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The Carpathians and other mountainous regions around the world are renowned for their specific landscapes shaped by pastoralism, a millennia-old traditional and sustainable economic system. In Romania, this traditional occupation has an established place within the Romanian culture. In an environment where large predators are present, the livestock owners and shepherds have traditionally relied, and still do, on livestock guardian dogs (LGDs) to protect the flock against carnivores or theft, therefore, the dogs are perceived as an integral component of the traditional pastoral system. However, from late April until the end of September, many outdoor recreational activities like hiking, mountain trail running, or biking overlap with the pastoral calendar, creating a potential for conflict between two, very different categories of landscape users, with recurring incidents happening over the years. In this study, a winter GPS monitoring campaign was proposed, between November 2023 and January 2024 that used GPS professional collars to track the movements of two livestock guardian dogs stationed at two sheepfolds located at their winter bases in the hills at the foot of Ignis Mountains (part of the Romanian northern Carpathians) from northwestern Maramureș Land, Romania. The campaign generated point-based spatiotemporal data processed and analyzed in M. Excel and QGIS using Kernel density estimation as the main method to generate metrics and identify potential clusters of LGD activity in their usual environment. The results highlight high observational clusters near the winter folds but also lower observational clusters in areas situated hundreds of meters distance around the main compound, in certain locations. Although temporally limited, the results have the potential to help the understanding of the animal's preferred zone of habitation and substantiate future win-win cohabitation solutions that minimize conflictual encounters between the shepherds and their guardian dogs on one side, as primary land users, and outdoor recreationists as other landscape users.

The Carpathians and other mountainous regions around the world are renowned for their specific landscapes shaped by pastoralism, a millennia-old traditional and sustainable economic system. In Romania, this traditional occupation has an established place within the Romanian culture. In an environment where large predators are present, the livestock owners and shepherds have traditionally relied, and still do, on livestock guardian dogs (LGDs) to protect the flock against carnivores or theft, therefore, the dogs are perceived as an integral component of the traditional pastoral system. However, from late April until the end of September, many outdoor recreational activities like hiking, mountain trail running, or biking overlap with the pastoral calendar, creating a potential for conflict between two, very different categories of landscape users, with recurring incidents happening over the years. In this study, a winter GPS monitoring campaign was proposed, between November 2023 and January 2024 that used GPS professional collars to track the movements of two livestock guardian dogs stationed at two sheepfolds located at their winter bases in the hills at the foot of Ignis Mountains (part of the Romanian northern Carpathians) from northwestern Maramureș Land, Romania. The campaign generated point-based spatiotemporal data processed and analyzed in M. Excel and QGIS using Kernel density estimation as the main method to generate metrics and identify potential clusters of LGD activity in their usual environment. The results highlight high observational clusters near the winter folds but also lower observational clusters in areas situated hundreds of meters distance around the main compound, in certain locations. Although temporally limited, the results have the potential to help the understanding of the animal's preferred zone of habitation and substantiate future win-win cohabitation solutions that minimize conflictual encounters between the shepherds and their guardian dogs on one side, as primary land users, and outdoor recreationists as other landscape users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty four weaned Tellicherry kids were randomly distributed into different stall fed housing systems viz., conventional housing pen with concrete floor (T1, pen with elevated wooden slatted floor (T2) and pen with elevated polyurethane slatted floor (T3) at URF, Madhavaram. The daily temperature (maximum and minimum), dry and wet bulb temperature and wind velocity using anemometer were recorded at 8.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. and the data statistically analysed. It was found that there was no significant difference in temperature and humidity parameters between different stall fed sheds. The seasonal wind velocity was significantly higher in T2 and T3 groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dehairing is a high pollution process in leather industry. Conventionally, the lime-sulfide mediated chemical process for dehairing would lead to the discharge of pollutants and corrosion of industrial equipment. Concerning these problems, keratinase has become a promising candidate for dehairing process in recent years. In this study, a keratinase-producing bacterium was isolated from sheepfold soil and identified as Brevibacillus parabrevis CGMCC 10798 based on the biochemical characteristics and molecular identification. The keratinase was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity with 17.19% of recovery, 13.18 folds of purification and an estimated molecular weight of 28 kDa. The enzyme exhibited high keratinase activity and no collagenase activity. Besides, the keratinase showed optimal activity at 60 °C and pH 8.0. The enzyme activity could be significantly increased in the presence of Na + and Ca 2+ . And it was inhibited by EDTA, and PMSF, which indicated that