scholarly journals Foraging behaviour and occupation pattern of beef cows on a heterogeneous pasture in the Swiss Alps

2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (No. 2) ◽  
pp. 84-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Meisser ◽  
C. Deléglise ◽  
F. Freléchoux ◽  
A. Chassot ◽  
B. Jeangros ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Swiss Alps ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Trollius Europaeus ◽  
Veratrum Album ◽  
Selection Processes ◽  
Vegetation Surveys

In the Alps, many summer pastures are under-used due to the decreasing number of livestock. Optimizing the grazing management of heterogeneous pastures implies a better understanding of foraging habits of cattle. The aim of this study was to precise the relationships between cattle behaviour and the characteristics of the vegetation. The experiment was carried out on a pasture encroached by shrubs (mainly Alnus viridis) and composed of four contrasted vegetation units at 1800 m a.s.l. Four beef cows were monitored in a paddock of 2.9 ha by Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) during three rotations, in order to analyze the spatial and temporal occupation pattern. The open grasslands and, to a lesser extent, the tall herb community were significantly more visited than expected if cattle had foraged at random. The shrubby areas were far less visited than expected at random. The monitoring also revealed differences across rotations. Vegetation surveys were also performed to determine the specific contribution and the grazing frequency of the encountered plant species. The most eaten herbaceous plants were not necessarily those known to be the most palatable, even if graminoids were more selected than other plants. Leontodon hispidus, Agrostis capillaris, Festuca rubra, and Luzula sylvatica were the most selected species, whereas Veratrum album and Trollius europaeus were completely avoided. The consumed forage was of better quality than the forage collected at random and its nutrient content showed less variability and remained more constant over the three rotations. The results highlight that the selection processes exerted by cattle are important. They occur at different levels (species, vegetation type, in time) and confirm that an integrative approach is necessary for improving the understanding of cattle foraging behaviour in heterogeneous mountain pastures.  

Use of mineral mix supplements to modify the grazing patterns by cattle for the restoration of sub-alpine and alpine shrub-encroached grasslands

2013 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Massimiliano Probo ◽  
Alessandro Massolo ◽  
Michele Lonati ◽  
Derek W. Bailey ◽  
Alessandra Gorlier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cows ◽  
Control Site ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Gps Collars ◽  
Common System ◽  
Natural Grasslands ◽  
Vegetation Surveys ◽  
Alpine Shrub ◽  
Cattle Herds ◽  
Surrounding Areas

Throughout the last decades, agricultural abandonment in European mountain areas has caused changes in traditional livestock management with consequences for semi-natural grassland use and vegetation. In the Western Italian Alps, continuous extensive grazing has become the simplest and the most common system for managing large cattle herds. As a result, limited grazing in many rugged locations has led to an extensive shrub-encroachment of semi-natural grasslands in the sub-alpine and alpine belts. A study was conducted to assess if the provision of mineral mix supplements (MMS): (1) increases the use of steep and shrub-encroached locations by beef cows, and (2) helps restore meso-eutrophic grassland vegetation around supplement-deployment sites. During the summer grazing season, MMS were placed within 10 steep and shrub-encroached areas in two adjacent pastures (364 and 366 ha), and 12 cows were tracked with GPS collars. For each supplement site, a paired control site was identified, and vegetation surveys were performed in the surrounding areas of both sites. Placement of MMS increased the use of areas within 12 m of supplement locations compared with corresponding control areas. Cattle use of areas within 100 m of the MMS sites was also greater than expected by chance. The use by cattle, associated with trampling, grazing and faecal deposition, reduced the cover of shrubs and oligotrophic herbaceous species and increased the average nutrient N-value and forage pastoral value of the new vegetation types established around MMS sites 2 years after their use by cattle. Strategic placement of MMS appears to be a sustainable practice to restore sub-alpine and alpine shrub-encroached grasslands. Nevertheless these results must be considered preliminary as a longer period is needed to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of this practice for the restoration of semi-natural grasslands.

