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Livestock grazing is a predominant land use worldwide and can influence wildlife populations by altering grassland composition, structure, and productivity. Conceptually, rest‐rotation livestock grazing could increase pasture‐level heterogeneity that would allow wildlife to balance the need for resources with the risk of predation. Prairie‐grouse (Tympanuchus spp.) are recognized as important indicator species for grassland ecosystems, so identifying management approaches suitable for prairie‐grouse could have implications for other species. We monitored radio‐collared female sharp‐tailed grouse (T. phasianellus) to evaluate the effects of 3 systems of livestock grazing management on the breeding season survival and habitat‐associated mortality risk of adult grouse in the northern mixed‐grass prairie in eastern Montana and western North Dakota, USA, during 2016–2018. Cumulative breeding season survival was 0.65 ± 0.04 (SE) and annual survival varied from 0.28 ± 0.04 to 0.50 ± 0.05. Grazing management did not have a meaningful influence on any aspect of the cumulative breeding season survival of adult female sharp‐tailed grouse, although the seasonal timing of peaks in mortality risk differed among systems. A 10% increase in cropland increased mortality risk of adult female sharp‐tailed grouse by a factor of 1.27. Overall, our results suggest that strategies that preserve economically viable ranching systems in unfragmented grasslands may have greater benefits for sharp‐tailed grouse survival than prescriptive livestock grazing systems. © 2020 The Wildlife Society. Grazing management did not influence any aspect of breeding season survival of female sharp‐tailed grouse. Strategies that preserve economically viable ranching systems in unfragmented grasslands may have the greatest benefits for sharp‐tailed grouse survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conflict between people and carnivores can lead to the widespread killing of predators in retaliation for livestock loss and is a major threat to predator populations. In Kenya, a large, rural, pastoralist population comes into regular conflict with predators, which persist across southern Kenya. We explored the social and psychological backdrop to livestock management practices in this area in a process designed to be easy to use and suitable for use across large areas for the study of conflict and transboundary implementation of wildlife conflict reduction measures, focusing on community involvement and needs. We carried out fully structured interviews of livestock managers with a survey tool that examined how social and psychological factors may influence livestock management behavior. We compared survey responses on 3 sites across the study area, resulting in 723 usable responses. Efficacy of individuals' livestock management varied between and within communities. This variation was partially explained by normative and control beliefs regarding livestock management. Individual livestock managers' self‐reported management issues were often an accurate reflection of their practical management difficulties. Psychological norms, control beliefs, and attitudes differed among sites, and these differences partially explained patterns associated with conflict (i.e., variation in livestock management behavior). Thus, we conclude that a one‐size‐fits‐all approach to improving livestock management and reducing human–predator conflict is not suitable. Article impact statement: Understanding the psychology of livestock management is key to determining the best strategy for mitigation of wildlife–livestock conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agricultural sector in the UK is facing unprecedented challenges as a result of changes in the macroeconomic environment and the future of the livestock sub-sector is particularly uncertain. Farmer's businesses and livelihoods are at risk with the planned removal of subsidy payments as a consequence of emerging agricultural policy change as a result of Brexit. Farmers are forced to seek adaptive strategies to survive because of changing socio-political circumstances. This study explores the potential of an analytical tool, Discrete Event Simulation (DES) applied within the agricultural sub-sector of livestock management. It utilises a multi methodological approach using both interviews with farmers and a simulation of a real case; Colclough livestock farm, located in Yorkshire, England. The findings show that DES can be used by livestock farmers, helping to simulate potential growth strategies and observe the impact in relation to existing farm processes. Barriers to the sector wide adoption of new farm technologies are presented. This research captures the current views of farmers regarding technology adoption, showing empirically that technologies and software exist which can improve economic performance of farming enterprises, however, contingent factors, such as age, attitudes, skillsets and broadband connectivity, limits successful adoption. • Discrete Event Simulation in farming contexts are neglected in research. • Uncertainty in the UK farming sector. • UK Agricultural policy will have a dramatic effect on the UK farm sector. • Successful farm entrepreneurs utilise complementary technology skill sets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grazing by large herbivorous mammals is still a structuring force in tropical grassy ecosystems, and cattle grazing is one of the main economic activities carried out in these ecosystems in modern times. Therefore, understanding the impacts of cattle grazing removal on biodiversity may be a key step for conservation of this ecosystem. Here, we studied the successional trajectory of dung beetle communities in a tropical grassy ecosystem after cattle removal. For this, we assessed the patterns of dung beetle taxonomic and functional diversity of 14 natural grasslands with distinct cattle grazing removal ages (from 3 months to 22 years) along a chronosequence, applying the space-for-time substitution method. Our results show a strong decrease in dung beetle abundance (93 times) and species richness (6 times) in the first ten years of cattle removal. However, after ten years there is an increase in dung beetle abundance (73 times) and species richness (5 times). Taxonomic composition was also influenced by cattle removal time demonstrating the importance of cattle in the structuring of dung beetle communities in natural grasslands. In contrast, functional composition and diversity were not affected by cattle grazing