the keratinase belongs to serine-metallo protease. The enzyme could remain stable in the presence of surfactants. Especially, 5 mM Tween 40 and Triton 100 could improve the activity by 11% and 30%, respectively. Moreover, B. parabrevis keratinase could completely dehair goat wool within 7 h, which indicated its application potential in leather industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large, old trees are keystone ecological structures, their decline having disproportional ecological consequences. There is virtually no information available regarding the status and occurrence of old trees in traditional cultural landscapes from Eastern Europe. In this study, we explore the environmental determinants of the old oaks found in wood-pastures from a changing traditional rural landscape from Central Romania. Both the old oaks and the wood-pastures harboring them have exceptional cultural, historical, and ecological values, yet are vulnerable to land-use change. We surveyed 41 wood-pastures from Southern Transylvania and counted the old oaks in them. We then related the number of old oaks from these wood-pastures to a set of local and landscape level variables related to wood-pastures. We found 490 old oaks in 25 wood-pastures. The number of old oaks was positively related to the size of the wood-pasture and the amount of pasture and forest around it (500 m buffer), and negatively related to the proximity of the village. Furthermore, we found a significant interaction between the effects of sheepfolds in the wood-pasture and the size of the wood-pasture on the number of old trees, indicating a negative influence of sheepfolds on the number of old trees in smaller sized wood-pastures. There is an increasing risk for losing old trees in the traditional cultural landscapes due to the lack of formal recognition of these trees. Therefore, while presenting the positive example of local initiatives and citizen science, we argue for an urgent development and implementation of conservation policies along with education strategies targeting the old trees and rural communities from the changing traditional cultural landscapes of Eastern Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study analyses spatial preferences and behavioural patterns of lambs during fattening in straw enriched pens. Lambs were allocated in three replicates with 12 lambs each and housed in 6x6 m pens partially divided in two equal areas with and without straw bedding. Each pen was video-recorded continuously from 8 am to 8 pm on days 1, 5, 7, 14, 21 and 28. The use of different pen areas and the behaviour of the lambs were evaluated and analysed. The use of the space was significantly higher (p<0.05) for the straw area, where there was also more resting and affiliative interactions (p<0.05). In the areas without straw, animals walked more, remained standing longer periods (p<0.05) and had more stereotypic and aggressive behaviour (p<0.05). The study demonstrated that, when given the choice between two areas with similar resources, lambs prefer straw bedding. Straw is suggested to promote affiliation improving the adaptation to the feedlot. This could be useful to convince system managers that the availability of straw is beneficial to lamb welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to determine the fattening performance and carcass traits of Anatolian Merino lambs under different housing systems. Average daily live weight gains (DLW Gain, g), total feed intakes (Total FI, kg) for each stall and the feed conversion ratios (FCR) of Anatolian Merino lambs in indoor and outdoor sheepfolds were found to be 262 and 270 g, 125.2 and 128.8 kg, 4.63 and 4.76 (P>0.05), respectively. The differences between the groups in warm carcass weight (33.07 and 34.90 kg, respectively), cold carcass weight (15.65 and 17.65 kg, respectively), leg weight (2.64 and 2.98 kg, respectively) (P<0.05), dressing percentage (47.32 and 49.61 %, respectively) and M. Longissimus dorsi area (12.79 and 16.45 cm, respectively) were significant (P<0.01). Also, the pH (P<0.05), hardness (P<0.05) and the colour values (P>0.05) of the eye muscle area and subcutaneous fat were also determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alongside crop growing, sheepherding has always been one of the more important occupations of the local population, agriculture and sheepherding being, in fact, inseparable occupations. The pastoral economy of the Drăgoiasa-Tulgheş depression string fits in the mountainous type landscape, with a massive domination of hayfields, natural pastures and grazable forests, which encompass the slopes as well as the higher areas. The period for grazing lasts between 130-150 days for cattle and 150-180 days for sheep. The pastures are used from May to October, while the hayfields, after the collection of hay. For the animals that are not „taken up” the mountain in summer, people use the hayfields and pastures found in communal areas, a phenomenon encountered only in Corbu and Tulgheş. We also mention the fact that some settlements such as Gălăuţaş, Sărmaş, Subcetate, Ruşii Munţi, Monor, Şieuţ do not have enough pastures, renting pastures from Topliţa, Bilbor and Borsec. Lower, within forest areas, there are clearings, mostly artificial, called 0132;smizi” (smidă), where grazing is forbidden as they contain plantations of tree saplings. However, when milk output is lower due to colder days or lack of grass, the shepherds go down with their herds to these plantations, or on recently deforested lands, where grass is plentiful, but they do it secretly and quietly due to the fines enforced for destroying these plantations, or due to the bears that can be found in these areas. A significant part of the rural population is in an intense seasonal movement from the permanent hearths towards temporary ones and the other way around, which emphasizes the existence of two types of sheepherding: local sheepherding, frequent in almost all the settlements of the