BEEF CATTLE NUTRITION AND PERFORMANCE ON SEEDED CLEARCUTS IN SOUTHERN INTERIOR BRITISH COLUMBIA

1987 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 919-928
Author(s):  
D. A. QUINTON
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Rotational Grazing ◽  
Plant Parts ◽  
Nutrient Levels ◽  
Grazed Pasture ◽  
Cow Performance

The nutrient content of diets consumed, using a bite count technique, and the performance of beef cows and their calves grazing spruce and pine clearcuts in the southern interior rangelands of British Columbia on continuously and rotationally grazed pasture systems were evaluated in a 3- to 5-yr study. Forage species and plant parts ingested by cows were collected by hand clipping to simulate the diet. Nutrient composition of each sample forage was determined chemically and the nutrient levels of cattle diets were estimated from the bite counts of forages consumed and the chemical composition of the clipped samples. Dietary deficiencies, based on estimates of dietary intake of cows and chemical composition of samples, were noted for protein and phosphorus during August and September (rotational grazing); sodium during September; iodine, copper and zinc throughout the grazing season with the exception of zinc in the September diet of rotationally grazed cows. Selenium was adequate to excessive in the diet. Cow diets consisted of from 50 to 72% grass, from 23 to 42% forbs and from 4 to 20% shrubs. The diversity of diet components maintained nutrient levels of the diet above those provided by grass alone. Weight gains of cows and calves were obtained at monthly intervals for 3 yr and seasonally for 5 yr. There were no significant differences in cow performance among years or between grazing treatments. Cows gained an average of 0.22 kg d−1 over a 90-d grazing period. Average daily gains of cows decreased from 0.55 kg in July to −0.21 kg in September. Calf gains were significantly different between treatments over 5 yr. Calf gains averaged 0.92 kg−1 d on the continuously grazed pastures vs. 0.83 kg d−1 on those rotationally grazed. Total beef production of saleable beef (calves) under the continuous and rotational grazing system was 72.7 kg ha−1 and 65.3 kg ha−1, respectively. Key words: Beef cattle, production, nutrition, clearcuts, daily gains

Foraging behaviour of beef cattle in the hilly terrain of a Mediterranean grassland

2012 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Henkin ◽  
E. D. Ungar ◽  
A. Dolev
Keyword(s):  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Early Morning ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Late Spring ◽  
Full Potential

The objective of this study was to determine the role of terrain in the foraging behaviour of beef cows grazing hilly Mediterranean grasslands. The study was conducted in eastern Galilee, Israel, during 2002 and 2003 on two similar 28-ha paddocks encompassing distinct terrain types in terms of slope and rock cover. The paddocks were continuously grazed by cows from mid winter (January–February) to autumn (September) at two different stocking rates (1.1 and 0.56 cows per ha). From early June to the end of September the cows were offered poultry litter ad libitum as a supplementary feed. The location and activity of cows were monitored with GPS collars during four periods in each year: early spring (February–March), late spring (April), early summer (June) and late summer (August). Herbage mass was measured at the beginning of each of these periods. During early and late spring, when the herbage mass and nutritive value of herbage were high, the cows spent 40–50% of the day grazing, with peaks in the morning and afternoon. In the dry, late summer period (August), grazing of the herbage was 20–22% of the day, occurring only in the early morning and late afternoon with sporadic bouts of grazing until midnight. In all periods the cows tended to prefer the flattest terrain sites. As the herbage mass declined to 1000–1500 kg ha–1, the exploitation of the pasture during grazing became increasingly similar among the different terrains. Even on relatively small paddocks, where grazing pressure was close to the full potential of the site, free-ranging cows tended to prefer less sloping and rocky sites. It is concluded that the grazing strategy of beef cows is determined by the interaction between terrain, the distribution of the herbage mass and the nutritive value of the herbage. As herbage mass declines during the growing season, the distribution of grazing becomes uniform and all terrain types are exploited.

scholarly journals Nutrition of marine mesograzers: integrating feeding behavior, nutrient intake and performance of an herbivorous amphipod

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e5929 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glauco B.O. Machado ◽  
Fosca P.P. Leite ◽  
Erik E. Sotka
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Behavior ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen ◽  
Freeze Dried ◽  
Marine Herbivore ◽  
Algal Diets ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Protein Components ◽  
Analytical Approaches

