Search Results (78)

A rainfed Italian ryegrass crop (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) was established at the Bonassai experimental farm (NW Sardinia, Italy) to evaluate the effects of different tillage systems and sheep stocking rates on pasture productivity and soil characteristics in an extensive Mediterranean farming system. Three seedbed preparation systems were compared: conventional tillage (CT), minimum tillage (MT), and no-tillage (NT). Each tillage treatment was combined with three grazing management regimes: high stocking rate (HS), low stocking rate (LS), and ungrazed control (UG). During three consecutive growing seasons (2019–2021), pasture herbage mass and botanical composition, together with soil physical, mechanical, chemical, and biological properties, were assessed. Grazing reduced Italian ryegrass herbage dry matter compared with ungrazed plots. In one of the three experimental years, CT produced significantly higher herbage yield than both MT and NT, and also reduced weed abundance in the pasture, particularly Chrysanthemum coronarium. HS two years out of three reduced the abundance of legumes and increased both Asteraceae and bare ground proportion compared with UG. Most soil chemical properties, including macro and micronutrient concentrations, were not significantly affected by either tillage system or stocking rate. However, CT reduced soil electrical conductivity (EC) and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) compared with NT in two of the three years. CT also resulted in lower soil compaction, as indicated by reduced bulk density (BD) and penetration resistance (PR), particularly in the upper soil layers, whereas HS increased soil compaction during spring. Finally, NT showed higher values of Biological Quality of Soil (QBS-ar) index in the first year, whereas no clear and persistent pattern emerged during the subsequent years. MT combined with moderate grazing could be considered a balanced approach for Mediterranean extensive systems. Under the environmental conditions examined in this study, these findings highlight the importance of adapting tillage practices and grazing intensity to local soil conditions to balance pasture productivity with soil conservation. Full article

Selenium biofortification of permanent grasslands represents a promising strategy for enhancing the nutritional quality of forage for livestock. This study evaluated the effectiveness of foliar selenium biofortification in multispecies grass–legume mixtures as affected by application rate, timing, and seed mixture. The study was conducted over three consecutive growing seasons (2023–2025), with a total of 648 aboveground herbage samples collected for analysis. Three multispecies mixtures were treated with four rates of a Se-containing formulation (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 L ha⁻¹) applied at two different sward heights (10 and 15 cm). Selenium concentration was determined in the plant dry matter, and treatment effects were assessed using non-parametric statistical analyses. The application rate was the only factor that significantly affected Se concentration in the plant material. Se concentration increased progressively as the application rate increased. Mean Se concentrations were 0.035 mg kg⁻¹ at 0.0 L ha⁻¹, 0.077 mg kg⁻¹ at 0.5 L ha⁻¹, 0.086 mg kg⁻¹ at 1.0 L ha⁻¹, and 0.115 mg kg⁻¹ at 1.5 L ha⁻¹, corresponding to increases of 120.0%, 145.7%, and 228.6%, respectively, relative to the control. In contrast, neither the plant growth stage at application nor the species composition of the mixtures significantly affected Se accumulation (p > 0.05). The results demonstrate that foliar application of Se is an effective strategy for increasing Se concentration in multispecies grass–legume mixtures. Among the factors examined, the application rate showed the most pronounced effect on the effectiveness of Se biofortification, whereas no statistically significant effects were detected for application timing or seed mixture under the conditions of the present study. However, the lack of a statistically significant effect of seed mixture should not be interpreted as evidence that mixture composition is irrelevant to Se biofortification. Differences in species composition may influence Se uptake, translocation, assimilation, and accumulation through species-specific physiological responses and interactions among species within the sward. These aspects warrant further investigation, particularly through a detailed assessment of the actual species composition of the sward during the experimental period. Overall, the findings indicate that foliar Se biofortification may represent a flexible and practical approach for producing Se-enriched forage under diverse cultivation conditions. Full article

