Search Results (234)

The concepts of anthromes and human appropriation of net primary production (HANPP) are both valuable in understanding our human-dominated planet, yet they have never been integrated theoretically or empirically. Here we utilize an extensive county-level dataset on HANPP and its product-level components to derive, through cluster analysis, ten contemporary US anthromes. From highest to lowest density of harvested HANPP, the anthromes are: rainfed corn–soy, dairy fodder, spring wheat–small grain, dryland winter wheat, subtropical soy–cotton, commercial timber, mixed hardwood and pasture, recovered eastern forest, prairie–sagebrush rangeland, and arid and alpine sparse grazing. Expanding to thirteen anthromes maintains these, while bifurcating the commercial timber (softwood, hardwood), rainfed corn–soy (core, fringe) and mixed hardwood and pasture anthromes. Trend analysis shows the expansion of the high-HANPP rainfed corn–soy and the low-HANPP recovered eastern forest anthromes between 2002 and 2017, while some other anthromes with moderate HANNP_harvest are contracting. The methods described here can be applied to any country where data on HANPP can be obtained. Full article

High-Andean grasslands in the Central Andes of Peru are severely degraded by Lepidium meyenii (maca) cultivation, compromising pasture structure and forage availability for sustainable livestock production. A factorial field experiment evaluated restoration timing and pasture-oriented seed mixtures by manipulating resting time after abandonment (0, 1, 2, and 3 years) and restoration treatment (control; Festuca dolichophylla monoculture; full mixture of Dactylis glomerata + Lolium spp. + Trifolium repens + F. dolichophylla; and mixture without F. dolichophylla) across 64 plots. Vegetation was assessed eight months after seeding, and responses were analysed with ordination, PERMANOVA with restricted permutations, PERMDISP, and generalised linear models and mixed-effects models for diversity metrics. Community composition differed significantly among resting times and seed treatments, with resting time explaining the largest proportion of variance (R² = 0.353), followed by treatment (R² = 0.236), while the interaction was significant but smaller (R² = 0.102, p = 0.002). PERMDISP detected significant differences in multivariate dispersion for both Resting Time and Treatment, indicating that compositional differences may reflect both centroid shifts and heterogeneity among groups. Passive recovery and Festuca-only plots showed slower, more variable compositional change, whereas productive mixtures produced clearer, treatment-specific trajectories over time, suggesting possible divergence in community development patterns, rather than providing formal evidence of distinct alternative stable states. Establishment was consistently high for D. glomerata and Lolium spp., supporting rapid ground cover, which may be associated with short-term forage potential, while F. dolichophylla showed chronically low establishment consistent with limited germination performance. The invasive Pennisetum clandestinum was most pronounced under passive recovery and was reduced under seeded mixtures, suggesting a potential competitive suppression effect. Overall, early seeding with productive mixtures appeared to influence community assembly trajectories, while resting time remained the dominant driver of compositional variation, suggesting potential implications for restoration management in maca-degraded landscapes, although outcomes related to sustainable grazing systems were not directly evaluated. Full article

The state of São Paulo is home to remnants of the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes, both of which face intense anthropogenic pressure and hight fragmentation. In this context, Environmental Recovery Commitment Agreements (TCRAs) serve as essential instruments for restoring degraded areas and monitoring vegetation recovery over time. This study assesses land use and land cover (LULC) classification performance in TCRA sites by integrating Satellite Image Time Series (SITS) with spectral fractions derived from the Linear Spectral Mixture Model (LSMM), utilizing 2025 Sentinel-2A/2B imagery. Data were organized into spatiotemporal cubes within R environment and classified using the Random Forest algorithm. Model performance was assessed using a confusion matrix and accuracy metrics, including User’s Accuracy (UA), Producer’s Accuracy (PA), F1-score, and Intersection over Union (IoU), as well as spatial analysis of agreement and disagreement between predicted maps and reference data. Results demonstrate high classification precision for vegetation classes, specifically pasture (F1 = 0.91) and forest formations (F1 = 0.87). Primary misclassifications occurred between spectrally similar classes, particularly within small fragments and intermediate regeneration stages. Overall, the integration of SITS and LSMM enhanced class separability by incorporating temporal dynamics and mitigating spectral mixing effects, highlighting its potential as an operational tool for environmental restoration monitoring. Full article

The Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) of many regional landscapes are changing due to natural effects and anthropogenic activities, impacting biodiversity and ecosystem services. LULC dynamics reflect the altered flow of energy, water, and greenhouse gases, influencing the pillars of sustainability: society, environment, and economy. Thus, assessing LULC changes is vital for understanding the relationship between nature and society. This study used multi-temporal remotely sensed imagery to examine LULC change between 1990 and 2019 in the context of Forest Transition Theory (FTT) across the Greater Shawnee National Forest (GSNF) area of southern Illinois, USA, using a random forest algorithm, and projecting change to 2050 with a Land Change Model integrated with IPCC temperature and precipitation scenarios. From 1990 to 2019, LULC analysis showed increases in deciduous forest (1.35%), mixed forest (26.40%), agriculture (2.15%), and built-up areas (6.70%), while hay/grass/pasture declined (16.0%). LULC change intensity was highest from 1990 to 2001 (2.35% annually), slowing to 0.23% (2001–2010) and 0.18% (2010–2019). The overall accuracy (OA) of LULC classification ranged from 0.9 to 0.95 at a 95% confidence interval (CI). Projections to 2050 showed consistent increases in built-up areas (17.12–42.61%), water (28.75–39.70%), and hay/grass/pasture (6.23–38.38%), while overall forest cover declined in all scenarios. Deciduous forests decreased by 3.11–19.87% and were replaced by mixed forests in some scenarios (12.45–23.63%), while evergreen forests showed mixed responses, ranging from a decline of up to 17.13% to an increase of 2.90%. The OA of projected LULC ranged from 0.71 to 0.83 (95% CI) across SSP-RCP-based temperature and precipitation scenarios. The results showed that the GSNF broadly follows the FTT framework: forest recovery since 2001 coincided with rural depopulation, slow agricultural expansion, and rising incomes. However, climate change is expected to disrupt this recovery, pushing transitions toward mixed and evergreen forests. Findings demonstrate the importance of integrating remote sensing-based LULC with socio-economic trends and climate adaptation strategies to sustain forests and ecosystem services under future environmental pressures. Full article

This study aimed to assess the effect of concentrate supplementation frequency on the nutrient intake, performance, carcass characteristics, and tissue composition of sheep for meat raised on Panicum maximum cv. Massai pasture. A group of 36 sheep of the Santa Inês breed (18 males and 18 females) with a mean initial weight of 17.0 ± 1.5 kg and mean age of 90 ± 10 days were assigned to three treatments: supplementation every 24 h, every 48 h, and every 72 h. The formulation comprised ground maize kernels (70%), soybean meal (25%), mineral mix (2.5%), urea (1.8%), table salt (0.5%), and ammonium sulfate (0.2%). The females reached a higher final weight than the males (p < 0.05). Dry matter intake did not differ among the treatment groups (p > 0.05), but the sheep supplemented every 72 h showed greater pasture and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake, while those supplemented every 24 h and 48 h consumed more concentrate and had higher total weight gain (7.19 and 7.10 × 5.68 kg) (p < 0.05). The same behavior was found for carcass and meat cut weights and for leg and carcass compacity indexes, but carcass and cut yields were not impacted by supplementation strategy. Supplementation on alternate days, i.e., every 48 h, maintains the performance and productive efficiency levels in sheep kept on Massai grass pasture compared to those supplemented daily, but providing intermittent supplementation with intervals above 48 h is not recommended as a nutritional strategy. Full article

In the context of climate change and increased frequency of droughts, summer supplementation of grazing cattle may improve productivity and resilience of pastoral systems. However, the provision of supplements may increase the risk of heat stress in cattle. This study aimed to evaluate the productive and physiological response of grazing steers supplemented during summer. Three independent studies were conducted over three summers (2020–2023). In each experiment, steers grazing native grasslands with access to shade were allotted to one of two treatments: control (CONT) and supplementation (SUPPL), in a completely randomized block design. SUPPL steers were group-fed in the morning three days per week with an energy–protein ration at a level of 1.98% body weight (BW) on days of feeding. Pasture attributes, animal performance, respiration rate (RR), and body temperature (BT) were analyzed using a mixed model. According to the temperature–humidity index, cattle were exposed to heat stress 32% of the time. Summer supplementation increased average daily gain and final body weight of steers. Although supplementation temporarily increased BT (morning) and RR (afternoon), daily average RR and BT were similar for both treatments. These findings show that summer supplementation improves animal performance of grazing steers without increased risk of severe heat stress. These results are aligned with the concept of sustainable livestock intensification, which aims to enhance animal source foods to feed a growing population without causing collateral animal welfare issues. Full article

