The Influence of Age and Winter Environment on Protein Block Intake Behavior of Beef Cattle Winter Grazing Mixed-Grass Rangelands

This study evaluated the influence of cow age and temperature adjusted for windchill (Twindchill) on supplement intake behavior of cattle winter grazing rangelands. A mixed-age herd of Angus-based cows (291 and 316 in year 1 and 2, respectively) were classified by age (1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5–7-, and ≥8-year-old) and grazed rangeland pasture (329-ha) for two consecutive winters. Cows were provided free-choice access to supplement protein blocks in a SmartFeedPro self-feeder system. An Onset HOBO Weather Station collected data throughout the grazing period. Supplement intake (expressed as kg∙d−1 and g∙kg body weight−1), the coefficient of variation in supplement intake and intake rate (g∙min−1) displayed Twindchill × cow age × year interactions (p ≤ 0.02). In general, cow age displayed a quadratic effect on all supplement intake variables (p ≤ 0.04), where 3- to 4-year-old cattle had the greatest supplement intake with the least variation, while yearling cattle had the least amount of supplement intake and the greatest variation. In conclusion, winter environmental conditions interacted with cow age to affect cattle supplement intake behavior and, consequently, the efficacy of nutrient delivery systems for beef cattle winter grazing on rangelands.

THE GECHEPSIN FORTIFIED SETTLEMENT: EXPERIENCE OF COMPREHENSIVE EXCAVATIONS

Несмотря на очевидный прогресс в наших представлениях о системе расселения восточной периферии азиатского Боспора, круг известных памятников совсем невелик, а об их хронологии можно судить только на основании подъемного материала. Комплексные исследования на городище Гечепсин позволили выявить два строительных горизонта, датируемых керамическими материалами в пределах II в. до н. э. - II в. н. э. и охарактеризовать особенности топографии (фортификацию, коммуникации и т. п.). Исследованная кладка сооружения фортификационной системы крепости была сооружена на культурном слое эпохи позднего эллинизма и просуществовала не более века. Выявленные на площадке городища постройки возведены, судя по всему, в античных традициях сырцово-каменной архитектуры. В конце I тыс. до н. э. - нач. I тыс. н. э. в районе городища, согласно спорово-пыльцевому анализу, были широко распространены степные злаково-разнотравные растительные сообщества. Присутствие пыльцы водных растений в верхней части профиля отражает, вероятнее всего, использование речной глины для возведения сырцовых конструкций. Despite obvious progress in developing our concepts on the settlement system in the eastern periphery of Asian Bosporus, the group of the known sites is not that large, while their chronology can be determined only with the use of surface finds. Comprehensive excavations at the Gechepsin fortified settlement made it possible to identify two construction horizons dated by ceramic finds to 2 century BC -2 century AD and characterize specifics of topography (fortification, communications, etc.). The examined masonry of the fortress fortification construction was built in the occupation layer of the Late Hellenic period and did not function more than half a century. Constructions identified at the fortified settlement were, most likely, built in Ancient Greek traditions of adobe-stone architecture. At the end of I mill. BC - early I mill. AD steppe gramineous-mixed grass plant associations were widespread in the area around the settlement as evidenced by pollen analysis. Presence of water plant pollen in the upper part of the profile, most likely, reflects use of river clay for building adobe constructions.

Meadows and pastures in the agricultural landscapes of the Karelian province of the Middle Taiga zone of the North-West of Russia

In order to take into account the territorial differences of natural and economic conditions, to identify biological and ecological patterns, the agro-landscape and ecological zoning of natural forage lands (NFL) of the North-Western natural and economic region of the Russian Federation has been developed. The Karelian province occupies 23% of the area in the north of the Leningrad region, bordering Karelia and Finland. The Karelian province is located in the western part of the Middle Taiga zone, which is characterized by Eastern European Middle Taiga plains. Most of the area of the province (65%) is covered by forests. Agricultural land occupies only 4% of the total area of the province. Including arable land – 2%, hayfields and pastures – 1% each. The territory of the province is significantly moistened and swampy. Swamps occupy 11% of the area, under water – about 11%. Shrubs occupy 3% of the area of the province, other land – about 6%. The structure of NFL is dominated (53%) by normally moistened dry-grass grasslands on sod-podzolic soils. Fine-grained sweet-scented and finegrained grasslands with a large participation of various grasses are common. The yield of hay is 9–13 c/ha, feed is 70 c/ha. Grass-mixed grass and grass-sedge-mixed grass lowland and swampy meadows on swamp-podzolic soils occupy 44%. Grass stands with the dominance of the sod pike are common. Swampy depressions are occupied by large-seeded grass stands. The yield of hay is 10–15 c/ha, feed is 9–11 c/ha. The ecological state of the province’s landscapes is satisfactory-tense.