Plantago lanceolata L. is a herb with diverse pharmacological properties attributed to its rich phytochemical composition, including iridoids, flavonoids, caffeic acid derivatives, and polyphenols with significant antioxidant potential. This study investigated how defoliation frequency (extended leaf length, ELL: 15, 25, and 35 cm) and intensity (residual height, RH: 5 and 8 cm) affect bioactive compound content and antioxidant activity in P. lanceolata extracts. Six defoliation combinations were evaluated in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement (three pots per combination; n = 18 pots). Total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity (DPPH radical scavenging), lipid content, the iridoids aucubin (AU) and catalpol (CAT), and the phenylpropanoid glycoside acteoside (AC) were determined in the aerial biomass, and high- and low-molecular-weight water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content in the aerial and root biomass. Functional group profiling was performed using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy; lipophilic compounds were putatively identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in pooled samples; and AU, CAT, and AC were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Total phenolic content depended on the ELL × RH interaction, while antioxidant activity was higher at 5 cm than at 8 cm RH (43.0 vs. 30.3%). Lipid content was not significantly affected by defoliation. GC-MS profiles were dominated by n-alkanes; putative neophytadiene exceeded the reporting threshold only at 15 cm ELL/5 cm RH, and tentatively identified α-tocospiro compounds (α-tocopherol oxidation products) showed their highest relative abundance at 35 cm ELL. Among the targeted bioactive compounds, acteoside was higher under the more frequent defoliations (15 and 25 cm ELL) and at 5 cm RH, catalpol remained unchanged across treatments, and aucubin was below the limit of quantification. High- and low-molecular-weight WSC contents in the aerial and root biomass accumulated most under the less frequent (25 and 35 cm ELL) defoliation regimes, driven mainly by greater herbage and root mass rather than by changes in concentration. Root low-molecular-weight WSC content was also higher at 8 than at 5 cm RH. Overall, more intense defoliation (5 cm RH) increased antioxidant activity and acteoside concentration, whereas less frequent defoliation increased WSC content, suggesting that defoliation management could be adjusted to balance the phytochemical quality and regrowth potential of P. lanceolata. Full article

Consumer demand for sustainable and animal-friendly systems has driven interest in alternative livestock management; however, its impact on productive performance and meat quality requires further validation. This study monitored outdoor-reared rabbits during the spring and autumn seasons over a 48 d experimental period, comparing this alternative system to cage-reared rabbits slaughtered at a fixed age (80 d). Forage and energy intakes were evaluated alongside a post-slaughter analysis of muscle lipid content, fatty acid profiles, and tocopherol deposition. Meat oxidative stability was assessed by measuring thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Data were analyzed using mixed linear models and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The results demonstrate that pasture-based rabbit systems offer a suitable alternative to conventional cages. Although pasture access significantly reduced growth performance, with average daily gain dropping by up to 7.24 g/day and digestible energy intake decreasing by approximately 6.20 MJ in autumn-reared rabbits, it enhanced meat quality by yielding leaner muscle profiles and higher levels of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Furthermore, although pasture-based systems are widely reported to increase physical activity—potentially elevating metabolic rate and oxidative load—the concurrent intake of natural antioxidants from fresh forage effectively maintained high oxidative stability in meat. Ultimately, these findings validate pasture-based systems as a viable approach to delivering high-quality meat within sustainable, welfare-friendly production frameworks. Full article