This study evaluated combinations of defoliation frequencies and intensities to identify grazing strategies that optimize forage accumulation and morphological composition in mixed pastures of Marandu palisadegrass (Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu) with the legume Macrotyloma axillare. Treatments consisted of pre-grazing heights of 30 and 40 cm (defining defoliation frequency) combined with post-grazing heights of 15 and 20 cm (defoliation intensity), in a 2 × 2 factorial randomized block design with four repetitions. Forage accumulation rate, morphological component mass, and leaf area index (LAI) were evaluated under rotational stocking. The highest forage accumulation rates of grass and its stems occurred at a pre-grazing height of 30 cm. A taller pre-grazing height (40 cm) resulted in greater pre-grazing forage mass, leaf and stem mass of Marandu palisadegrass and LAI, but it also increased the amount of dead material and post-grazing stem mass. The greatest Macrotyloma forage accumulation occurred under grazing strategies of 30–20 cm and 40–15 cm. Lenient defoliation (20 cm post-grazing height) favored post-grazing leaf mass, whereas severe defoliation (15 cm) favored stem mass. Marandu palisadegrass showed higher LAI at 40 cm pre-grazing height (4.7) than at 30 cm (3.6), with slightly greater values under 20 cm (4.3) than 15 cm (4.1) post-grazing height, while Macrotyloma axillare exhibited low LAI. Across all grazing strategies, the legume mass decreased over time. Therefore, future studies should explore alternative grazing strategies and periodic reseeding of Macrotyloma axillare to maintain its presence in mixed tropical pastures. Full article

Livestock production in the high Andes is vital for rural livelihoods and food security but is limited by poor pasture quality, environmental variability, and restricted resources. Pasture improvement, achieved through management practices and particularly through fertilization, may enhance productivity and sustainability in high-Andean livestock systems. This study aimed to characterize mixed herds composed of domestic sheep (Ovis aries), alpacas (Vicugna pacos), llamas (Lama glama), and domestic cattle (Bos taurus) and to evaluate the role of pasture fertilization on herd composition and livestock size. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to 88 randomly selected livestock producers, complemented by direct field observations of grazing areas, corrals, shelters, and water sources. The survey documented herd structure, grazing management, pasture conservation, fertilization practices, and farm infrastructure. Data from multiple farms were analyzed using a clustering approach to group production units with similar characteristics, and statistical models were applied to assess the effects of fertilization, pasture area, and water sources. Three distinct clusters were identified: one dominated by alpacas, another by sheep, and a third by llamas with the most uniform stocking density. Pasture fertilization was most common in the sheep-dominated cluster and was significantly associated with higher sheep numbers, while no significant effects were detected for alpacas, llamas, or cattle. Farms without fertilization showed slightly higher overall livestock size; however, a strong negative interaction between pasture area and lack of fertilization indicated that expanding grazing land alone could not offset low forage quality. These findings suggest that targeted fertilization, when combined with sustainable grazing practices, may contribute to improved herd performance and long-term resilience in heterogeneous Andean livestock systems. Full article

Beef production on chemically uniform grass monocultures can limit nutrient synchrony and contribute to uneven pasture use. We evaluated whether supplementing tannins with bioactive plant secondary compounds improves foraging dynamics and landscape use by beef cattle grazing a meadow bromegrass monoculture in ways aligned with rangeland sustainability. Twenty-four Angus cow–calf pairs were allocated to six 3.6-ha paddocks (four pairs/paddock), randomly assigned to Control (Ctrl; n = 3) or Tannin treatment (TT; n = 3). Animals received 1 kg/cow/day of DDGs, with TT receiving an added 0.4% tannins (2:1 condensed:hydrolyzable). Grazing occurred during four 15-day periods (July–September) across two years. Data were analyzed with mixed-effects models. Tannins did not alter biomass removal or cow weight loss (p > 0.05). However, TT cows exhibited longer evening grazing (2.9 vs. 2.1 h), fewer standing-to-lying transitions (5.7% vs. 7.3%), and more even spatial grazing distribution (CV = 1.861 vs. 2.13; p < 0.05), and greater water consumption (147 vs. 121 L/day; p < 0.01). Average daily gain of calves was numerically greater in TT compared to Ctrl (1.03 vs. 0.93 kg/day; p = 0.27). Collectively, these shifts promoted by tannins point to enhanced evening intake opportunities and reduced patch overuse, outcomes consistent with improved welfare and more uniform pasture utilization two pillars of sustainable grazing. Increased water demand under tannins highlights a management consideration for arid systems. Overall, moderate tannin inclusion was compatible with sustainable grazing by promoting even pasture use and potentially improving nutrient use efficiency without compromising intake. Full article

