皮维持。(2)连续放牧的土壤有机质含量最低,全氮含量以禁牧最低;速效氮含量在四区轮牧最高,六区轮牧下速效磷钾含量最高。(3)土壤性状间存在一定的相关性,但草地植物生物量与多数土壤性状相关性不明显。(4)六区轮牧的健康指数最高,连续放牧的健康指数最低。研究认为,研究区草原以六区轮牧为宜。     

Management of Grazing Intensity in the Semi‐Arid Rangelands of Southern Australia: Effects on Soil and Biodiversity

Overgrazing contributes to rangeland degradation altering plant community composition, erosion and biodiversity. Little unanimity in the literature exists on the effects of livestock grazing on soil carbon and biodiversity, in part, due to uncontrolled grazing pressure from native and feral animals. Paired paddock contrasts at three, long‐term (>8 years) study locations in the southern Australian rangelands were used to examine the effects of managing grazing intensity through the use of exclusion fencing and rotational grazing on soil organic carbon (SOC), soil nitrogen (TN), ground cover and biodiversity (flora and invertebrates). Grazing management had no effect on SOC or TN on grey soils (Vertisols), but for red soils (Lixisols), significantly higher levels of SOC were found for both the 0 to 5 and 5 to 10‐cm soil depths (0·3% and 0·27% respectively) and associated with increased TN. We found strong and consistent relationships among SOC and higher perennial (p < 0·001), higher litter (p < 0·05) cover and close proximity to trees (p < 0·05). Managing grazing intensity resulted in significantly higher perennial ground cover (p < 0·001) on Vertisols (8·9 to 11%) and Lixisols (12·5 to 15%) and higher plant diversity (both native and exotic) but negatively impacted invertebrate diversity, indicating trade‐offs between production and resources. We provide evidence that the effects of grazing management on SOC are mediated by ground cover and increased organic matter supply and/or reduced soil carbon redistribution (erosion), which indicates that the management of grazing intensity may provide a tool to avoid soil carbon loss in rangelands. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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.