Semi-natural grasslands support biodiversity, but their capacity to combine conservation with beef production remains insufficiently quantified. This case study compared a sown ley and a permanent semi-natural grassland in Lithuania during the 2019–2020 grazing seasons, using eight bulls annually (16 animal observations; four per field per year). Plant diversity, herbage yield and composition, liveweight change, and beef quality were evaluated. Soil phosphorus status differed, with lower extractable phosphorus in the permanent grassland. Species richness was higher in permanent grassland than in sown ley (84 vs. 12 species), whereas herbage dry matter yield was lower (1.45 vs. 2.92 t DM ha ⁻¹). Permanent grassland had half the livestock unit density and twice the land area per animal, resulting in similar dry matter yield per animal. Despite the greater land requirement, unadjusted growth differences varied in direction between years, and the adjusted difference in final liveweight was imprecisely estimated (permanent grassland minus ley: −10.1 kg; 95% CI: −39.7 to 19.5 kg). Beef from the studied permanent grassland had less saturated and more unsaturated fatty acids, lower atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indices, and a higher hypocholesterolaemic-to-hypercholesterolaemic fatty acid ratio. Multi-site studies are needed to assess the broader applicability of these differences. Full article

Nitrogen fertilization is widely recognized as a key factor influencing tropical grass productivity; however, its effectiveness may vary according to pasture developmental stage and management practices. This study evaluated the effects of five nitrogen rates (0, 75, 150, 225, and 300 kg ha⁻¹) and two post-cutting residual heights (20 and 30 cm) on the productive, morphological, and nutritional characteristics of Aruana grass (Megathyrsus maximus cv. Aruana) under irrigated conditions. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with a split-plot structure. Nitrogen was applied as urea in three split applications following simulated grazing events. Herbage mass, dry matter yield, morphological composition, chemical composition, and in vitro dry matter digestibility were evaluated. No interaction was detected between nitrogen fertilization and residual height. Nitrogen fertilization did not affect forage production, morphological composition, chemical composition, or digestibility under the conditions of this study. Residual height influenced forage accumulation, with greater herbage mass and dry matter yield observed at 20 cm than at 30 cm (p = 0.006), without affecting forage quality. These preliminary findings indicate that residual height may be an important factor affecting forage accumulation in irrigated Aruana grass during pasture establishment. Additional studies conducted over multiple growing seasons and environmental conditions are required before definitive management recommendations can be made. Full article

Pasture ecosystems are a key component of livestock production in arid and semi-arid regions, where forage availability and nutritive value are often associated with animal performance under grazing conditions. This study aimed to provide an exploratory assessment of pasture productivity, forage nutritive value, and beef cattle productivity across contrasting natural–climatic settings in Kazakhstan. The study was conducted under commercial production conditions on five farms representing different grazing environments during the 2024–2025 grazing seasons. Because each zone was represented by a single farm, the study should be interpreted as an observational assessment of farm-level patterns rather than as a fully replicated experimental comparison. Pasture productivity and forage chemical composition, including crude protein, fiber, and dry matter content, varied among farms and seasons. Average daily gain ranged from 316.7 to 900 g day⁻¹ depending on the study site and year of observation. Exploratory statistical analyses indicated variability among the studied systems; however, pairwise comparisons did not reveal statistically significant differences in animal productivity among farms (p > 0.05). Correlation analyses revealed moderate positive associations between average daily gain, crude protein content, and pasture yield, although these relationships were not statistically significant after adjustment for multiple comparisons. Similarly, linear models incorporating forage nutritive value indicators and study site did not identify statistically significant predictors of animal productivity within the current dataset. Overall, the results describe patterns of variation in pasture characteristics and animal productivity observed under extensive grazing conditions in continental environments. Given the observational design and limited replication at the farm level, the findings should be interpreted cautiously and regarded as preliminary. The study provides baseline information for future investigations of pasture–livestock interactions in arid and semi-arid grazing environments. Full article

