Mixed grazing systems benefit both upland biodiversity and livestock production

Grassland biodiversity and ecosystem functions benefit more from cattle than sheep in mixed grazing: A meta-analysis

Grasslands have been widely grazed for livestock production by cattle and sheep. However, previous studies have mainly focused on the impacts of single-species grazing on grassland biodiversity and ecosystem functions; the effects of mixed grazing of cattle and sheep remain largely unknown. We conducted a meta-analysis to examine the impacts of mixed grazing and analyzed the relative roles of cattle and sheep on grassland biodiversity and multiple ecosystem functions. Mixed grazing studies mainly originated from Europe, the USA, and China. Generally, cattle and sheep exhibited distinctive impacts on grassland biodiversity and functions in single-species and mixed grazing regimes. Cattle grazing alone increased plant diversity and soil organic carbon content (SOC), while sheep grazing alone had little impact. Compared to single-species grazing, mixed grazing generally increased plant density and richness of insect herbivores and decreased soil nematode richness, but did not alter plant biomass, soil nitrogen, or nematode abundance. Cattle in the mixed grazing regime increased plant diversity, biomasses of forbs and legumes, SOC, and liveweight gains of livestock. The mixed grazing impacts were further regulated by climate conditions, grazing intensity, and grazing duration. Our findings provide compelling evidence that mixed grazing benefits biodiversity, soil carbon sequestration, livestock production, and community structure of grasslands, and cattle are more influential than sheep in creating the benefits of mixed grazing for sustainable management of grasslands.

Combining beef cattle and sheep in an organic system. I. Co-benefits for promoting the production of grass-fed meat and strengthening self-sufficiency

Numerous advantages of combining cattle and sheep have been demonstrated at the grazing-season level, but the effects of this practice on system self-sufficiency require system-level and longer-term studies. We established three grassland-based organic systems as separate farmlets: one mixed system combining beef cattle and sheep (MIX) and two specialised systems, beef cattle (CAT) and sheep (SH), to serve as reference points. These farmlets were managed for 4 years, to assess the benefits of combining beef cattle and sheep in promoting the production of grass-fed meat and strengthening system self-sufficiency. The ratio of cattle to sheep livestock units in MIX was 60:40. The surface area and stocking rate were similar across all systems. Calving and lambing were adjusted to grass growth to optimise grazing. Calves were pasture-fed from 3 months old on average until weaning in October, fattened indoors with haylage and slaughtered at 12-15 months. Lambs were pasture-fed from 1 month old on average until slaughter; if lambs were not ready for slaughter when the ewes mated, they were stall-finished with concentrates. The decision to supplement adult females with concentrate was based on the achievement of a target body condition score (BCS) at key periods. The decision to treat animals with anthelmintics was based on mean faecal egg excretion remaining below a certain threshold. A higher proportion of lambs were pasture-finished in MIX vs SH (P < 0.001) due to a higher growth rate (P < 0.001) which led to a lower age at slaughter (166 vs 188 days, P < 0.001). Ewe prolificacy and productivity were higher in MIX vs SH (P < 0.02 and P < 0.065, respectively). The levels of concentrate consumption and number of anthelmintic treatments in sheep were lower in MIX vs SH (P < 0.01 and P < 0.08). Cow productivity, calf performance, carcass characteristics and the level of external inputs used did not differ between systems. However, cow BW gain during the grazing season was higher in MIX vs CAT (P < 0.05). These outcomes validated our hypothesis that the association of beef cattle and sheep promoted the self-sufficient production of grass-fed meat in the sheep enterprise. It also promoted better ewe and cow BCS and BW at key stages of the reproduction cycle and better development of the females used for replacement, which may enhance animal and system resilience.

Taste agents as modulators of the feeding behaviour of grazing yaks in alpine meadows

