Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Grass And Forage Improvement: Temperate Forages, Chris J. Pollock, M. T. Abberton, M. O. Humphreys

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Key points

1. Plant breeding has contributed significantly to the development of effective grassland production systems.

2. New technologies offer enhanced precision in breeding and access to wider genetic variation.

3. The requirement for more sustainable production systems will require genetic improvements in complex traits where the use of new technology will be vital.

Improving The Quality Of Products From Grassland, Nigel D. Scollan, R. J. Dewhurst, A. P. Moloney, J. J. Murphy

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Key points

1. Consumers are increasingly aware of the links between diet and health, and place increasing emphasis on nutritional quality as a component of product quality.

2. Meat and milk products are rich sources of nutrients such as omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid, which offer health benefits to consumers.

3. Green plants are the primary source of n-3 fatty acids in the food chain.

4. Grassland production systems have the potential to enhance the content of beneficial fatty acids, improve stability (from higher antioxidant content) and alter sensory attributes of meat and milk.

5. Grassland offers …

Rising Demand For Meat And Milk In Developing Countries: Implications For Grasslands-Based Livestock Production, C. L. Delgado

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Key points

1. Meat and milk consumption in developing countries has grown three times as fast as in developed countries over the past 30 years.

2. By 2020, developing countries will consume 72 million metric tons (mmt) more meat and 152 mmt more milk compared to 2002/3, dwarfing developed-country increases of 9 mmt for meat and 18 mmt for milk.

3. Ruminant livestock will account for 27% of the increase in global meat consumption between 2003 and 2020, up from 23% over the previous two decades.

4. The inflation-adjusted prices of livestock and feed grains are expected to fall only …

Grassland In Ireland And The Uk, Myles Rath, S. Peel

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Key points

1. Grassland is the dominant land use option in Ireland and the UK, and is characterised by a long growing season.

2. Dynamic, interactive systems of grassland management have been developed which combine high grass dry matter intakes with good sward quality. In the better grassland areas milk yields in excess of 7000 kg/cow are attainable with low levels of concentrate supplementation.

3. In the times to come, measures to protect the environment will constrain stocking rates, and fertiliser and manure use on intensive grassland enterprises.

4. A high proportion of beef and sheep farms participate in voluntary, …

Neutron Stars With Baryon Number Violation, Probing Dark Sectors, Jeffrey M. Berryman, Susan Gardner, Mohammadreza Zakeri

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

The neutron lifetime anomaly has been used to motivate the introduction of new physics with hidden-sector particles coupled to baryon number, and on which neutron stars provide powerful constraints. Although the neutron lifetime anomaly may eventually prove to be of mundane origin, we use it as motivation for a broader review of the ways that baryon number violation, be it real or apparent, and dark sectors can intertwine and how neutron star observables, both present and future, can constrain them.

Estimation Of The Optimal Nitrogen Dose In A Brachiaria Humidicola-Corn Rotation System In The Colombian Eastern Plains, K. Enciso, S. Burkart

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Improving nitrogen (N) use efficiency by optimizing the N fertilizer application dose is one way to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in agriculture and livestock production, especially in higher demanding crops such as corn. Taking a Brachiaria humidicola (Bh)-corn rotation system in the Colombian Eastern Plains, we seek to determine both the optimal economic dose (OED) and the optimal technical dose (OTD) of N, which allow to maximize income at producer level and minimize environmental impacts. This particular rotation system was chosen as research subject given the presence of the residual effect of Biological Nitrogen Inhibition (BNI) in …

Screening And Breeding For Bermudagrass Stem Maggot (Bsm) Resistance Using U.S. Bermudagrass Germplasm, W. F. Anderson, D. Hancock, L. Baxter, W. Hudson, Esteban F. Rios