This study aimed to screen high-yield and high-quality sorghum–sudangrass hybrid varieties suitable for popularization and cultivation in the Hulunbuir region through a comprehensive evaluation of silage fermentation quality and bacterial community. Comparative analyses were conducted on six sorghum–sudangrass varieties, namely, sorghum–sudangrass hybrid 3 (SS1), sorghum–sudangrass hybrid 4 (SS2), sorghum–sudangrass hybrid 5 (SS3), sorghum–sudangrass hybrid 7 (SS4), sorghum–sudangrass hybrid 8 (SS5), and Super Sugar–Dwarf Sorghum (SS6). The harvested sorghum–sudangrass at the late milk stage was chopped, vacuum-sealed in polyethylene bags (30 cm × 40 cm), and subjected to 60 days of ensiling fermentation. The results revealed significant differences among different varieties (p < 0.05). SS2 achieved the highest fresh herbage yield of 78.26 t/hm², while the fresh yield of SS4 was 57.39 t/hm², approximately 26.7% lower than that of SS2. However, SS4 exhibited superior quality, with the thickest stem diameter of 20.26 mm (p < 0.05). It exhibited the highest crude protein content, reaching 5.72% DM; its silage pH was relatively low, at only 3.71 (p < 0.05); its fiber content was significantly reduced (acid detergent fiber, ADF = 40.03% DM, p < 0.05); and it was rich in Lactococcus and Lactobacillus (p < 0.05). The ensiling process of SS4 highly significantly decreased bacterial diversity (p < 0.01) and shifted the dominant bacterial phylum from Proteobacteria to Firmicutes. Functional prediction indicated that the bacterial community of SS2 possessed the highest predicted abundance of functional genes related to cellulase and beta-glucosidase (p < 0.05). Our findings suggest that SS2 should be prioritized for production systems aiming for maximum biomass accumulation, whereas SS4 is recommended as a superior variety for high-quality animal nutrition systems where fermentation stability and nutrient preservation are paramount. Full article

Grassland productivity and precise monitoring of animal herbage intake are key requirements for sustainable grazing management in Mediterranean upland systems. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV)-based multispectral vegetation indices (VIs) combined with machine learning (ML) algorithms to estimate forage biomass, quality parameters and daily herbage dry matter intake (HDMI) of grazing ewes at the paddock scale. The experiment was conducted in a managed ryegrass–white clover meadow–pasture in southern Italy, where four plots were grazed sequentially by lactating Sarda ewes during spring–summer 2025. Ground measurements included pre- and post-grazing biomass inside and outside exclusion cages, botanical composition and forage quality. Concurrently, UAV multispectral imagery has been acquired, from which several VIs were computed. Pearson’s correlations were used to explore relationships between VIs and forage variables, and five ML algorithms. Indices such as MCARI2, MTVI2, MTVI, MSAVI and OSAVI showed the strongest associations with biomass and quality traits, while support vector machine and neural networks provided the best prediction accuracies, particularly for HDMI (R² up to 0.91). The integrated UAV–ML approach proved effective in simultaneously capturing spatial variability of pasture productivity and animal intake, supporting the development of operational precision grazing tools for heterogeneous Mediterranean grasslands. Full article

Genetically modified (GM) forage crops engineered to accumulate elevated levels of lipids offer potential benefits for ruminant nutrition and greenhouse gas mitigation. However, robust and reproducible workflows for producing, harvesting, and preserving GM forage biomass under containment remain a critical bottleneck, particularly where regulatory constraints preclude field-scale evaluation. Here, we describe a controlled-environment workflow for the repeated cultivation, harvesting, and ensiling of GM high-metabolizable-energy (HME) perennial ryegrass and corresponding null controls. Plants were grown under greenhouse containment, subjected to multiple regrowth cycles, and harvested biomass was wilted and ensiled using small-scale laboratory silos. Silage fermentation characteristics, total lipid content, and fatty acid (FA) composition were assessed following short- and long-term storage. Over 16 months, approximately 130 kg dry matter (DM) of each genotype was produced across multiple harvests and ensiling batches. Seasonal variation strongly influenced herbage composition, with water-soluble carbohydrate concentrations 4–5-fold higher in spring–summer than autumn–winter. Following ensiling, HME silage consistently retained elevated FA content compared with null controls (4.85% vs. 2.75% DM) and higher gross energy (18.1 vs. 17.5 MJ kg⁻¹ DM). FA profiling indicated that major FA classes in HME were preserved across storage durations. After 342 days of storage, HME silage maintained 76% higher FA content, 4% greater DM digestibility, and 0.3–0.8 MJ kg⁻¹ DM higher metabolizable energy. Both genotypes exhibited good fermentation quality, with pH consistently below 4.1 and adequate lactic acid production. This study does not evaluate animal performance or methane mitigation outcomes but establishes a practical and reproducible methodology for generating characterized GM silage material under containment suitable for subsequent in vivo studies, addressing a key translational gap between GM forage development and animal-based evaluation. Full article