removal, indicating these metrics are less sensitive to cattle absence than taxonomic diversity and composition. Our results provide evidence that cattle grazing removal, at least in the short term (10 years), may be an inefficient management tool for restoration and conservation of tropical grassy ecosystems. However, we highlight the need to investigate the reintroduction of cattle grazing after different removal times to provide complimentary information to livestock management able to integrate human use and conservation of tropical grassy ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conflicts with humans are one of the main causes of the decline in populations of large carnivores, making it a crucial conservation issue worldwide. In Mexico, jaguar Panthera onca, puma Puma concolor and American black bear Ursus americanus are involved in livestock predation and are persecuted in retaliation. The sites where predation occurs are distributed throughout the country and differ not only in environmental characteristics, but also in social, economic and livestock management practices. However, due to the general focus of the studies carried out so far, the proposed mitigation measures are also general. It is necessary to consider conditions that encourage predation in the design of strategies to be more effective. In this study, environmental, anthropic and livestock management characteristics of livestock predation by large carnivores were analyzed for conflict regionalization. The variables most related to predation sites were identified, with a high percentage of them being livestock management practices. Based on these variables, we formed clusters of similar sites and analyzed their spatial distribution, which presented grouping patterns in the cases of predation by puma and black bear, in contrast to the jaguar clusters, which presented a dispersed distribution. Considering the characteristics of the clusters, we propose as mitigation measures the confinement of livestock, construction or improvement of corrals and improvement of management practices. The anthropic component and livestock management practices are closely related to the predation events and, therefore, their inclusion in the conservation programs of carnivores in Mexico is fundamental. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agricultural and livestock research, education, and extension are important components for increasing production and meeting the demands of the growing population with sustainability. In this context, knowledge or information is very critical for improving the production under the present extension delivery system in India. Several studies have highlighted emerging ICTs which have the potential to reach the mass population at a limited time despite traditional media. One such emerging ICT is Social Media, which is utilized by most of the stakeholders, including farmers around the globe. Hence, for documenting its application for livestock information needs among the livestock farmers, an ex-post-facto exploratory study was conducted in Southern Karnataka using 108 purposively selected farmers, which comprised of 36 farmers each belonging to dairy, poultry and sheep and goat husbandry with pre-tested structured interview schedule. Majority of the farmers in each category were aware about social media and possessed social media accounts with highest number of WhatsApp accounts being possessed by the farmers. Social media was utilized for obtaining information about latest livestock production and management practices in all the categories. From these findings, it could be elucidated that the respondents predominantly perceived that social media had higher benefits in attaining livestock related information and adoption of digital knowledge into practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this empirical study was to identify the participation of women in livestock management practices and to explore factors determining their engagement in district Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A multi-stage sampling approach was adopted to choose a random sample of 110 women farmers from the union council of village Shewa, and a well-structured questionnaire was designed to accumulate the primary dataset from rural women through face to face interviews. A women's participation index was designed to compute the degree of women's involvement, and a multiple linear regression model was proposed to measure factors influencing women's participation in livestock management practices. The computed value of the mean composite index was 4.81 which showed that women farmers on average engaged for 4.81 hours per day in the livestock management practices. The multiple regression results illustrated that women's education, family size, and livestock income significantly affect women's participation; however, women's age and herd size insignificantly affect women's inclusion in the livestock farming operations. The findings of this study recommend that the importance of rural women's involvement in the livestock sector should be identified in federal and provincial government plans and agricultural policy formulations. The study also recommends that the provision of agriculture credit facilities and livestock training facilities to women farmers could stimulate their involvement in livestock practices and anticipates the decision-making power in livestock management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal wastes present in the form of manure, urine, feed, hatchery by product, blood, feather, bone, horn, and rumen material. Unmanaged animal waste contributes to environment problems. Animal wastes consist of nitrogen, phosphate, pathogen and organic material. Over absorption of nitrogen affect to melkomoglobinemia, meanwhile eutrophication happened due to over phosphate on the water bodies. Pathogen cause infection and diseases, and furthermore less oxygen due to over organic material in water decreasing fish population. Applying feed enzyme may increase availability of nutrition, performance, and decrease pollution impact due to manure. Well-management of livestock take consideration of environmental aspects, such as awareness of environment risk, balancing nutrition content of the waste animal, waste management, neighbor awarness, understand and obeying the regulation, and consider to the physical factors and applying land evaluation for livestock-site selection. This article responds to the impact of livestock on the environment and discusses factors related to environmental friendly of livestock management.