Feeding behaviour plays a significant role in promoting good animal health and welfare. It is also reflective of the quality and quantity of available feed. In fact, grazing livestock do not select their feed randomly, rather their behaviour is influenced by the texture, taste, and smell of each pasture species. Although taste agents are often used to modify feed intake for captive livestock, the effect on the feeding behaviour of grazing livestock has not yet been extensively evaluated in native grasslands. To address this gap in knowledge, herein, we sprayed three types of taste agents-salty (SA), sweet (SW), and bitter (BT)-on alpine meadows to investigate their effect on the grazing behaviour of yaks (Bos Grunniens) on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). Behavioural observations showed that grazing was concentrated primarily in the morning and afternoon, while ruminating/resting peaked at noon; however, the diurnal behavioural patterns of grazing yaks were not affected by the taste agents. Application of the SA agent significantly increased the yaks' grazing time, bites per minute, bites per step, time per feeding station, and steps per feeding station, while significantly reducing walking time, steps per minute, and number of feeding stations per minute. Meanwhile, application of the SW agent significantly increased the yaks' time per feeding station, however, significantly reduced the steps per minute and number of feeding stations per minute. In contrast, the BT agent significantly increased the yaks' walking time, steps per minute, and number of feeding stations per minute, while significantly reducing grazing time, bites per minute, bites per step, and time per feeding station. Application of the SA agent also significantly increased the intake of favoured, edible, and inedible forage, while the SW agent improved inedible forage intake, however, had a more subtle effect on favoured and edible forage intake. Meanwhile, the BT agent had an inhibitory effect on grazing intake. Hence, the structural equation model suggested that taste agents may directly or indirectly influence grazing behaviour by regulating feeding behaviour. Our findings provide a theoretical basis for using taste agents in grasslands to control the grazing behaviour of livestock and provide a method to promote the stability of grassland communities, while mitigating the degradation of grasslands in the QTP.

Animal board invited review: Grassland-based livestock farming and biodiversity

Grasslands dominate land cover nationally and globally, and their composition, structure and habitat value are strongly influenced by the actions of domestic and wild grazing animals that feed on them. Different pastures are characterised by varying opportunities for selective feeding by livestock; agronomically improved, sown swards generally consist of a limited range of plant species whereas longer-term leys and semi-natural grasslands are characterised by a more diverse mixture of plants. In the case of botanically diverse permanent pastures/grazing lands, the dietary preferences of different grazers have a more pronounced effect on the botanical composition of the sward in the longer term. Selection of a dominant species within the sward can give less abundant components a chance to compete, increasing community evenness and species richness. Conversely, the selection of minor components reduces sward compositional heterogeneity and hence plant species richness and evenness. Body size, gut type (foregut vs hindgut fermentation), physiological status (growing, pregnant, lactating), metabolic status (extent of body reserves) and environmental conditions all influence the nutrient requirements of a given animal and related foraging priorities. The diet selected is also strongly influenced by the availability of preferred food items, and their vertical and horizontal distribution within the sward. In general, larger animals, such as cattle and horses, are less selective grazers than smaller animals, such as sheep and goats. They are quicker to switch to consuming less-preferred sward components as the availability of preferred resources declines due to their greater forage demands, and as a result can be very effective in controlling competitive plant species consistently avoided by more selective grazers. As a result, low-intensity mixed grazing of cattle and sheep has been shown to improve the diversity and abundance of a range of taxa within grazed ecosystems. Mixed/co-species grazing with different animals exploiting different grassland resources is also associated with increased pasture use efficiency in terms of the use of different sward components and related improvements in nutritional value. In situations where cattle are not available, for example if they are not considered commercially viable, alternative species such as goats, ponies or South American camelids may offer an opportunity to diversify income streams and maintain productive and biodiverse pastures/grazing lands. Stocking rate and timing of grazing also have a considerable role in determining the impact of grazing. Regardless of the species grazing or the pasture grazed, grazing systems are dynamic since selective grazing impacts the future availability of sward components and subsequently dietary choices. New technologies under development provide opportunities to monitor plant/animal interactions more closely and in real time, which will in future support active management to deliver targeted biodiversity gains from specific sites.

Displacement Effects of Conservation Grazing on Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) Spatial Behaviour

Conservation grazing uses semi-feral or domesticated herbivores to limit encroachment in open areas and to promote biodiversity. However, we are still unaware of its effects on wild herbivores. This study investigates the influence of herded sheep and goats on red deer (Cervus elaphus) spatial behavior by testing three a-priori hypotheses: (i) red deer are expected to avoid areas used by livestock, as well as adjacent areas, when livestock are present, albeit (ii) red deer increase the use of these areas when sheep and goats are temporarily absent and (iii) there is a time-lagged disruption in red deer spatial behavior when conservation grazing practice ends. Using GPS-telemetry data on red deer from a German heathland area, we modelled their use of areas grazed by sheep and goats, using mixed-effect logistic regression. Additionally, we developed seasonal resource selection functions (use-availability design) to depict habitat selection by red deer before, during, and after conservation grazing. Red deer used areas less during conservation grazing throughout all times of the day and there was no compensatory use during nighttime. This effect mostly persisted within 21 days after conservation grazing. Effects on habitat selection of red deer were detectable up to 3000 meters away from the conservation grazing sites, with no signs of either habituation or adaption. For the first time, we demonstrate that conservation grazing can affect the spatio-temporal behavior of wild herbivores. Our findings are relevant for optimizing landscape and wildlife management when conservation grazing is used in areas where wild herbivores are present.