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Bermudagrass (Cynodon sp.) is an important perennial forage grass grown in many parts of the world. Bermudagrass Stem Maggot (BSM) (Atherigona reversura Villeneuve) is an insect pest that reduces forage yield and nutritive value if it is not controlled. The pest, native to SE Asia, was first documented in North America in 2009 and is now considered invasive. A collection of over 300 forage bermudagrass accessions was evaluated in the field for susceptibility to BSM in 2014 and 2015. Tolerant lines and susceptible checks were then evaluated for yield loss due to BSM in a replicated field study …

What And Who Has Determined Adoption? A Study On Improved Forage Technologies In Colombia From An Agricultural Innovation System (Ais) Perspective, K. Enciso, N. Triana, M. Díaz, S. Burkart

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The complex process behind the adoption of improved forages in Colombia remains largely unexplored. Despite governmental and scientific efforts to promote and disseminate the implementation of improved forages for the sake of sustainable livestock production, local livestock producers continue to extensively use native species and adoption rates of more efficient forages remain low. This study explores the dynamics behind the development and diffusion of improved forage technologies in Colombia, from the 1960's to the present through an Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) perspective. Here we map the agents involved, classify the roles they exerted over time and reconstruct the historical context …

From Theory To Practice: What Should We Have In Mind When Building Effective And Sustainable Payments For Ecosystem Services (Pes) Schemes For Silvo-Pastoral Systems? Evidence From Colombia, M. Díaz, K. Enciso, N. Triana, S. Burkart

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

In most Latin American countries, payment for ecosystem services (PES) can be a useful strategy for restoration and conservation of the environment, increasing productivity and promoting sustainable development in rural areas. Despite these plausible benefits, PES implementation can be challenging due to the contextual framework in which it takes place (e.g. institutional weakness in the implementation and monitoring stages, limited connectivity among stakeholders, low adoption levels of agricultural technology). This study aims at evaluating PES schemes for silvo-pastoral systems in Colombia by considering six dimensions based on an extensive literature review: policy and governance; social context; environmental context; risks and …

Smallholder Dairy Farmers In The Peruvian Andes Fulfilling The Role Of Extension Agents, C. S. Pinares-Patino, J. Manhire, R. Garcia Ticllacuri, J. L. Bernal Madrid, V. M. Velez Marroquin

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Dairy farming in the Peruvian Andes is mostly undertaken by smallholder farmers (4-6 cows/family) and of relatively recent development. In fact, over the last 2 decades dairy farming at high altitudes (3,500‒4200 masl) has grown rapidly, replacing the camelids and sheep farming that once predominated. Dairying growth has been catalysed by subsides from state and private organizations. It promotes high input systems based on feedlot technology. Compared to sheep and camelids farming, dairying at the Andes does not have yet an inherent local/indigenous knowledge associated to it. High altitude Andean ecosystems pose many constraints for dairy farming (hypoxia and high …

Pastoralists’ Perception Of Poverty: A Case Of The Somali And Turkana Of Northern Kenya, W. P. Watete, Kogi-Makau

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Poverty is a complex phenomenon, without a single definition or standard methods of reducing it. Income based methods of assessing poverty have been shown to have limitations that undermine their application in measuring and attacking poverty among pastoral households. Stages of progress method of poverty assessment was used to assess poverty among pastoral households in Turkana and Mandera Counties of Northern Kenya. Three hundred and three hundred and fifty-four households in Mandera and Turkana Counties respectively were sampled across three different livelihood zones: pastoral, agro-pastoral and off-farm. Accumulation of livestock was regarded as a key indicator of wealth among pastoral …

Pastoralist Conservation: Local Ecological Knowledge And Collective Action For Grassland Conservation In Sierra De Segura (Spain), P. Sanosa-Cols, F. Ravera, F. Dominguez, M. Ventura

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Even if Pastoralism is not practised anymore by a majority of families in the Sierra de Segura (south-eastern Andalusia, Spain), it is still considered a paradigmatic way of life and management of its highlands and a key cultural heritage deeply rooted in local identity. In this article we explore two pastoral communities of this region, Santiago and Pontones, with their body of situated knowledge of the territory and natural resources, which helps pastoralists to organize their livelihoods, while requiring collective organization to manage access to grasslands. Through an ethnographic research based on participant observation and in-depth interviews, we explore the …