Introduction: E. coli is a ubiquitous bacterium commonly used as a sentinel in antimicrobial resistance studies. Here, E. coli was isolated from three groups (sick calves, healthy calves and bedding material), to assess the presence of antimicrobial resistance, describe resistance profiles, and compare these resistances among groups. Material and methods: Samples were collected from calves and calving pens from 20 dairy farms. Using the disc diffusion method, E. coli isolates were screened for antimicrobial resistance against seven antimicrobials: Amoxicillin, Ceftiofur, Gentamicin, Enrofloxacin, Trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole, Florfenicol and Oxytetracycline. Isolates resistant to all these seven antimicrobials were tested again against an extended 19 antimicrobial drug panel and for the presence of the most common E. coli pathogenicity genes through PCR. Results & discussion: Three hundred forty-nine E. coli isolates were obtained; most isolates were resistant to a single antimicrobial, but 2.3% (8) were resistant to 16 to 19 of the antimicrobials tested. The group with the highest percentage of multiresistant isolates was the calves with diarrhea group. Younger calves provided samples with higher antimicrobial resistance levels. Conclusions: There is a high rate of antimicrobial resistance in dairy farms calving pens. These bacteria could not only be a resistance gene reservoir, but also could have the potential to spread these determinants through horizontal gene transfer to other susceptible bacteria. Measures should be taken to protect colonization of younger calves, based on hygienic measures and proper management.

Rudimentary non-market-oriented pig rearing systems have been implicated in the persistence of Taenia solium cysticercosis, an endemic disease of high public health concern in Uganda. We investigated the seroprevalence and key predisposing factors of the disease in Moyo and Lira, two pig-producing districts in Northern Uganda. Cross-sectional serosurveys were conducted in 428 pig farms (Moyo, 262; Lira, 166). Farmers kept on average two adult pigs per herd. Tethering was a common practice in rural areas; free-ranging less so. Confinement of pigs in pens was characteristic of periurban farming systems. Pigs were mainly fed crop residues and forages in the rainy season, and swill and crop residues in the dry season. The majority of farmers of the survey were women (55%) above 45 years old, and 51% of farmers had attained primary school education. A total of 723 pig serum samples were collected, 403 in Moyo, and 320 in Lira. They were analyzed for Taenia spp. antigens using B158C11A10/B60H8A4 Antigen-ELISA. The overall animal seroprevalence of Taenia spp. serum antigen was 10.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.9–17.6), with 13.2% (95% CI: 7.1– 21.2) the highest in Moyo vs 6.9% (95% CI: 2.9–13.9) in Lira. The herd-level seroprevalence was estimated at 13.7% (95% CI: 9.8–18.5) in Moyo and 11.4% (95% CI: 7.0–17.2) in Lira. Out of 12 explanatory variables assessed for association with the observed seroprevalence, only the district of origin was significant (p = 0.01). Pigs originating from Lira were a protective factor against Taenia spp. cysticercosis (odds ratio: 0.54). These findings highlight the urgent need for an awareness campaign with prevention and control measures to minimize the risk of transmission to pork consumers in these districts.

In the pig, intrauterine crowding can greatly affect postnatal characteristics, among which birth weight and locomotion. In a previous study, we discovered that piglets with a low birth weight/low vitality (L piglets) have a reduced motor performance compared to piglets with a normal birth weight/normal vitality (N piglets). A possible explanation is that L piglets lack the energy to increase their motor performance to the level of that of N piglets. Blood glucose levels (GLU) and glycogen concentrations in skeletal muscle of the front (GLYFRONT) and hind leg (GLYHIND) and the liver (GLYLIVER) at birth and during the first 96 h postpartum were compared between L and N piglets. GLU at birth was the same for both groups. After birth, GLU immediately increased in N piglets, whereas it only increased after 8 h in L piglets. L piglets showed a lower GLYHIND at birth and did not use this glycogen during the first 8 h postpartum, while N piglets showed a gradual depletion. GLYLIVER at birth was 50% lower for L piglets and was unused during the studied period while N piglets consumed half of their GLYLIVER during the first 8 h. Based on these results, it is possible that lower glycogen concentrations at birth, the delayed increase in GLU and the lower use of glycogen during the first 8 h after birth negatively affect motor performance in L piglets. However, based on this study, it is unclear whether the low mobilization of glycogen by L piglets is a consequence, rather than a cause of their lower motor performance.

This paper examines the problem of food security in the Republic of Kazakhstan over the past 10 years. Based on statistical data, an assessment was made of the prevalence of malnutrition among the population of the country, including children under 5 years of age. There has been a trend towards for an improvement in the nutrition of the population for a few indicators; however, further optimization of food security indicators is required to achieve the goals of sustainable development (SDGs) of the FAO WHO Agenda for the period up to 2050 in Kazakhstan and in its individual regions. The paper reflects data on demographic changes over the past 10 years and its self-sufficiency in basic foods for 2019. A high degree of self-sufficiency in meat products (117.6%) is revealed in the population of the Republic of Kazakhstan. However, self-sufficiency in dairy products is at an extremely low level (0.1%). Camel breeding has been successfully developing in the country over the past 10 years. However, the number of camels in the country is still at a low level. Camel milk can be considered as a great source of macronutrients, its daily consumption partially facilitates the problem of Food Security in Kazakhstan.