Consumers can regulate the acquisition and use of nutrients through behavioral and physiological mechanisms. Here, we present an experimental approach that simultaneously integrates multiple nutritional traits, feeding assays, and juvenile performance to assess whether a marine herbivore (the amphipod Ampithoe valida) regulates the intake of elements (carbon and nitrogen), macronutrients (protein and non-protein) or both when offered freeze-dried tissues of seaweeds varying in nutritional content. We assessed behavioral regulation of nutrients in three ways. First, during no-choice assays, we found that amphipods ingested similar amounts of carbon, but not nitrogen, non-protein and protein, across algal diets. Second, herbivore intake rates of carbon, protein and non-protein components across no-choice assays was similar to intake rates when offered a choice of foods. Third, variation in intake rates of carbon and non-protein components among algal diets was significantly greater than was tissue content of these components, while variation in intake rates of nitrogen was significantly lower; differences in protein intake variation was equivocal. While these analytical approaches are not uniformly consistent, carbon and nitrogen seem to emerge as the nutrient components that are more strongly regulated by A. valida. Juveniles reared on single diets shown patterns of survivorship, growth and reproduction that could not be predicted by these feeding preferences, nor nutrient content. We conclude that an integrative approach that considers the intake of multiple nutrients potentially yields insights into feeding behavior and its performance consequences.

scholarly journals Implementation of a rotational grazing system with large paddocks changes the distribution of grazing cattle in the south-western Italian Alps

2014 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Massimiliano Probo ◽  
Michele Lonati ◽  
Marco Pittarello ◽  
Derek W. Bailey ◽  
Matteo Garbarino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Western Alps ◽  
The South ◽  
Rotational Grazing ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Alpine Pastures ◽  
Vegetation Surveys ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Steep Slopes

Continuous grazing systems (CGS) are still widely used for managing cattle herds in the south-western Alps. Recently, Pastoral Plans have been used as a policy tool to improve grazing management. Rotational grazing systems (RGS) with large paddocks (i.e. ~100 ha on average) and stocking rate adjustments based on recommended levels calculated from vegetation surveys have been implemented through Pastoral Plans to improve the uniformity of grazing. A case study was conducted to compare grazing distribution patterns of beef cows during the summer under CGS and RGS on sub-alpine and alpine pastures within Val Troncea Natural Park in the south-western Alps of Italy. Cows were tracked with global positioning system collars at 15-min intervals under both CGS and RGS. Cattle distribution patterns were aggregated in both grazing systems, but in the RGS concentration of grazing was less clustered and the selection of vegetation communities was more homogeneous than in CGS. Under CGS, cows were attracted (P < 0.05) to salt placements and areas with high forage pastoral values, and they avoided (P < 0.05) steep slopes. In contrast, cows under RGS were not influenced by (P > 0.05) high pastoral value, and they avoided areas farther from water (P < 0.05). Similar to CGS, cows under RGS were attracted (P < 0.05) to salt and avoided (P < 0.05) steep slopes. In the RGS, cows used steeper slopes and areas farther from salt and water in the second half of the grazing period within a paddock compared with the first half, which likely explains the improvement in uniformity of grazing with RGS. Our findings indicate that Pastoral Plans that combine appropriate stocking levels and RGS are valid policy and management tools that have the potential to improve grazing distribution on rough sub-alpine and alpine pastures in the south-western Alps.

scholarly journals Milk Production and Constituents of Beef Cows with Different Breed Compositions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo C. C. Azambuja ◽  
Pedro F. Rodrigues ◽  
Leonardo M. Menezes ◽  
Rodrigo F. Costa ◽  
Bruno B. M. Teixeira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Nutritional Composition ◽  
Cow Milk ◽  
Subtropical Climate ◽  
Lactation Period ◽  
Genetic Tool ◽  
Natural Pasture