Intensification Of Pastoralism As A Driver Of Degradation In The Algerian Steppe, S. Bencherif, P. Manzano

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Land degradation linked to pastoralism use has been a worldwide concern for decades. A biological approach has often been use to understand such phenomena, usually disregarding economic and social factors. Radical transformations of pastoralism at the Algerian steppe constitute a good case study to provide an integrated understanding and to better orient development in other pastoralist areas across the world. Different actions by the public sector since the 1960s, as well as the land legislation adopted and the strong agricultural subventions during 2000-2010, have favored a massive conversion of land and resource management. This translates into conversion of many pastures …

Perceptions Of Rangeland Degradation In The Peruvian Altiplano Dry Puna And Implications, C. Turin, J. Gilles

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The Peruvian altiplano’s dry puna is the main feed source for specialized alpaca pastoralist systems. Experts argue that rangelands are severely degraded and have formulated policies and programs to address this. However, these programs have had little success. This paper presents a qualitative case study of the perceptions of rangeland degradation held in three Aymara communities, by range scientists of academia, personnel of NGOs operating in the region and by government officers. We found that each of these groups had distinct views of the level and causes of degradation in the region. Differences in perceptions undermined cooperation and trust between …

Endangered Sustainable Innovation: Indigenous Milk Hygiene And Preservation Techniques By Maasai Too Valuable To Lose, J. Y. Laffa, C. R. Mcculloch, D. Schoder

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The indigenous Parakuyo Maasai communities of Tanzania are traditional pastoralists who depend on fresh cow’s milk as a staple food. However, the arid climate and a lack of clean water challenge milk production and conventional milk hygiene practices.

By conducting informational interviews in eight Parakuyo Maasai regions and 13 districts of Tanzania we sought to identify the key indigenous plants preferred and establish their traditional manner of use. A semi-structured questionnaire was designed to: (i) determine the plants used, (ii) the parts used, (iii) methods of preparation and utensil smoking, (iv) therapeutic applications and associated health benefits of these plants, …

Developing A Glossary Of People-Focused Terms Related To Rangelands And Grasslands, Dana Kelly, Katherine I. Johnsen, Chris Magero, Tungalag Ulambayer, Ann Waters-Bayer

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Excellent glossaries on rangelands and grasslands have been developed by the Society for Range Management (SRM), the International Grassland Congress (IGC) and the International Rangeland Congress (IRC). However, these are largely confined to biophysical and technical terminology and contain very few concepts referring to social, institutional and policy aspects of using rangelands and grasslands. After the 10^th IRC in Saskatoon, Canada, in 2016, an informal group started to develop a glossary of such “people-focused” terms. The short and non-academic definitions are meant to improve communication and understanding by users/practitioners in rangeland and grassland management, policymakers, teachers, students, journalists and …

Could Cheese Be The Missing, Hard, Stable Currency To Fortify Self-Sufficiency Of Pastoralist Communities?, D. Schoder, J. Y. Laffa

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Traditional pastoral existence in Africa has always necessitated close, sustainable interaction with a harsh natural environment. Pastoralists, such as the indigenous Parakuyo Maasai of Tanzania traditionally depend on fresh cow’s milk as a staple. They are among the few African ethnic groups that still live as small, socially intact associations close to nature. Unfortunately, fresh milk is difficult to store and inevitably, times of plenty fluctuate with the times of hunger that threaten cultural retreat. Milk storage is particularly challenging in an arid climate without refrigeration and at such times, survival takes precedence over prosperity. We describe an ongoing pilot …

Comparative Analysis Of Cbrm Cases In Kenya, Ethiopia And Tunisia, I. N. Nganga, L. W. Robinson, B. Eba, F. Flintan, E. M. Ontiri, M. Sghaier, N. H. Abdu, S. S. Moiko