The digital transformation of agriculture has evolved various aspects of management into artificial intelligent systems for the sake of making value from the ever-increasing data originated from numerous sources. A subset of artificial intelligence, namely machine learning, has a considerable potential to handle numerous challenges in the establishment of knowledge-based farming systems. The present study aims at shedding light on machine learning in agriculture by thoroughly reviewing the recent scholarly literature based on keywords’ combinations of “machine learning” along with “crop management”, “water management”, “soil management”, and “livestock management”, and in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Only journal papers were considered eligible that were published within 2018–2020. The results indicated that this topic pertains to different disciplines that favour convergence research at the international level. Furthermore, crop management was observed to be at the centre of attention. A plethora of machine learning algorithms were used, with those belonging to Artificial Neural Networks being more efficient. In addition, maize and wheat as well as cattle and sheep were the most investigated crops and animals, respectively. Finally, a variety of sensors, attached on satellites and unmanned ground and aerial vehicles, have been utilized as a means of getting reliable input data for the data analyses. It is anticipated that this study will constitute a beneficial guide to all stakeholders towards enhancing awareness of the potential advantages of using machine learning in agriculture and contributing to a more systematic research on this topic.

Microbial communities in pasture and hayfield soils in upstate New York were studied to ascertain how land and livestock management practices influence microbial community structure. Three management approaches were compared: conventional pasture management (CM; low livestock density, low rotation frequency), multi-paddock management (MP; high livestock density, high rotation frequency) and mowing for hay (no livestock). Microbial functional groups were quantified by PLFA analysis. Soil attributes were measured, and management details were obtained by interviewing landowners. Microbial biomass in MP soils was higher, more diverse and contained proportionately more fungal (F) than bacterial (B) biomass than did CM and hayfield soils. Microbial biomass, diversity and F:B ratios in CM and hayfield soils were not different. Multivariate analyses suggest that different variables control microbial community structure in MP and CM soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The taxonomic and functional diversity of dung beetles depend on canopy management in cattle ranching systems. • Cattle ranching systems with trees, while preserving microclimatic and soil conditions, maximize diversity. • Dung beetle diversity was strongly reduced in open pastures. Abstract The disturbance of natural environments affects, among others, the diversity of dung beetle assemblages, which could have serious consequences for the ecological processes regulated by these insects. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare species diversity and functional groups of dung beetle assemblages both in the native forest and in three livestock systems that differed in their structure and composition of vegetation: a livestock system with native trees, a livestock system with exotic trees (Pinus taeda), and traditional open pastures, in the semideciduous Atlantic forest of Argentina, in an area previously covered by continuous forest and currently with a heterogeneous landscape of native forest and different land uses. Pitfall traps baited with cow dung were used in the natural forests and the livestock systems studied. A total of 2461 beetles belonging to 38 species were captured. Treed livestock systems showed the highest species richness (0D) and diversity (1D and 2D). Twelve functional groups were identified. The native forest showed the highest functional group richness, while open pastures had the lowest. In general, livestock systems showed a low proportional abundance of telecoprid, diurnal and large beetles. Microclimate (average temperature and humidity) and soil conditions (soil composition: sandy or clayey) were closely associated with the species and functional group composition. Results confirm that cattle ranching with tree retention preserves dung beetle diversity, and suggest that cattle systems without canopy cover have higher impact (negative effects) than silvopastoral systems on both species and functional groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Nepalese Himalaya conflict with rural communities due to livestock predation to large carnivores like snow leopard, common leopard, wolf and wild dog has risen sharply in recent years. This increase is attributed to a number of factors, including implementation and enforcement of wildlife protection laws (which have permitted a recovery in carnivore numbers), the creation of protected areas (which serve as refuges from which predators can populate the surrounding area), the depletion of natural prey due to poaching and loss of habitat, and lax livestock herding practices. However, little information is presently available upon which to design remedial programs. U.S. AID provided research funding for an in-depth assessment of snow leopard predation in the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACAP), a new innovative approach to nature conservation. Baseline information on livestock numbers and mortality were gathered during household interviews, followed by field surveys to assess animal husbandry systems, map pastures, establish periods of use and estimate stocking rates, and to characterize habitat using randomly located plots. Data substantiate the existence of depredation "hotspots," where high loss occurs, in some cases exceeding 14% to 20% of the livestock population over a short period. Losses varied seasonally, and from year to year. Small-bodied stock like goat and sheep were more vulnerable than large-bodied stock like yak, although horses were especially vulnerable. Factors most closely associated with predation included lack of guarding (or very lax supervision), especially during the daytime, and repeated use of pastures where livestock depredators were known to be actively hunting. Herders usually reacted to repeated depredation incidents by attempting to trap or shoot the suspected culprit until losses declined to an acceptable level. As large carnivore populations become increasingly fragmented and genetically isolated, new management strategies are urgently needed, especially within the buffer zones and intervening corridors between separated parks and reserves. People reside within nearly all Himalayan protected areas, and such issues as loss of livestock and competition between wildlife and livestock cannot be avoided. A plan is offered for alleviating livestock loss in the Annapurna Conservation Area that involves local institutions in decision-making, rewards sound husbandry practices, strengthens indigenous institutions, without further eroding ACAP's unique biological diversity and diverse carnivore population. The authors believe these measures and ideas could be fruitfully extended to other parts of the Himalaya.