Decreasing summer precipitation is negatively affecting global productivity of grassland plant species. This study evaluated the effect of three levels of soil plant available water [80–90% PAW-H (high), 50–60% PAW-M (medium), and 20–30% PAW-L (low), which were soil water restriction (SWR) equivalent to (v/v%) 10–20%, 40–50%, and 70–80%, respectively] and nitrogen (N 0 and 110 kg ha⁻¹) on growth and nutritional quality of Bromus valdivianus Phil. (Bv) mini-swards (MS; 125 L containers), arranged in three blocks. Total lamina length (TLL), leaf expansion rate (LER; cm d⁻¹), phyllochron (Phy) expressed as “days” and “°C day”, tiller mass (TM, g tiller⁻¹), number of live leaves (NLL), number of dead leaves (NDL), and accumulated herbage mass [AHM, g DM (dry mass) m²] were measured. Defoliation events, leaving 5 cm residual height, were carried out every 320 GDD (using a base growth temperature of 5 °C), and foliage samples for nutritive quality [DM, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC), and metabolic energy (ME)] were collected. Reducing PAW to 20–30% decreased the AHM by 60.7%, TLL by 52.7%, LER by 50%, and TM by 50%, with significant interaction between the main effects for AHM, TLL, and LER. The addition of N increased the AHM by 31.6%, LER by 21.6%, and TLL by 19.6%. The Phy remained undisturbed by decreasing PAW and increasing the N rate. Nutritive quality was generally not statistically different for the interaction or between N levels. However, low PAW levels resulted in statistically (p < 0.05) lower ME and higher concentrations of NDF. In general, growth, AHM, and nutritional quality of Bv during the summer period were driven by PAW levels and by the availability of N. Plant available water levels of 50% to 60% at 20 cm soil depth, with the addition of N, allowed Bv to reach its highest production. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the forage yield, quality, and weed suppression potential of narbon vetch (Vicia narbonensis L.) and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) grown as sole crops and in mixtures under organic farming conditions in Bilecik, Turkey, during the 2020–2021 growing season. The experiment included 15 treatments comprising monocultures and mixed sowing at different ratios. Measurements included morphological traits, forage yield components (green herbage, hay, and crude protein), fiber content, botanical composition, and weed biomass. The results reveal significant differences among treatments in terms of growth parameters and forage performance. Monocultures of IFVN 567 and Bartigra showed the highest green and hay yields, while mixtures such as IFVN 567 + Trinova and IFVN 567 + Bartigra outperformed in terms of land equivalent ratio (LER) and protein yield, demonstrating a clear advantage in land use efficiency. Furthermore, these mixtures showed superior weed suppression compared to monocultures. Overall, the findings suggest that carefully selected vetch–ryegrass combinations can enhance forage productivity, nutritional quality, and weed management under organic systems. Full article

Using a multi-analytical approach, this investigation characterized Parmigiano Reggiano PDO cheese produced with milk from dairy cows fed different diets. Ten samples of Parmigiano Reggiano PDO cheese, aged for 24 months, were produced with milk from dairy cows fed only dry hay (P-DH; N = 6) or a diet with part of the dry hay replaced with fresh herbage (P-FF; N = 4). Instrumental (Flash GC-FID) analysis of the volatile fraction, image analyses, and sensory quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA^®) were carried out. The Parmigiano Reggiano cheese belonging to the P-FF group showed a higher intensity of yellow than P-DH for both sensory and image analyses. Regarding the volatile profiles, no differences were observed related to the two experimental groups, while sensory analyses allowed for some discrimination, in particular color and aroma attributes. Instrumental and sensory characterization can be used to obtain a unique analytical profile for Parmigiano Reggiano PDO cheeses produced with milk from dairy cows fed different forage sources and help to define the quality and authenticity of this typical high-value food product. Full article