depression string, taking place from spring until autumn in stationary, or mobile sheep dens, or with no den whatsoever, within the limit of the village, and an agricultural sheepherding, with sheep dens in the mountains, beyond the limit of the village, that takes place during warm months on the slopes of Căliman, Giurgeu, Hăşmaş and Bistricioarei Mountains. In general, the best pastures are those found on southern, south-western and south-eastern slopes, and especially on gradual ridges with a lot of sunlight and heat. The quality of pastures also depends on the manner in which they are used. For example, the introduction of cattle and horses, which graze on the old grass that sheep refuse, allows the development of young grass, thus improving the food quality and quantity of sheepherding products. Some of the most important grazing sites are: Stegea, Şuvărişte, Dobreanu Mic, Dobreanu Mare, Aluniş, Iuteş, Faţa Bilborului, Şestina, Muncelu, Secu, Şesul Comarnicului, Runc, Bâtca, Şăştina Barasău, Bălajul, Feţele Putnei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maramureş Mountains by their position in the Maramureş Land constitute from immemorial times a favourable space for shepherding. This study, part of a much more ample research, focuses on the analysis of this traditional economic activity and its role in the local development in the Maramureş Land. We have in view many aspects concerning the organization of the space with sheepfolds, rules concerning the order of the sheepfolds, the correspondence between the position of the sheepfold and the tourist roads, aspects concerning the capitalization of the products obtained as well the degree of use of the wool and the leather in the traditional costume and the way in which is reflected in the welfare of the population. We analyzed too aspects concerning the system of the sheepfold organization and the migratory flows that are realized from the considerable distance. This work tries to present progressively these aspects beginning with 14th century (the first written documents) to the present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper concerns the mobilities associated with the gathering and sorting of sheep within the community of Skútustarðarhreppur, northeast Iceland in the recent historic period. It examines the relationships between people, animals, and landscape in terms of their movements. It presents an argument based on examining the mobilities on the surface and in the depths of a continual, in-the-making landscape, and considers the dwelling of farmers and their movements in attending to sheep as both place-forming and identity-forming processes. I present a hypothetical gathering and sorting of sheep based on historical and archaeological sources and explore the relations that are formed on-the-move. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was carried out to determine fattening performance with some body and carcass traits of Malya lambs at the open sheepfold. 8 Malya male lambs were used in the study. Lambs were averagely fattened at 20 kg of live weights (2.5 months of age) and 150 g alfalfa was daily given to the lambs in addition ad-libitum concentrate feed for 58 days. Daily live weight gain, total feed intake and feed conservation ratio of the per Malya lamb were found 319 g, 155.4 kg and 4.38, respectively. In addition to these, both pH, hardness and colour values of Longissimus dorsi and colour values of subcutaneous fat were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sheepfolds represent significant hot spot sources of greenhouse gases (GHG) in semi-arid grassland regions, such as Inner Mongolia in China. However, the annual contribution of sheepfolds to regional GHG emissions is still unknown. In order to quantify its annual contribution, we conducted measurements of carbon dioxide (CO), methane (CH) and nitrous oxide (NO) fluxes at two sheepfold sites in the Baiyinxile administrative region of Inner Mongolia for 1 year, using static opaque chamber and gas chromatography methods. Our data show that, at an annual scale, both sheepfolds functioned as net sources of CO, CH and NO. Temperatures primarily determined the seasonal pattern of CO emission; 60-84% of the CO flux variation could be explained by temperature changes. High rates of net CH emissions from sheepfold soils were only observed when animals (sheep and goats) were present. While nitrous oxide emissions were also stimulated by the presence of animals, pulses of NO emissions were also be related to rainfall and spring-thaw events. The total annual cumulative GHG emissions in CO equivalents (CO: 1; CH: 25; and NO: 298) were quantified as 87.4 ± 18.4 t ha for the sheepfold that was used during the non-grazing period (i.e., winter sheepfold) and 136.7 ± 15.9 t ha used during the grazing period (i.e., summer sheepfold). Of the annual total GHG emissions, CH release accounted for approximately 1% of emissions, while CO and NO emissions contributed to approximately 59% and 40%, respectively. The total GHG emission factor (CO + CH + NO) per animal for the sheepfolds investigated in this study was 30.3 kg CO eq yr head, which translates to 0.3, 18.8 and 11.2 kg CO eq yr head for CH, CO and NO, respectively. Sheepfolds accounted for approximately 34% of overall NO emissions in the Baiyinxile administrative region, a typical steppe region within Inner Mongolia. The contribution of sheepfolds to the regional CO or CH exchange is marginal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the system of walking and working sheep flocks in the downlands of Hampshire, Wiltshire, and Dorset, referred to as chalk uplands, in South West England, Great Britain, in the late 17th and the early 18th centuries. The author focuses on the importance of sheep manure for the wheat crop fertilizing and explains the connectivity between the movable folds and crop growth in the region. Topics include temporary enclosures, their seasonal situating, and fresh herbage access.