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

In various countries, development and conservation organizations and national policymakers have been experimenting with ways of applying the community-based natural resource management approach to the unique social and biophysical characteristics of pastoralist rangeland settings, with mixed results. We carried out comparative case study research on community-based rangeland management (CBRM) in a variety of settings in Ethiopia, Kenya and Tunisia with the objective of identifying what kinds of strategies and methods work in which social and ecological contexts. We used an “options by context” approach guided by a research protocol that includes key variables and descriptors for characterizing the implementing organization’s …

Comparative Analysis Of Agri-Food Systems For Extensive Livestock In The High Pyrenees And Creation Of A Multicriterian Tool For Its Evaluation, Laia Motos, Federica Ravera

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The main objective of this study is to compare the different agri-food systems of extensive livestock (ecological and conventional) of big and small ruminants (cattle and sheep respectively) in high Pyrenees. This objective is formulated by looking at the general lack of knowledge of the population regarding the functionality of these systems, the changes of management that have been introduced in the recent years, especially in terms of commercialization, and the different capacity of response of extensive livestock systems to climate change and other socio-economic complementary changes. Attributes and indicators have been selected for the comparative evaluation of livestock systems, …

Analysis Of Rangeland Perceptions Among Potential Land Redistribution Beneficiaries In South Africa: How Well Do Potential Emerging Farmers Know Their Rangelands?, S. Zantsi

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Sound rangeland management is one of the key factors for a successful and viable commercial livestock production in grass fed production systems. However, such knowledge is perceived to be lacking in small-scale livestock farmers, who farm on degraded and overgrazed communal rangelands despite being regarded as prime beneficiaries of the land redistribution programme in the stalling South African land reform. Largely, it is also not known in details how much the potential future commercial farmers know about their rangelands. This study analyses perception of the prime land redistribution beneficiaries—potential emerging farmers, who were surveyed randomly in three South African provinces. …

An Analysis Of Community-Based Values Informing Land Management On The Midwestern Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Of Kansas, Usa, Heidi Mehl, Diana L. Restrepo-Osorio, Melinda Howard, Cynthia Annett

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The focus of this study is to examine the interface between land management practices and values within a tribal community in rural midwestern North America. The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation (PBPN) reside on a tribal reservation with a checkerboard distribution amongst private, non-tribal landowners. Previous studies have indicated that landowners may have different value-systems leading to variations in land-management practices. This can impose discontinuous land management in areas within shared biological boundaries, such as watersheds, especially between tribal and non-tribal entities. Preliminary spatial analysis in and around the PBPN landscape determined that the tribally-managed lands present more vegetative cover per …

A Policy Brief On Adopting The Somali Camel For Enhanced Profitability And Pastoral Resilience In Northern Kenya, Simon G. Kuria, A. O. Adongo, S. Murithi, O. K. Koech, J. T. Njoka, P. Kamande

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Persistent drought and high temperatures in Isiolo and Marsabit counties of northern Kenya repeatedly devastate livestock herds particularly cattle making the pastoralists less resilient, more vulnerable to climate change and poor. To address this challenge, an IGAD funded project promoted adoption of Somali camel breed, trained farmers on improved management and also estimated potential profitability of rearing the camel. Through the project, trainers were trained and facilitated to train 240 peri-urban Somali camel producers in Isiolo and Marsabit on breeding, health, routine husbandry and marketing. Impact study documenting positive stories of change was conducted at the end. Producers who hitherto …

Red Clover Improves The Energy To Protein Balance Of Lucerne-Grass Herbage, X. Godin, Gaëtan F. Tremblay, P. Seguin, S. Bittman, D. Hunt, J. Hakl, G. Bélanger, M.-N. Thivierge, A. Bertrand, M. Thériault, A. Claessens