Carcass Characteristics and Beef Quality of Young Grass-Fed Angus x Salers Bovines

To characterize carcass and meat attributes, such as beef eating quality in specific farming conditions, 31 young grass-fed crossbred Angus x Salers cattle in two farming systems (a mono-cattle system versus a mixed system with beef cattle and sheep) were used in this study. Three muscle cuts (striploin—m. longissimus dorsi et thoracis; bolar blade—m. triceps brachii caput longum; internal flank plate—m. obliquus internus abdominis) were used for consumer eating quality testing and striploin was used for panelist eating quality assessment, and objective measurements [Warner–Bratzler shear force (WBSF) and fatty acid (FA) and antioxidant contents]. Results indicated that the farming system had no impact on carcass characteristics or meat quality, but it tended to affect FA content, which is likely explained by between-system differences in animal maturity (assessed by ossification score). Animal gender had significant effects on three eating quality traits evaluated by untrained consumers, with higher flavor liking, overall liking, and overall meat eating quality (MQ4) scores in females than in males. Additionally, FA contents were correlated with sensory quality traits to varying extents: consumer-scored tenderness, flavor, and overall liking were mainly positively correlated with ω-3 and ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) contents, and panelist-evaluated tenderness and abnormal flavor were more positively correlated with total lipids, saturated fatty acid (SFA), and monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) contents. Overall, this study showed that specific grass-fed crossbred Angus x Salers cattle can produce lean meat rich in ω-3 PUFAs with a low ω-6/ω-3 ratio and with “better than average” beef eating quality.

Naturally acquired ovine-adapted nematode infections in young cattle and their treatment with eprinomectin 5% w/v extended-release injection

The objective of this controlled study was to determine the anthelmintic efficacy of eprinomectin 5% w/v extended-release injection (Eprinomectin ERI; LONGRANGE®, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health) against primarily ovine-adapted gastrointestinal strongylid nematode (GIN) parasites in naturally infected young cattle. Eighteen calves which grazed on a sheep-dominated mixed sheep-cattle farm were randomly allocated into two equal groups (saline [control] or Eprinomectin ERI, administered each at 1 mL/50 kg body weight once subcutaneously), treated and euthanized 14 days thereafter for a differential GIN count. Ten species of strongylid nematodes were recovered from the control calves (ovine-adapted Haemonchus contortus, Teladorsagia circumcincta, Trichostrongylus colubriformis, Cooperia curticei, Nematodirus battus, Chabertia ovina; bovine-adapted Ostertagia ostertagi, Cooperia oncophora, Nematodirus helvetianus; 'generalist' Trichostrongylus axei). Adult GIN counts ranged from 1,540 to 5,244 for the control calves and from zero to 110 for the Eprinomectin ERI-treated calves. Accepting the International Cooperation on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Veterinary Medicinal Products anthelmintic guidelines criteria on adequacy of infections to be demonstrated in the control animals, this study showed that Ch. ovina, C. curticei, H. contortus, N. battus, T. axei, and T. colubriformis were reduced significantly (p < 0.0001) by ≥ 98.7% in the animals treated with Eprinomectin ERI. In conclusion, Eprinomectin ERI treatment was efficacious against a range of ovine-adapted nematode parasites in naturally infected young cattle.

