PSIV-10 Preference evaluation of plant functional types grasses in calves

The functional types of plants (PFT) ecological approach could be used to link the preferences of ruminants. In order to investigate if ruminant preferences were associated with this approach, three PFT groups were evaluated. A group “B”, represented by Paspalum urvillei (PU-B), “C” by Nassella neesiana (NN-C) and Sporobolus indicus (SI-C) and “D” by Andropogon lateralis (AL-D). In a randomized block design with repeated measures over time, two independent cafeteria trials (autumn-winter, A-W, and spring-summer, S-S) were carried out in calves (n = 8 for A-W; n = 4 for S-S; BW=240–270 kg) arranged in four pens. In three sessions of ten minutes each, calves received 120–160 gDM of fresh cut leaves from the different species. Dry matter intake (DMI), nitrogen intake (NI) and neutral detergent fiber intake (NDFI) were measured. Data were analyzed with a mixed model that included specie and session as fixed effects and blocks as a random. The statistical analyses were performed with SAS (University Edition), data is expressed as lsmeans and was considered to differ when Tukey test presented P < 0.05. No significant differences were observed between sessions. The DMI and NI were higher in NN-C and lower in AL-D (P < 0.01) during A-W. However, in S-S, higher DMI and NI were observed in AL-D and SI-C while NN-C presented the lower DMI and NI (P < 0.01). The FDNI did not show differences in A-W meanwhile in S-S was positively associated with DMI (Table1). Interestingly, when the season changed, it was observed a change in PFT preference, in A-W calves preferred NN-C whereas in S-S preferred AL-D. However, attributes associated with preferences were maintained in both stations, for instance, higher DMI was associated with higher NI. Additional research is required on the interactions between PFT approach and the preference of animals for different species.

Short Communication: Agricultural biodiversity and economic productivity of the yards in Arguni Bawah, Kaimana District, West Papua Province, Indonesia

Antoh AA, Arifin NHS, Chozin MA, Arifin HS. 2019. Agricultural biodiversity and economic productivity of the yards in Arguni Bawah, Kaimana District, West Papua Province, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 20: 1020-1026. Papua Island, Indonesia has abundance of agricultural biological resources. This is reflected in a variety of agricultural products in different parts of the area and in the use of yards, which is not fully utilized. This study was aimed at mapping the agricultural biodiversity of the yards, as well as measuring their economic productivity. The study area was Arguni Bawah Sub-district, Kaimana District, West Papua Province, Indonesia, and the study was conducted from November 2017 to March 2018. The average number of plant species recorded from yards were 13, number of individuals being 72 in an average yard size of 696 m2. The smallest yard was 231 m2 with only three species and 4 individuals. The maximum number of species found were 26 with 267 individuals. The maximum size of yards studied was 3,000 m2. There are five functional types of plants with high density and SDR, there are the species producing starch (taro and banana), vegetables (gedi and spinach), fruits (banana) and ornamentals, among others. The Shanon-Wiener diversity index (H´) ranged from 1.8 to 2.5, indicating that the biodiversity of plant species in the yards may be interpreted as abundant or moderate. The evaluation of economic productivity showed that average cash income received by households from yards was Rp.7,693,000.