Agricultural grasslands provide vital habitats for many species. Yet despite representing a significant proportion of European land use, they are disproportionately understudied compared to arable systems. Increases in productivity and intensification have led to changes in management practices, which are likely to affect grassland habitats and the ecological communities that they support. This study simultaneously monitored three trophic levels to assess the impacts of permanent versus temporary pasture (leys) on vegetation composition, carabid and dung beetle abundance, and the activity of beetle-feeding bats. Leys had lower abundances of soil-inhabiting dung beetles, which may be explained by the more recent exposure to tilling compared with permanent pasture. Beetle-feeding bat activity was also greater in leys, with positive relationships between E. serotinus activity and Onthophagus abundance across both pasture types. However, the lack of any positive relationships between beetle-feeding bat activity and Aphodius, a well-known prey genus, suggests that other key prey orders (Lepidoptera) may be of more influence on bat activity. As well as the management of pasture, differences in cattle management between pasture types can have a significant impact on vegetation and soil structure, which influence invertebrate communities and potentially dictate habitat suitability for bats.

Introduction. Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) is spreading rapidly in intensive cattle farms. It is based on the monitoring of individuals using different kinds of sensors. Applied to grazing animals, PLF is mainly based on the recording of three parameters: the location, the posture and the movements of the animal. Until now, several techniques have been used to discriminate grazing and ruminating behaviors with accuracies over 90% on average, when compared to observations, providing valuable tools to improve the management of pasture and grazing animals. However, bites and jaw movements are still overlooked, even though they are of utmost importance to assess the animal grazing strategies for various pasture types and develop future techniques allowing better estimation of their intake. Literature. The goal of this review is to explore the possibility of monitoring the individual jaw movements and the differentiation of bites in grazing animals. For this purpose, (1) the mechanisms of forage intake in cattle are explained briefly in order to understand the movements performed by the cow, especially during grazing, (2) the various sensors that have been proposed to monitor jaw movements of ruminants such as mechanical sensors (pressure sensors), acoustic sensors (microphone) and electromyography sensors are compared and (3) finally the relationship between jaw movements, biting behavior and forage intake is discussed. Conclusions. The review clearly demonstrated the abilities of mechanical, acoustic and electromyography sensors to classify the difference types of jaw movements. However, it also indicated a wide range of accuracies and different observation windows required to reach these accuracies when compared to the observed movement. This classification purpose could lead to a better detection of more specific behavior, e.g. bite detection, and their exact location on pasture.

Women are the prime contributors of agriculture sector including livestock across the developing world including Pakistan. However, their extent of participation (time allocation) and constraints in livestock management have not been properly explored yet. To fill in the gap, the present research study was carried out to determine women's participation in the types of livestock rearing, their livestock possession, participation in livestock activities, and the major faced constraints in livestock management in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of the country. For this, a sample size of 117 women respondents was selected through multistage sampling technique and data were collected from the selected respondents using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire through face to face interview. The collected data were subjected to analysis using descriptive statistics, frequencies, percentages, and rank orders. The results revealed that women were involved in buffalo, cattle, goats and sheep rearing with higher possession of small ruminants (goats and sheep), while men were found dominant in large ruminants' possession (buffalo and cattle). Women's higher time allocation to livestock management activities depicted their higher level of participation in livestock management was found high as compared to their male counterparts. Women's participation was found high in the indoor activities of livestock management like feeding, shed cleaning, and milking of animal's women's participation was found high, while recorded low in the outdoor activities of fodder cutting and marketing of dairy products due to their restricted mobility. Costly veterinary services and feed items, credit need for feed and livestock purchase, and training in animal health care were the major reported constraints in livestock management. Provision of credit, training in animal health care, and increasing women's livestock possession are suggested not only for the increased participation of women in livestock management but also for the development of domesticated livestock enterprise in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dairy heifers are the future of any dairy farm, however, before they begin to produce milk, they represent a very significant cost unknown by an important number of producers. The objective of the present study was to determine the economic cost associated with the rearing of dairy replacements. The study was carried out at the dairy cattle Alfredo Volio Mata Experiment Station of the University of Costa Rica, during the year 2016. A total of forty Jersey heifers were reared from birth to calving (twenty-five months) grouped into three age categories: 0-3 months, 3 to 16 months and 16 to 25 months. In order to determine the total costs within each category, detailed records of all the expenses incurred each day for each animal were kept in an electronic spreadsheet, considering all the activities involved and related to feeding, cleaning and disinfection, veterinary treatments, pasture fertilization, workforce, health management and maintenance, among others. It was determined that the total cost for raising a replacement