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Low ratio of readily fermentable carbohydrate to soluble protein concentrations in lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) leads to inefficient use of herbage N by ruminants. To improve the energy to protein balance in lucerne-grass herbage, four proportions of lucerne:red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) were compared in mixtures with and without grasses: timothy (Phleum pratense L.) and tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus Schreb. Dumort.) in Quebec (QC, Canada). In the first post-seeding year, red clover proportion averaged (across grasses and four harvests) 0, 37, 59, and 74% in herbage mixtures. Increasing the proportion of red clover caused a slight …

Structural Features Of Condensed Tannins Influence Their Antimethanogenic Potential In Forage Plants, S. Verma, J.-P. Salminen, S. Wolffram, F. Taube, R. Blank, A. Susenbeth, C. Malisch

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Despite years of research on the antimethanogenic potential of condensed tannins (CT), their large-scale application is inhibited by a substantial variability in previous studies with regards to their impact on ruminant nutrition. This variability mainly results from the complexity of CT structures, and their impact on methane emissions is often unaccounted for. Hence, this study (a) evaluated the variability in antimethanogenic potential across six forage species, (b) linked methane emissions to tannin activity, and (c) determined the impact of CT structural features on methane abatement. Six forage species were grown in a greenhouse under controlled environmental conditions, namely, sainfoin ( …

Round Bale Silage – Farmer Results In Kentucky, Jimmy C. Henning, Jeff Lehmkuhler, Brandon Sears, Corinne Belton, Levi Berg, Don Sorrell, April Wilhoit

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

The ability to make silage in round bale packages allows producers to avoid rain damage and produce high quality stored forage. The proliferation of bale wrappers (both individual and inline types) has made this technology more available to producers. Although the process for making baleage is well documented, producers have experienced poor fermentation and in some cases botulism toxicity from baleage. The parameters of good silage are well known and include pH below 5.0 and lactic acid concentrations above 3% on a DM basis. However, tests of farmer produced baleage reveals that often these target values are not achieved. To …

Optimizing Quality With Bale Density And Time Of Wrapping, Jessica Williamson

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

No abstract provided.

Alfalfa Insect Update: 2021 Growing Season, Lee H. Townsend

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Alfalfa weevils (AW) and fall armyworms (FAW) were newsmakers for very different reasons during the 2021 alfalfa growing season. An AW control failure with a pyrethroid in Kentucky drew attention to practices to manage insecticide resistance. A regional outbreak of FAWs resulted in significant damage to alfalfa and grasses along with a reminder of the unpredictable nature and difficult detection of this pest. While there are several effective FAW control options, it is challenging is to detect infestations in time to act.

Mowing And Conditioning For Round Bale Silage: Equipment Adjustment And Harvest Management, Jessica Williamson

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

No abstract provided.

Harvest Timing And Moisture Determination: Forage Drying Rates And Moisture Probe Accuracy, Benjamin M. Conner, Jimmy C. Henning

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Scott County Kentucky currently has a beef cattle herd of 28,509 head (USDA, 2017). These cattle utilize forage as a large part of their diets. Baleage is bales of wilted, high moisture forage which have been wrapped in several layers of UV‐resistant plastic and allowed to ensile like traditional chopped silage (Henning et al., 2021). Baleage has become another way for farmers to harvest and store forage to be used in cattle diets. It has some advantages over the traditional hay production in Kentucky. One advantage is it can be harvested, baled, and stored in a shorter period of time, …

Species And Variety Options For Baleage, S. Ray Smith

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Any forage species can be made into baleage or silage. While baleage is a form of silage, I’m defining it here as baled forage (typically round bales) that is wrapped in plastic (individually or in a line) for the ensiling process to take place. And silage is typically chopped forage that is ensiled in an upright or bunker silo or blown into a silage tube. The chopping mixes all the material together and allows tight packing to remove oxygen therefore encouraging faster fermentation. With baleage there is no chopping to mix the forage, so it’s essential that the forage is …