Livestock Management for the Delivery of Ecosystem Services in Fire-Prone Shrublands of Atlantic Iberia

In the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, characterized by its humid climate, large rural areas are being abandoned, mostly in less-favoured areas covered by heathlands, which present a low nutritive quality for livestock production. The high combustibility of these shrublands is driving a high wildfire incidence with negative environmental and economic effects. In this review, some aspects on wildfire occurrence and the potential of grazing livestock to reduce woody phytomass and fire risk in heathland-dominated areas whilst maintaining quality production and preserving biodiversity are summarized. Heathlands may be partially improved—converted to grassland—to better meet animals’ nutritional requirements while acting as ‘natural’ firebreaks. The specific grazing behaviour offers the opportunity to combine different domestic herbivores (mixed grazing) to achieve sustainable systems utilizing heterogeneous resources. Cattle, sheep, goats, and horses may have a role in the provision of different ecosystem services such as food production and biodiversity conservation. Genotype x environment interactions shape the ability of animals to cope with poor vegetation conditions, with smaller species and breeds performing better than larger animals. Goats and horses are indicated to arrest woody encroachment. Sustainable grazing systems are affordable in heathland–grassland mosaics by selecting appropriate livestock species and breeds for quality production, thus favouring rural economies and lowering fire risk.

Performance and parasitological parameters of steers sequentially grazed with lambs

In the majority of mixed or sequential gazing studies with sheep, cattle performance remained unaffected. However, the treatment regime of the sheep in these studies was often intense and this may have limited cross-transmission of nematodes from sheep to cattle. We conducted a sequential grazing trial with cattle and sheep with moderate anthelmintic intervention. Twenty first season grazing steers were stratified to 10 couples according to their origin, egg excretion per gram faeces (EPG), metabolic weight and previous weight gain record. Thirty naturally infected ewe lambs were stratified to 5 groups according to metabolic live weight and EPG. Five pairs of the steers were sequentially grazed with the 5 groups of lambs whereas another five pairs of steers served as control. Grazing duration was 70 days with a subsequent indoor period of additional 35 days for the steers. Weight and EPG was recorded 3 days before and 27, 49, 70 and 105 days after trial start. The recorded live-weight of the sequentially grazed steers was 182 ± 14, 191 ± 11, 205 ± 15, 219 ± 15 and 236 ± 18 and the live-weight of the control steers was 180 ± 18, 193 ± 19, 203 ± 21, 217 ± 24 and 234 ± 24 kg respectively. The EPG of the sequentially grazed steers 3 days before grazing start and at day 27, 49, 70 and 105 was 94 ± 100, 95 ± 48, 49 ± 42, 58 ± 41 and 140 ± 73 EPG respectively. The EPG of the control steers at the same dates was 96 ± 82, 98 ± 24, 104 ± 77, 98 ± 71 and 270 ± 287 EPG respectively. The sequentially grazed steer groups did not differ from the control groups with regard to EPG, live weight and daily weight gain. However, the sequentially grazed steers showed elevated pepsinogen levels compared to the control steers (e.g. 3.34 ± 1.05 units tyrosine and 1.29 ± 0.50 units tyrosine after 70 days of grazing, respectively). Larval samples from individual steer coprocultures of both groups were tested PCR-positive for Cooperia oncophora, Ostertagia ostertagi and Haemonchus contortus. We conclude that short term sequential grazing of first season grazing steers with lambs excreting mainly eggs of Haemonchus spp. did not adversely affect steer performance despite increased pepsinogen values. However, hot and dry conditions may have had a suppressive effect on larval development, migration and finally uptake by the steers.

Health-Promoting Phytonutrients Are Higher in Grass-Fed Meat and Milk

While commission reports and nutritional guidelines raise concerns about the effects of consuming red meat on human health, the impacts of how livestock are raised and finished on consumer health are generally ignored. Meat and milk, irrespective of rearing practices, provide many essential nutrients including bioavailable protein, zinc, iron, selenium, calcium, and/or B12. Emerging data indicate that when livestock are eating a diverse array of plants on pasture, additional health-promoting phytonutrients—terpenoids, phenols, carotenoids, and anti-oxidants—become concentrated in their meat and milk. Several phytochemicals found in grass-fed meat and milk are in quantities comparable to those found in plant foods known to have anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, and cardioprotective effects. As meat and milk are often not considered as sources of phytochemicals, their presence has remained largely underappreciated in discussions of nutritional differences between feedlot-fed (grain-fed) and pasture-finished (grass-fed) meat and dairy, which have predominantly centered around the ω-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid. Grazing livestock on plant-species diverse pastures concentrates a wider variety and higher amounts of phytochemicals in meat and milk compared to grazing monoculture pastures, while phytochemicals are further reduced or absent in meat and milk of grain-fed animals. The co-evolution of plants and herbivores has led to plants/crops being more productive when grazed in accordance with agroecological principles. The increased phytochemical richness of productive vegetation has potential to improve the health of animals and upscale these nutrients to also benefit human health. Several studies have found increased anti-oxidant activity in meat and milk of grass-fed vs. grain-fed animals. Only a handful of studies have investigated the effects of grass-fed meat and dairy consumption on human health and show potential for anti-inflammatory effects and improved lipoprotein profiles. However, current knowledge does not allow for direct linking of livestock production practices to human health. Future research should systematically assess linkages between the phytochemical richness of livestock diets, the nutrient density of animal foods, and subsequent effects on human metabolic health. This is important given current societal concerns about red meat consumption and human health. Addressing this research gap will require greater collaborative efforts from the fields of agriculture and medicine.