358 Effect of Molasses Type on Pre-weaning Lamb and Ewe Performance

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of form of molasses on lamb and ewe performance. Creep feeding of lambs is essential to lamb growth, rumen development, and reduction of milk production from dams. Molasses is often added for increased palatability and energy. Crossbred lambs (n = 47; average age = 30 d) and their accompanying dams (n= 35) were assigned to one of two treatments using a completely randomized design with similar distributions of single and twin-born lambs and sexes. Treatment diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and contained either wet (WMOL) or dry (DMOL) molasses. Dry molasses was added at 10% of the diet DM, whereas, wet molasses was added at 14.3% of the diet DM. Lambs were fed creep rations for 42 d prior to weaning. Creep feed was provided ad libitum and mixed grass hay was offered free-choice. Lamb weights were recorded weekly until weaning (d 42) and ewe BCS was measured at d 0 and d 42 (weaning). Overall lamb ADG was comparable (DMOL = 0.268 kg/hd, WMOL = 0.293 kg/hd; P = 0.30). Lamb weaning weights were similar between DMOL and WMOL (DMOL = 27.9 kg; WMOL = 27.5; P = 0.79). Ewe BCS was similar (P = 0.88) between DMOL and WMOL at 1.4 and 1.4, respectively. Estimated creep intake was calculated based upon total consumption following the end of the project and was found to be similar between treatments (DMOL = 0.54 kg/hd/d; WMOL = 0.59 kg/hd/d). Lamb pre-weaning growth and ewe performance was similar between DMOL and WMOL. Further research is needed to further explore the economic impact and use post-weaning.

Chickpea Can Be a Valuable Local Produced Protein Feed for Organically Reared, Native Bulls

We assessed the effects of inclusion of chickpea from 24 to 21%, as feed basis, in diets for organically reared bulls. Sixteen young bulls (270 ± 6.4 days of age; 246 ± 0.13 kg in weight) belonging to a native Italian breed (Maremmana) were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments. The control diets were based on mixed grass hay, maize meal, and barley meal. In the experimental diets, barley was equally substituted by locally produced chickpea. Animals were weighed every 2 weeks until the prefixed slaughtering weight (630 kg). Plasma metabolites were measured at the 1st, 7th, and 14th month of the experiment. Chemical composition, colour, shear force, and water holding capacity of meat were assessed on Longissimus thoracis et lumborum 7 days after slaughter. The chickpea-fed animals showed a significantly greater average daily gain (1064 vs. 1168 kg/day), a shorter growing phase (364 vs. 335 days), and a better carcass conformation. Plasma metabolites and meat quality were not influenced by the treatments. The better growth performance and carcass quality of the chickpea fed bulls resulted in a higher economic profit for the chickpea-based diets. Results suggest that chickpea may allow sustainable performance improvement of native breeds within their traditional farming systems.

The vegetation cover of the «Aryskannyg» cluster of the «Ubsunurskaya Kotlovina» Reserve (Ubsunur hollow) (the southern slopes of the East Tannu-Ola Mountain Range, Republic of Tyva)

This paper studies the vegetation cover organization of the Aryskannyg cluster of the state natural biosphere reserve Ubsunurskaya Kotlovina. In the course of the work 2 ecological and phytocoenotic profiles were laid and 2 large-scale mapping was carried out. The steppe type of vegetation is mainly represented by different variants of real turf-and-slag steppes: shrubby, petrophytic and dry. The original steppe communities are the resurrection ( Selaginella sanguinolenta ) and eastern feather grass coenoses ( Stipa orientalis ). An independent high-altitude belt forms mountain expositional forest-steppes. The forest component consists of grass and rhytidium larch forests, and the daurian rhododendron occupies an active position in the undergrowth. The steppe component consists of thickened mixed-grass-stop-grass meadow, as well as mixed-grass-fine-grained-slag petrophytic steppes. The mountain-taiga belt is represented by communities of larch and cedar formations. The high-altitude belt is dominated by yernik ( Betula rotundifolia ) and dryad ( Dryas oxyodontha ) mountain-tundra communities. It is revealed that the territory has a complex vegetation cover, which was formed in the conditions of mountain relief and sharply continental climate, the diversity of plant communities (from dry-steppe to mountain-tundra) is due to the length of the cluster territory in three high-altitude zones and the complex influence of latitudinal and local abiotic factors. The leading factors in the distribution of vegetation are the exposure of the slopes and the absolute height of the terrain.

Biodiversity of vertebrates on the territory of deforestation in the Vologda Region

The paper presents the results of biodiversity assessment on the territories with different ecological conditions. The studies were carried out on the territories during the reforestation period after the anthropogenic load associated with deforestation, as test sites (PP) and forest biogeocenoses adjacent to deforestation and not affected by forestry activities - control (K). The research methods are indicated. The Jacquard and Stugren-Radulescu coefficients, as well as the Sorensen-Chekanovsky and Kulchinsky indices were used to assess the biodiversity. During the survey of the territories, 32 species of animals were found: 1 species belongs to the class of amphibians, 5 - reptiles, 13 - birds and 13 - mammals. The list of the faunal composition of the studied territories is given. As a result of the conducted studies it has been revealed that the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the faunal composition directly depend on the derived type of forest, the method of deforestation and the environmental conditions prevailing on this territory. Of the territories considered, the greatest faunal diversity (19 species) was observed on the territories with 12-year-old-cut-down forest, with moderately moist soils and predominant floristic diversity. Based on the calculation of the indices and coefficients of similarity and difference, the similarity of the species faunal diversity has been revealed on the territories of mixed-grass and blue joint fellings as well as in the control areas of lingonberry pine. The difference from all the sample areas has been revealed in the meadowsweet felling (PP1) and the adjacent forest biogeocenosis - grass-marsh pine forest.