Abstract Background: There are two classes of factors that affect cow milk production and, as a consequence, the performance of calves: environmental and genetic factors. Considering the importance of milk production of beef cattle, it is essential to measure the milk production of such cows. However, such estimation presents some difficulties, especially when cows are raised exclusively in a grazing regime. This study aimed to evaluate the milk production and the nutritional composition of beef cows from eight different breed compositions (Angus: ANAN, Hereford: HHHH, Nellore: NENE, Hereford-Angus: HHAN, Angus-Hereford: ANHH, Nellore-Angus: NEAN, Angus-Nellore: ANNE, and Caracu-Angus: CRAN) raised under continuous natural pasture grazing, besides evaluating the calves' adjusted weight at 210 days until weaning.Results: NEAN cows were the most productive but did not differ from ANNE, ANHH, and CRAN, with estimated average yields of 6.2, 5.97, 5.93 and 5.86 kg/day, respectively, throughout the lactation period. NENE cows presented the lowest yields, with a daily average of 4.61 kg, although this value did not differ significantly from those of HHHH, ANAN and HHAN cows, which had means of 4.67, 4.79 and 4.84 kg/day, respectively. Calves of CRAN, NEAN, and ANNE cows were heavier than calves of ANAN, HHAN, HHHH, and NENE cows at weaning, not differing from ANHH cows, which in turn also had heavier calves than HHHH cows. NEAN, ANNE, HHHH and NENE cows had higher concentrations of total solids in milk than ANAN and ANHH.Conclusions: In conclusion, as expected, the crossbreeding of genetically more distant breed increases the milk production of beef cows. Therefore, for cow-calf operations in a subtropical climate, crossbreeding between Angus and Nellore or Caracu can be used as a genetic tool to increase cow maternal ability, through greater milk production and nutrient content, and consequently yielding heavier calves at weaning.

Perceptions of a Collaborative Professional Learning Program: Seeing the “Bigger Picture”

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 290-303
Author(s):  
P. Charlie Buckley ◽  
Kimberly A. Murza ◽  
Tami Cassel
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Social Communication ◽  
Special Educators ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Learning Program ◽  
Speech Language Pathologists ◽  
Related Service

Purpose The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of special education practitioners (i.e., speech-language pathologists, special educators, para-educators, and other related service providers) on their role as communication partners after participation in the Social Communication and Engagement Triad (Buckley et al., 2015 ) yearlong professional learning program. Method A qualitative approach using interviews and purposeful sampling was used. A total of 22 participants who completed participation in either Year 1 or Year 2 of the program were interviewed. Participants were speech-language pathologists, special educators, para-educators, and other related service providers. Using a grounded theory approach (Glaser & Strauss, 1967 ) to data analysis, open, axial, and selective coding procedures were followed. Results Three themes emerged from the data analysis and included engagement as the goal, role as a communication partner, and importance of collaboration. Conclusions Findings supported the notion that educators see the value of an integrative approach to service delivery, supporting students' social communication and engagement across the school day but also recognizing the challenges they face in making this a reality.

Towards a European Food Composition Data Interchange Platform

2012 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 209-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Bell ◽  
Heikki Pakkala ◽  
Michael P. Finglas
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Food Composition ◽  
Consumer Information ◽  
Health Claims ◽  
Composition Data ◽  
European Committee ◽  
Food Properties ◽  
Data Interchange ◽  
Food Composition Data ◽  
Definition Of

Food composition data (FCD) comprises the description and identification of foods, as well as their nutrient content, other constituents, and food properties. FCD are required for a range of purposes including food labeling, supporting health claims, nutritional and clinical management, consumer information, and research. There have been differences within and beyond Europe in the way FCD are expressed with respect to food description, definition of nutrients and other food properties, and the methods used to generate data. One of the major goals of the EuroFIR NoE project (2005 - 10) was to provide tools to overcome existing differences among member states and parties with respect to documentation and interchange of FCD. The establishment of the CEN’s (European Committee for Standardisation) TC 387 project committee on Food Composition Data, led by the Swedish Standards Institute, and the preparation of the draft Food Data Standard, has addressed these deficiencies by enabling unambiguous identification and description of FCD and their quality, for dissemination and data interchange. Another major achievement of the EuroFIR NoE project was the development and dissemination of a single, authoritative source of FCD in Europe enabling the interchange and update of data between countries, and also giving access to users of FCD.

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