Grazing behavior, dietary value and performance of sheep, goats, cattle and camels co-grazing range with mixed species of grazing and browsing plants

A study was conducted to assess grazing behavior (GB), dietary value and performance of co-grazing sheep, goats, cattle and camels with initial body weights (BW) of 20.6 ± 2.09, 16.6 ± 0.97, 96.8 ± 3.43 and 162.3 ± 21.28 kg, respectively. Grazing lasted 16 weeks, using 6 growing animals per animal species. Animals co-grazed 6 ha of range containing grass, forb and browse species. GB observations for position and activity were made during day light. In weeks 4, 8 and 14 hand-plucked forages similar to that being selected by animal species were sampled for laboratory evaluation. BW was measured initially and at 28-days interval. Time allotted for feed consumption (grazing plus browsing), ruminating and idle was similar among animal species. However, camels and goats spent lower time grazing and higher time browsing than sheep and cattle. The CP content of hand-plucked forages was highest for camels (16.8%), intermediate for sheep (9.3%) and goats (10.2%) and lowest for cattle (4.5%); while NDF values took opposite trend. The IVDMD contents of forages took the trend of CP contents and were 55.8, 51.0, 43.6 and 72.8% for sheep, goats, cattle and camels, respectively. Daily BW gain was 34, 31, 94 and 358 g/day and BW change as percentage of initial BW was 19, 22, 11 and 26% for sheep, goats, cattle and camels, respectively, the former was higher for camels and the latter was lower for cattle. These results indicated reduced dietary overlap among animal species and consequently greater animal yield through co-grazing than perhaps could have achieved through mono-species grazing.

Mixed grazing of adult goats and cattle: Lessons from long-term monitoring

Mixed grazing of breeding goats and cattle (goats to cattle ratio: about 50 %, based on metabolic weight) was monitored for 2 years on a rotational pasture with the two species grazing together, then for 5 years with cattle grazing immediately after goats. For both modalities, the level of goat parasite infection was not significantly different from that of the control groups. Nevertheless, the association allowed a slight improvement in kid growth and goat productivity, probably in relation to a better food quality. The response of adult goats to mixed grazing is therefore very different from that previously obtained with kids post-weaning. The question of the relationship between heterogeneity of pastures, knowledge of their environment, grazing behaviour of adult goats and risk of infection with gastrointestinal nematodes requires further investigation.

Climate Change Impact, Adaptation, and Mitigation in Temperate Grazing Systems: A Review

Managed temperate grasslands occupy 25% of the world, which is 70% of global agricultural land. These lands are an important source of food for the global population. This review paper examines the impacts of climate change on managed temperate grasslands and grassland-based livestock and effectiveness of adaptation and mitigation options and their interactions. The paper clarifies that moderately elevated atmospheric CO2 (eCO2) enhances photosynthesis, however it may be restiricted by variations in rainfall and temperature, shifts in plant’s growing seasons, and nutrient availability. Different responses of plant functional types and their photosynthetic pathways to the combined effects of climatic change may result in compositional changes in plant communities, while more research is required to clarify the specific responses. We have also considered how other interacting factors, such as a progressive nitrogen limitation (PNL) of soils under eCO2, may affect interactions of the animal and the environment and the associated production. In addition to observed and modelled declines in grasslands productivity, changes in forage quality are expected. The health and productivity of grassland-based livestock are expected to decline through direct and indirect effects from climate change. Livestock enterprises are also significant cause of increased global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (about 14.5%), so climate risk-management is partly to develop and apply effective mitigation measures. Overall, our finding indicates complex impact that will vary by region, with more negative than positive impacts. This means that both wins and losses for grassland managers can be expected in different circumstances, thus the analysis of climate change impact required with potential adaptations and mitigation strategies to be developed at local and regional levels.