Feed and water scarcity are major challenges for the sustainability of livestock production, particularly in semi-arid regions with structural limitations in resource availability. In this context, the valorization of agro-industrial by-products contributes to circular agriculture, reduces waste, and promotes more efficient resource use, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This study evaluated the inclusion of partial mixed tomato residue (PMR) silage in sheep diets and its effects on productive performance, total water intake, and meat quality. Eighteen ewe lambs were assigned to two groups: control (concentrate and deferred pasture) and PMR (tomato residue silage and deferred pasture). The PMR silage had a pH of 3.97 and was mainly characterized by lactic and acetic acids, with minor amounts of propionic and butyric acids. The butyric acid concentration (8.9 g kg⁻¹ DM) slightly exceeded the recommended threshold (0.5% DM), suggesting some clostridial activity but remaining below levels associated with severe deterioration. Animals fed PMR silage showed a 36% higher dry matter intake (p = 0.001), with greater intake of total digestible nutrients and fiber. This translated into a 54% higher average daily gain (p = 0.02) and an 11% greater final body weight compared with the control group (p = 0.02). Dietary water intake was also higher in the PMR group, reducing direct water consumption from drinkers by 38% (p < 0.001). Meat quality parameters were unaffected by the diet. Pesticide residue screening by LC-MS/MS revealed no detectable levels of abamectin, cymoxanil, chlorothalonil, difenoconazole, or mancozeb in silage. In meat samples, only chlorothalonil was tested and it was not detected. However, the use of PMR silage increased direct energy demand due to transport and compaction, while feeding costs per unit of weight gain were reduced. Overall, PMR silage proved to be a safe, fermentatively stable, and effective feeding alternative that enhances performance, reduces direct water intake, and maintains meat quality, representing a viable strategy for small ruminant production in water-limited regions. Full article

The intensification of rice–livestock systems has encouraged the integration of forage species into rice cultivation. However, the use of imidazolinone-tolerant rice cultivars (imazapyr + imazapic, IMIs), essential for weedy rice control, may hinder the establishment of sensitive forages due to herbicide residues. This study evaluated the emergence and early growth of six forage species through bioassays in soils with different IMI use histories. Over three years (2021–2023), soils were collected from three rice-growing regions in Uruguay with contrasting soil properties, at depths of 0–15 and 16–30 cm, under three IMI conditions: Control (no prior use), IMI-1 (applied one season before sampling), and IMI-2 (applied in the season before sampling). Emergence, plant height, and shoot and root biomass were analyzed using linear mixed models and principal component analysis. Shoot biomass was reduced by up to 60% in IMI-2 soils. Poaceae species and T. pratense were the most affected, while T. repens and L. corniculatus exhibited higher tolerance. Multivariate analysis indicated stronger residual effects on sandy loam soils. These findings highlight that imidazolinone persistence varies with forage species and soil properties, underscoring the need for careful planning in rice–pasture rotations to prevent adverse effects on forage establishment and system sustainability. Full article

The aims of the study were to evaluate the effectiveness of audio detection for identifying feeding sounds in free grazing sheep and to assess whether the recognition of these sounds could be influenced by pasture characteristics. Twelve Valle del Belice dry ewes were grazed on two mixed swards: on 10 May, grass-rich sward (G); on 13 May, legume-rich sward (L). Each ewe was fitted with a collar equipped with a point of view (POV) camera. All audio files (without viewing the videos) were listened to and sounds recognized as herbage prehension and rumination activity were highlighted. Time spent eating and ruminating was then calculated. To validate the audio file analysis, all video files were subjected to observation of the same behavioral aspects detected with audio. The regression between the prehensions number estimated using sound alone and the actual values recorded through video was significant (r² 0.743; p < 0.001). No differences were found in recognizing grazing behavior between data obtained by listening or watching the videos and between the two swards. The acoustic analysis of the single bites on grass and legume forages reveals significant differences between the two forage classes (p ≤ 0.001) particularly in terms of energy, temporal structure, and spectral features. Since sheep showed a strong selective activity towards legumes even in the grass-rich sward (selectivity index 3.1), this may have reduced acoustic differences between swards. Full article