heifer from birth to calving was ¢818 360.95 ($1473.62),representing a 25.17,53.27 and 21.56% for the stage of birth to three months, three months to service, and service to calving, respectively. Of the total costs, 78.72% corresponded to feed and 6.82% to labor. Depending on milk production and net economic return from each liter of milk produced, the investment would be recovered beyond the second lactation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine which of the livestock management and human practices known to be risk factors associated with taeniosis-cysticercosis occur in Gauteng Province. A questionnaire survey was conducted in two regions of Gauteng Province, Germiston and Pretoria. Results revealed that almost 20% of the interviewed farmers do not have toilets, most of them let their animals roam freely during the day for grazing and scavenging, and 47% use streams as the water source for their animals. This may create an infection opportunity through ingestion of Taenia-contaminated herbage or water. Furthermore, 26% mentioned that their animals might have access to human excreta. More than 70% of farmers in the province slaughter cattle and pigs for their own consumption without inspecting meat for cysticercosis. Only a few of the interviewed farmers in both regions were aware of the taeniosis-cysticercosis complex. Backyard slaughtering, consumption of uninspected meat by the public, poor livestock management, and limited sanitation in rural communities of Gauteng Province are identified as risk factors associated with the occurrence of Taenia saginata and Taenia solium infections in the province. Taenia saginata and T. solium are considered to have a global distribution; therefore, these risk factors may be applicable globally, not just in Gauteng Province. Programs on public awareness with regard to transmission and prevention of Taenia infections as well as more detailed studies on risk factors of taeniosis-cysticercosis are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Troughs location affected the movement of Brahman cattle grazing small pastures. • Troughs location affected the distribution of Brahman cattle grazing small pastures. • Troughs placed together in the sward center reduced the distance traveled by cows. • The herd occupied the greatest area when troughs were at the corner of the sward. • Alteration of the location of feed and water troughs induced herd social disruption. Abstract The grazing dynamics of animals differ depending on whether they are raised on rangeland or sward areas. Grazing patterns of cattle raised on rangeland can be modified by the location of supplement feed and water troughs. However, no information about the use of this strategy is available for swards. Thus, the effects of the location of supplementary feed and water troughs in small (7500 m2) irrigated swards on movement, behavior and distribution were studied in a herd of 15 Brahman cows. The herd grazed on five swards in rotation, for seven days on each sward, so that each sward then had 28 days of rest. There were four rotations, giving four replicates of each of five treatments. For each rotation, one of the following treatments was randomly assigned to each sward. Supplementary feed and water troughs were: T1 in the same corner of the sward; T2 separate, each in the middle of one of the shorter sides of the sward; T3 separate in diagonally opposite corners; T4 separate in adjacent corners; T5 together in the sward center. The behavior and location of each cow was registered on a daily basis, every 2 h from 9:00 to 15:00 h, 7 days/week, using instantaneous scan sampling during the 140 days that the experiment lasted. Total distance traveled of each cow (i.e. the sum of Euclidean distances between the four subsequent positions of each cow within each day) was longer in T2 and T3 than in T5 (159.8, 162.5 vs 119.5 m respectively; p = 0.006), with the rest of the treatments showing intermediate values. The distance to the nearest cow was longer in T1 vs. T2 and T3 (6.2 vs 4.0 and 4.7 m, respectively; p = 0.007). Similarly, the herd home range was greater in T1 vs. T2 (792.6 vs. 574.7 m2, respectively; p = 0.01). Regardless of the treatment, social disruption occurred on day 1, which gradually decline through the week of grazing. The results show that the location of supplementary feed and water troughs affects the movement and cattle distribution in small (<1 ha) irrigated swards. This might have practical applications in the design of grazing strategies and in the animal welfare of cattle maintained on small swards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The implementation of Grazing Management Plans (GMP), a specific policy and management tool, aimed at enhancing farm productivity while preserving plant diversity, soil and landscape. The GMP are based on rotational grazing systems (RGS) with animal stocking rate adjusted to balance grassland carrying capacity. The aim was to test the 5‐year effects produced by GMP implementation on botanical composition, plant diversity and soil nutrient content on sub‐alpine and alpine pastures. Location: Val Troncea Natural Park, western Italian Alps. Methods: A total of 199 vegetation transects was carried out in summer 2011 and repeated in summer 2016. The botanical composition was recorded and plant diversity indices, i.e. species richness and Shannon diversity (H′ index), were computed. Mean soil nutrient content was indirectly estimated through computation of Landolt N indicator value (N index) for each transect. Pair‐sample statistical tests and PERMANOVA were perfomed at different levels: on the whole vegetation dataset, on vegetation communities (i.e. vegetation types and ecological groups) and considering functional pools of species. Results: Considering the whole vegetation dataset, species richness, H′ index and N index significantly increased from 2011 to 2016. Moreover, species richness significantly increased in almost all vegetation ecological groups, with the highest increase within the mesotrophic group. The H′ index significantly increased in eutrophic, pre‐forest and thermic groups, while the N index increased in all vegetation groups, except in the eutrophic and snow‐bed groups. A significant difference in botanical composition was detected within oligotrophic, mesotrophic and thermic groups. The number and cover of N‐poor high‐elevation species increased in all groups and this result might be related to effects produced by livestock, which promoted seed transport and increased connectivity amongst different communities. The meso‐eutrophic species number and cover significantly increased within thermic, mesotrophic and pre‐forest groups, suggesting greater use of such areas by livestock under RGS than under continuous grazing. Conclusions: The implementation of RGS with stocking rate adjustments proved to be an effective and a sustainable management tool to enhance botanical composition and plant diversity of sub‐alpine and alpine grasslands over a 5‐year span. The implementation of a rotational grazing system with stocking rate adjustments proved to be an effective and a sustainable management tool to enhance botanical composition and plant diversity (species richness and Shannon diversity index) of sub‐alpine and alpine grasslands over a 5‐year span. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bluetongue (BT) is a vector-borne disease transmitted by species of Culicoides midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). Many studies have contributed to clarifying various aspects of its aetiology, epidemiology and vector dynamic; however, BT remains a disease of epidemiological and economic importance that affects ruminants worldwide. Since 2000, the Sardinia region has been the most affected area of the Mediterranean basin. The region is characterised by wide pastoral areas for sheep and represents the most likely candidate region for the study of Bluetongue virus (BTV) distribution and prevalence in Italy. Furthermore, specific information on the farm level and epidemiological studies needs to be provided to increase the knowledge on the disease’s spread and to provide valid mitigation strategies in Sardinia. This study conducted a punctual investigation into the spatial patterns of BTV transmission to define a risk profile for all Sardinian farmsby using a logistic multilevel mixed model that take into account agro-meteorological aspects, as well as farm characteristics and management. Data about animal density (i.e. sheep, goats and cattle), vaccination, previous outbreaks, altitude, land use, rainfall, evapotranspiration, water surface, and farm management practices (i.e. use of repellents, treatment against insect vectors, storage of animals in shelter overnight, cleaning, presence of mud and manure) were collected for 12,277 farms for the years 2011–2015. The logistic multilevel mixed model showed the fundamental role of climatic factors in disease development and the protective role of good management, vaccination, outbreak in the previous year and altitude. Regional BTV risk maps were developed, based on the predictor values of logistic model results, and updated every 10 days. These maps were used to identify, 20 days in advance, the areas at highest risk. The risk farm profile, as defined by the model, would provide specific information about the role of each factor for all Sardinian institutions involved in devising BT prevention and control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how individual grasses respond to herbivory and rainfall has been hampered by the difficulty of quantifying above- and belowground carbon (C) storage in grasses. Particularly by restoring degraded rangelands through reseeding, their C storage potential can be greatly enhanced. The responses of reseeded grasses to the effects of herbivory and precipitation were assessed to evaluate the potential of individual grasses for C storage as a technique for climate change mitigation. Clipping experiments were conducted on mature grass tufts of two native grass species, Chloris gayana and Cenchrus ciliaris, in the semi-arid Borana rangelands, Ethiopia. Further, above- and belowground C storage of young grasses of the same species in pot and field plot trials was experimentally quantified under simulated grazing and variable rainfall. The results showed that aboveground C was significantly 4 times lower in the clipped compared to unclipped mature grasses. In contrast, 3 times higher C was found in young reseeded grasses that were clipped compared to unclipped ones. Clipping and irrigation in combination significantly influenced belowground C in young grasses, with reduced irrigation overriding clipping effects. The paper concludes that moderate grazing should be encouraged to enhance CO2 uptake, consequently contributing to climate change mitigation in rangelands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Livestock is a natural resource of good quality food, milk, meat, yogurt, butter, etc. Rural women actively participate in livestock management activities but their role is undervalued even though their social life is negatively affected. This paper is an attempt to analyze women's involvement in livestock care and management and its implications for their social life. Multistage sampling technique was used for data collection. Two districts, two tehsils, two union councils and four villages were selected randomly. Six hundred respondents were selected by systematic random sampling technique through Fitzgibbon table. Data were collected with the help of a well-designed interview schedule and analyzed by using different statistical techniques. The results showed that a significant majority of women were involved in making dung-pads and cleaning sheds. Half of the women reported that their livestock work creates problems to meet relatives, attend family functions and for involvement in social activities. It is therefore recommended that families should provide opportunities to women to participate in social activities by sharing their livestock-related responsibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing population of the Earth, the fight against climate change, and the focus on environmental aspects pose complex tasks for both theorists and practitioners. It is necessary to ensure the nutrition of the population of countries with growing populations - mainly African and Asian - while reducing the impact on the environment. The science of genetics can make a major contribution to making agricultural production sustainable, identifying breeds that are better adapted to a changing climate and have less impact on the environment during breeding.However, for the practical application of modern results of genetics, it is necessary to familiarize them with producers in the agricultural sphere as soon as possible. Modern management methods and certain organizations that keep in touch with producers, livestock breeders, the government launching