Perception of livestock ecosystem services in grazing areas

This study investigates how the ecosystem services (ES) linked to livestock grazing are perceived across countries. A total of 82 case studies collected from 42 countries via survey (53.7% cases from Europe and 46.3% from outside of Europe) have been analysed through a multivariate approach. In all, 18 non-provisioning ES were considered. Overall, the reported impacts of livestock grazing on the different ES were much more positive than negative. Notably, a large proportion of respondents reported either positive or very positive impacts for some cultural ES, namely cultural, historic and natural heritage (84%), knowledge systems and educational values (77%), landscape values (74%), and for some supporting and regulating ES, namely habitat provision (66%), nutrient cycling (65%), and bush encroachment/fire control (66%). Based on multiple regression analysis, geographic origin, stakeholder type and species category, as well as protection status of the grazing area, had significant effects on the perception of the impacts. Respondents reported those impacts as more positive in Europe, in protected areas and where several species were present in the grazing area. A significantly larger proportion of respondents reported recognition of ES provided by the grazing livestock population in European countries (40.9%) compared with non-European countries (23.7%). Based on the survey responses it appears that in non-European countries absence of formal recognition, especially by policy makers, is a major challenge for the continued provision of ES in grazing systems. In Europe, where such recognition is already often included in legislation, the long-term sustainability of related policies and incentives to provide such services is viewed as a major issue by the respondents.

Dietary Strategies to Reduce Environmental Impact: A Critical Review of the Evidence Base

The food system is a major source of environmental impact, and dietary change has been recommended as an important and necessary strategy to reduce this impact. However, assessing the environmental performance of diets is complex due to the many types of foods eaten and the diversity of agricultural production systems and local environmental settings. To assess the state of science and identify knowledge gaps, an integrative review of the broad topic of environment and diet was undertaken, with particular focus on the completeness of coverage of environmental concerns and the metrics used. Compared with the 14 discrete environmental areas of concern identified in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the located journal literature mainly addressed greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and, to a lesser extent, land and water use. Some relevant concerns were rarely addressed or not addressed at all. In the case of GHG emissions, changes in land use and soil carbon stocks were seldom considered. This represents a disconnect between the science informing strategic climate action in the agricultural sector and the science informing public health nutrition. In the case of land and water use, few studies used metrics that are appropriate in a life-cycle context. Some metrics produce inherently biased results, which misinform about environmental impact. The limited evidence generally points to recommended diets having lower environmental impacts than typical diets, although not in every case. This is largely explained by the overconsumption of food energy associated with average diets, which is also a major driver of obesity. A shared-knowledge framework is identified as being needed to guide future research on this topic. Until the evidence base becomes more complete, commentators on sustainable diets should not be quick to assume that a dietary strategy to reduce overall environmental impact can be readily defined or recommended.

Influence of Agropastoral System Components on Mountain Grassland Vulnerability Estimated by Connectivity Loss

Over the last decades, global changes have altered the structure and properties of natural and semi-natural mountain grasslands. Those changes have contributed to grassland loss mainly through colonization by woody species at low elevations, and increases in biomass and greenness at high elevations. Nevertheless, the interactions between agropastoral components; i.e., ecological (grassland, environmental, and geolocation properties), social, and economic components, and their effects on the grasslands are still poorly understood. We estimated the vulnerability of dense grasslands in the Central Pyrenees, Spain, based on the connectivity loss (CL) among grassland patches that has occurred between the 1980s and the 2000s, as a result of i) an increase in biomass and greenness (CL-IBG), ii) woody encroachment (CL-WE), or iii) a decrease in biomass and greenness (CL-DBG). The environmental and grassland components of the agropastoral system were associated with the three processes, especially CL-IBG and CL-WE, in relation with the succession of vegetation toward climax communities, fostered by land abandonment and exacerbated by climate warming. CL-IBG occurred in pasture units that had a high proportion of dense grasslands and low current livestock pressure. CL-WE was most strongly associated with pasture units that had a high proportion of woody habitat and a large reduction in sheep and goat pressure between the 1930s and the 2000s. The economic component was correlated with the CL-WE and the CL-DBG; specifically, expensive pastures were the most productive and could maintain the highest rates of livestock grazing, which slowed down woody encroachment, but caused grassland degradation and DBG. In addition, CL-DBG was associated with geolocation of grasslands, mainly because livestock tend to graze closer to passable roads and buildings, where they cause grassland degradation. To properly manage the grasslands, an integrated management plan must be developed that includes an understanding of all components of the agropastoral system and takes into account all changes that have occurred in dense mountain grasslands. Addressing the problems individually risks the improvement of some grasslands and the deterioration of others.