Mixed legume–grass pastures may enhance nitrogen recycling via litter and excreta compared to unfertilized grass monocultures. This study evaluated litter biomass, litter deposition rate, and the chemical and isotopic composition of Urochloa decumbens litter in monoculture and mixed pasture intercropped with Arachis pintoi cv. Belmonte at five planting spacings (0.40, 0.50, 0.60, 0.70, and 0.80 m) in a Ferralsol. Additionally, isotopic analysis of sheep feces under grazing was conducted across the dry season. The experiment was conducted according to a split-plot scheme, with spacings in the plots and the periods or years in the subplots, in a randomized block design, with four replications. Litter biomass was not significantly influenced by planting spacing; however, the litter deposition rate was substantially greater in mixed pastures, reaching up to 77.2 kg ha⁻¹ day⁻¹ in the second year. Isotopic analysis revealed that up to 39% of the litter carbon was derived from C3 plants (Arachis pintoi), while nitrogen concentration ranged from 8.3 g kg⁻¹ in monoculture to 12.9 g kg⁻¹ at 0.40 m spacing. Spatial arrangement was critical for optimizing nutrients dynamic. Narrower planting spacings (0.40–0.50 m) increased the proportion of Arachis pintoi and enhanced litter deposition rates, improving nitrogen inputs and cycling within mixed Urochloa decumbens. Full article

This on-farm study explored the effects of diverse pasture systems and seaweed bio-stimulants (AgriSea NZ Seaweed Products, Paeroa, New Zealand) on sheep performance, metabolic health, milk composition, and carcass characteristics. A 3 × 2 factorial design was used to compare three pasture systems; ryegrass-white clover (RW), a 23-species diverse mix (DI), and functionally diverse strip swards (ST), with (SW) or without (CO) a seaweed bio-stimulant. Ninety pregnant ewes were stratified by live weight and allocated across six treatment groups (15 ewes per treatment). Lambing occurred on treatment paddocks. At weaning, 90 lambs (15 per treatment) were selected based on body weight and sex balance to continue through to finishing. Pasture chemical composition differed among treatments: ST had lower fibre (neutral detergent fibre, NDF; acid detergent fibre, ADF) than RW and DI, while SW increased dry matter digestibility (DMD) and metabolisable energy (ME), and reduced NDF and ADF (p < 0.05). Strip pastures improved lamb average daily gain (ADG) by 17% from lambing to weaning compared to DI, and by 14% from weaning to finishing compared to RW (p < 0.05). Seaweed bio-stimulant treatment enhanced lamb ADG by up to 12% and improved carcass traits, including loin and shoulder yields (p < 0.05). Ewes and lambs on seaweed-treated pastures exhibited lower serum non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations (p < 0.05), indicating better energy balance. Milk from ST and/or SW treated ewes had elevated omega-6 fatty acids and essential amino acids, suggesting enhanced nutritional value. These findings demonstrate that combining botanical diversity with natural bio-stimulants can improve animal growth, metabolic health, and product quality, offering a promising strategy for sustainable and welfare-oriented sheep production systems. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of reduced nitrogen fertilization and the intercropping of annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) with forage legumes—common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.)—on milk production and enteric methane emissions in grazing dairy cows. Twelve Holstein × Jersey cows were assigned to a crossover design involving two treatments: ryegrass monoculture (RG) or ryegrass—legume mixture (RG + Leg). Methane emissions were measured using GreenFeed systems; grazing behavior, milk yield and composition, and organic matter digestibility were also assessed. Legume inclusion contributed ~9% of the pre-grazing biomass, and cows grazing RG + Leg pastures had lower herbage mass (−214 kg DM/ha) and lower herbage allowance (−6 kg DM/cow/day) than cows on monoculture ryegrass. Energy-corrected milk (ECM), methane emissions (g/day and g/kg ECM), and grazing behavior were not significantly affected by treatment. These results suggest that, under subtropical grazing conditions, reducing nitrogen fertilization combined with the modest inclusion of vetch and red clover does not mitigate enteric methane emissions nor enhance animal performance. Enhanced strategies to increase legume proportion in mixed swards are needed to unlock their potential for sustainable intensification of pasture-based dairy systems. Full article