support projects, and academia can help in this case. In many European countries, there are formal contacts between breeding organizations, chambers representing the interests of agriculture, and public/state institutions. There are also examples of scientific results being disseminated to producers through this channel. These best practices are important for countries such as Indonesia to learn about, where organizing breeders and providing them with scientific results and effective management methods is still a challenge for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Whether interactions between wildlife and livestock are competitive or facilitative is context dependent. Intermediary factors that explain how context (seasonal or regional characteristics of the ecological community) affects these interactions are rarely reported. We compared activity time and density in vicuñas (Vicugna vicugna) introduced into the Chimborazo Faunal Production Reserve (CFPR), Ecuador, to describe how they interact with livestock. We compared vicuña density in wetlands and uplands (two landscape structures) with and without livestock (two conditions) using an isodar approach. We measured, over two seasons, vicuña forage abundance, composition, preference and accessibility, time vicuñas spent vigilant, and their flight distances on approach. We tested optimal foraging theory relating to the hypothesis that time mediates behavior, and found that vicuñas were no less frequently vigilant, nor were flight distances greater, during a wet season or in habitats of greater forage abundance and accessibility. We also found no evidence that vicuña behavior was density dependent; instead, we found that more time was spent vigilant by vicuñas when they foraged near livestock in rainy regions during the dry season. Although forage abundance was similar throughout CFPR during a dry season, better forage quality in areas occupied by livestock may constitute an effect of their facilitating vicuñas. A puzzling finding, because it was not explained by any of the other variables we measured, was that at low densities vicuñas selected habitat irrespective of livestock, and where their density was higher, it was doubly so adjacent to livestock. We conclude that in the CFPR, spatial heterogeneity in habitat quality determines the interactions between livestock and vicuñas. To support recommendations that minimize competition between wildlife and livestock, and to expand on descriptions of the contexts that determine the direction of species interactions, future study may require a wider sampling of the densities of sympatric large herbivores in general, and, in the CFPR, a closer resolution of spatial heterogeneity in forage plant quality.

The dairy industry represents 13% of the turnover of the European food industry and north-west Europe produces 60% of the European milk. However, in 2014 the milk market has experienced a substantial fall in milk prices of some 50%. At these lower prices for milk the business of many milk producers is not sustainable. Due to recent advances, the mid-infrared (MIR) analysis of milk performed within milk recording (MR) promises more information than used traditionally. Beside the established MR parameters (protein, fat, lactose, and urea), the spectra could provide additional information on cows' status for a range of characteristics (e.g. fertility, health, energy balance, feeding and methane emission). Thus, the spectra routinely obtained from the MIR analysis of milk offer a possibility to develop novel, cost-effective tools which enable milk producers to improve the management of their dairy herds and in turn reduce the costs for milk production. The OptiMIR project aims to improve the sustainability of the dairy sector by developing and providing innovative, economical and standardized MIR-based tools for the management of dairy herds. Additionally, the project aims to create and promote a framework for the cross-border exchange of information and practices to enhance the service of milk recording organizations (MROs) in north-west Europe and to strengthen their competitiveness. In order to achieve these objectives, in 2011 the European OptiMIR project was officially launched for a 5-year-period. The INTERREG IV B funded OptiMIR project is a cooperation between three research centers, three universities, 11 MROs, and one laboratory from six north-western European countries. To accomplish the goals, the different processes from the identification of the priority areas to the development, validation, and implementation of the novel tools were outlined in three working packages comprising 10 actions. A common transnational database combines the phenotypic data of the cows and the MIR spectra from the European MR, which enables the detection of relevant phenotypic traits and their reflection in the MIR spectra. Additionally, a standardization has been installed among all instruments of the milk analyzing laboratories involved in the OptiMIR project to ensure a stable prediction over time and a correction of deviations. Due to the monthly standardization process the developed prediction equations can be used in routine on all instruments taking part in the standardization. Different models for the prediction of the pregnancy status, energy balance, the methane emission as well as the detection of ketosis and acidosis have been developed within OptiMIR. It is worth mentioning, that those models predict the status of the animal with different accuracies and that progress on development and implementation differs between the models. Some of the tools developed within OptiMIR are already used in the field and provide dairy farmers with useful information e.g. about the health status or methane emission of a certain cow. The OptiMIR project also resulted in a collaborative planning on an economic interest group formation of the participating MROs. The final OptiMIR scientific and expert meeting disseminates the results obtained through OptiMIR more detailed and also provides an overview of recent advances in the development of management tools for the dairy sector. Initial application of the MIR-based tools has shown their potential for providing dairy farmers with information to improve their herd management in a cost-effective way. However, further research and development is required to finish a greater extend of MIR-based tools so that north-western European stakeholders can acquire competitive advantage in the dairy sector.