Rare phenotypes in domestic animals: unique resources for multiple applications

Preservation of specific and inheritable phenotypes of current or potential future importance is one of the main purposes of conservation of animal genetic resources. In this review, we investigate the issues behind the characterisation, utilisation and conservation of rare phenotypes, considering their multiple paths of relevance, variable levels of complexity and mode of inheritance. Accurately assessing the rarity of a given phenotype, especially a complex one, is not a simple task, because it requires the phenotypic and genetic characterisation of a large number of animals and populations and remains dependent of the scale of the study. Once characterised, specific phenotypes may contribute to various purposes (adaptedness, production, biological model, aesthetics, etc.) with adequate introgression programmes, which justifies the consideration of (real or potential) existence of such characteristics in in situ or ex situ conservation strategies. Recent biotechnological developments (genomic and genetic engineering) will undoubtedly bring important changes to the way phenotypes are characterised, introgressed and managed.

Assessing the Effects of Grassland Management on Forage Production and Environmental Quality to Identify Paths to Ecological Intensification in Mountain Grasslands

Ecological intensification in grasslands can be regarded as a process for increasing forage production while maintaining high levels of ecosystem functions and biodiversity. In the mountain Vercors massif, where dairy cattle farming is the main component of agriculture, how to achieve forage autonomy at farm level while sustaining environmental quality for tourism and local dairy products has recently stimulated local debate. As specific management is one of the main drivers of ecosystem functioning, we assessed the response of forage production and environmental quality at grassland scale across a wide range of management practices. We aimed to determine which components of management can be harnessed to better match forage production and environmental quality. We sampled the vegetation of 51 grasslands stratified across 13 grassland types. We assessed each grassland for agronomic and environmental properties, measuring forage production, forage quality, and indices based on the abundance of particular plant species such as timing flexibility, apiarian potential, and aromatic plants. Our results revealed an expected trade-off between forage production and environmental quality, notably by stressing the contrasts between sown and permanent grasslands. However, strong within-type variability in both production and environmental quality as well as in flexibility of timing of use suggests possible ways to improve this trade-off at grassland and farm scales. As achieving forage autonomy relies on increasing both forage production and grassland resilience, our results highlight the critical role of the ratio between sown and permanent grasslands as a major path for ecological intensification in mountain grasslands.

Traditional vs modern: role of breed type in determining enteric methane emissions from cattle grazing as part of contrasting grassland-based systems

Ruminant livestock turn forages and poor-quality feeds into human edible products, but enteric methane (CH₄) emissions from ruminants are a significant contributor to greenhouse gases (GHGs) and hence to climate change. Despite the predominance of pasture-based beef production systems in many parts of Europe there are little data available regarding enteric CH₄ emissions from free-ranging grazing cattle. It is possible that differences in physiology or behaviour could influence comparative emissions intensities for traditional and modern breed types depending on the nutritional characteristics of the herbage grazed. This study investigated the role of breed type in influencing CH₄ emissions from growing beef steers managed on contrasting grasslands typical of intensive (lowland) and extensive (upland) production systems. Using the SF₆ dilution technique CH₄ emissions were estimated for a modern, fast-growing crossbred (Limousin cross) and a smaller and hardier native breed (Welsh Black) when grazing lowland perennial ryegrass (high nutritional density, low sward heterogeneity) and semi-improved upland pasture (low/medium nutritional density, high sward heterogeneity). Live-weight gain was substantially lower for steers on the upland system compared to the lowland system (0.31 vs. 1.04 kg d⁻¹; s.e.d. = 0.085 kg d⁻¹; P<0.001), leading to significant differences in estimated dry matter intakes (8.0 vs. 11.1 kg DM d⁻¹ for upland and lowland respectively; s.e.d. = 0.68 kg DM d⁻¹; P<0.001). While emissions per unit feed intake were similar for the lowland and upland systems, CH₄ emissions per unit of live-weight gain (LWG) were substantially higher when the steers grazed the poorer quality hill pasture (760 vs 214 g kg⁻¹ LWG; s.e.d. = 133.5 g kg⁻¹ LWG; P<0.001). Overall any effects of breed type were relatively small relative to the combined influence of pasture type and location.