Peroxiredoxin (Prx) plays a role in maintaining the balance of intracellular reactive oxygen species. The peroxidase SiPrx gene from the Tianshan Snow Lotus (Saussurea involucrata) has been proved to significantly enhance the stress resistance of plants. In this study, the SiPrx gene was expressed heterogeneously in high-quality herbage Silphium perfoliatum L. (SP). After treatment with NaCl, the transgenic SP only exhibited partial leaf wilting, whereas the wild-type (WT) plants were on the brink of death. Simultaneously, physiological and biochemical assays indicated that under high-salt conditions, the content of malondialdehyde in the transgenic plants was significantly lower than that in the WT plants, while the activity of antioxidant enzymes was significantly higher than that in the WT plants. The expression of the SiPrx gene has been shown to significantly enhance the salt stress resistance of transgenic SP. Furthermore, after treatment at −10 °C for 48 h, the leaves of transgenic plants were able to maintain a certain morphological structure, whereas the WT plants were completely wilted. Physiological and biochemical index measurements indicated that all indicators in the transgenic plants were significantly better than those in the WT plants. Based on these findings, this study plans to overexpress the SiPrx gene extracted from Saussurea involucrata in Comfrey using the Agrobacterium-mediated method and then study its effects on the stress resistance of transgenic SP. The research results indicate that the SiPrx gene shows significant application potential in enhancing the cold resistance and salt tolerance of SP. This study provides a certain research basis and scientific evidence for the mining of stress resistance genes in Saussurea involucrata and the cultivation of new varieties of SP. Full article

Kazakhstan’s pasture, as a spatially extended agricultural resource for sustainable animal husbandry, requires effective monitoring with connected rational uses. Ranking number nine globally in terms of land size, Kazakhstan, with an area of about three million square km, requires proper assessment technologies for climate change and anthropogenic impact to track the pasture lands’ degradation. Remote sensing (RS)-based adaptive approaches for assessing pasture load, combined with field cross-checking of pastures, have been applied to evaluate the quality of vegetation cover, economic potential, service function, regenerative capacity, pasture productivity, and changes in plant species composition for five pilot regions in Kazakhstan. The current stages of these efforts are presented in this project report. The pasture lands in five regions, including Pavlodar (8,340,064 ha), North Kazakhstan (2,871,248 ha), Akmola (5,783,503 ha), Kostanay (11,762,318 ha), Karaganda (19,709,128 ha), and Ulytau (18,260,865 ha), were evaluated. Combined RS data were processed and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction of Vegetation Cover (FCover), Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FAPAR), Canopy Chlorophyll Content (CCC), and Canopy Water Content (CWC) indices were determined, in relation to the herbage of pastures and their growth and development, for field biophysical analysis. The highest values of LAI, FCOVER, and FARAR were recorded in the Akmola region, with index values of 18.5, 126.42, and 53.9, and the North Kazakhstan region, with index values of 17.89, 143.45, and 57.91, respectively. The massive 2024 spring floods, which occurred in the Akmola, North Kazakhstan, Kostanay, and Karaganda regions, caused many problems, particularly to civil constructions and buildings; however, these same floods had a very positive impact on pasture areas as they increased soil moisture. Further detailed investigations are ongoing to update the flood zones, wetlands, and swamp areas. The mapping of proper flood zones is required in Kazakhstan for pasture activities, rather than civil building construction. The related sustainable permissible grazing husbandry pasture loads are required to develop also. Recommendations for these preparation efforts are in the works. Full article