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Gou X, Tsunekawa A, Tsubo M, Peng F, Cheng Y. Abundant resources compensate for the uneven distribution of ungulates in desert grassland. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1421998. [PMID: 39129765 PMCID: PMC11310146 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1421998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Strategically managing livestock grazing in arid regions optimizes land use and reduces the damage caused by overgrazing. Controlled grazing preserves the grassland ecosystem and fosters sustainability despite resource limitations. However, uneven resource distribution can lead to diverse grazing patterns and land degradation, particularly in undulating terrains. Methods In this study, we developed a herbivore foraging algorithm based on a resource selection function model to analyze foraging distribution patterns, predict the probability of foraging, and identify the determinants of foraging probability in cattle. The study area was a complex desert landscape encompassing dunes and interdunes. Data on cattle movements and resource distribution were collected and analyzed to model and predict foraging behavior. Results Our findings revealed that cattle prefer areas with abundant vegetation in proximity to water sources and avoid higher elevations. However, abundant resource availability mitigated these impacts and enhanced the role of water points, particularly during late grazing periods. The analysis showed that available resources primarily determine foraging distribution patterns and lessen the effects of landforms and water distance on patch foraging. Discussion The results suggest that thoughtful water source placement and the subdivision of pastures into areas with varied terrain are crucial for sustainable grazing management. By strategically managing these factors, land degradation can be minimized, and the ecological balance of grassland ecosystems can be maintained. Further research is needed to refine the model and explore its applicability in other arid regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowei Gou
- Department of Grassland Resource and Ecology, College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- International Platform for Dryland Research and Education, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan
| | | | - Mitsuru Tsubo
- Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan
| | - Fei Peng
- Key Laboratory of Desert and Desertification, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yunxiang Cheng
- Department of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
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Parnell D, Edwards J, Ingram L. Exploring 'Wether' Grazing Patterns Differed in Native or Introduced Pastures in the Monaro Region of Australia. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13091500. [PMID: 37174537 PMCID: PMC10177349 DOI: 10.3390/ani13091500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Monitoring livestock allows insights to graziers on valuable information such as spatial distribution, foraging patterns, and animal behavior, which can significantly improve the management of livestock for optimal production. This study aimed to understand what potential variables are significant for predicting where sheep spent the most time in native (NP) and improved (IP) paddocks. Wethers (castrated male sheep) were tracked using Global Positioning System (GPS) collars on 15 sheep in the IP and 15 in the NP, respectively, on a property located in the Monaro region of Southern New South Wales, Australia. Trials were performed over four six-day periods in April, July, and November of 2014 and March in 2015. Data were analyzed to understand various trends that may have occurred during different seasons, using random forest models (RFMs). Of the factors investigated, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was significant (p < 0.01) and highly important for wethers in the IP, but not the NP, suggesting that quality of pasture was key for wethers in the IP. Elevation, temperature, and near distance to trees were important and significant for predicting residency of wethers in the IP, as well as the NP. The result of this study highlights the ability of predictive models to provide insights on behavior-based modelling of GPS data and further enhance current knowledge about location-based choices of sheep on paddocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danica Parnell
- The School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Jack Edwards
- The School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Lachlan Ingram
- The School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia
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Aquilani C, Confessore A, Bozzi R, Sirtori F, Pugliese C. Review: Precision Livestock Farming technologies in pasture-based livestock systems. Animal 2021; 16:100429. [PMID: 34953277 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2021.100429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) encompasses the combined application of single technologies or multiple tools in integrated systems for real-time and individual monitoring of livestock. In grazing systems, some PLF applications could substantially improve farmers' control of livestock by overcoming issues related to pasture utilisation and management, and animal monitoring and control. A focused literature review was carried out to identify technologies already applied or at an advanced stage of development for livestock management in pastures, specifically cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry. Applications of PLF in pasture-based systems were examined for cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and poultry. The earliest technology applied to livestock was the radio frequency identification tag, allowing the identification of individuals, but also for retrieving important information such as maternal pedigree. Walk-over-weigh platforms were used to record individual and flock weights. Coupled with automatic drafting systems, they were tested to divide the animals according to their needs. Few studies have dealt with remote body temperature assessment, although the use of thermography is spreading to monitor both intensively reared and wild animals. Global positioning system and accelerometers are among the most applied technologies, with several solutions available on the market. These tools are used for several purposes, such as animal location, theft prevention, assessment of activity budget, behaviour, and feed intake of grazing animals, as well as for reproduction monitoring (i.e., oestrus, calving, or lambing). Remote sensing by satellite images or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) seems promising for biomass assessment and herd management based on pasture availability, and some attempts to use UAVs to monitor, track, or even muster animals have been reported recently. Virtual fencing is among the upcoming technologies aimed at grazing management. This system allows the management of animals at pasture without physical fences but relies on associative learning between audio cues and an electric shock delivered if the animal does not change direction after the acoustic warning. Regardless of the different technologies applied, some common constraints have been reported on the application of PLF in grazing systems, especially when compared with indoor or confined livestock systems. Battery lifespan, transmission range, service coverage, storage capacity, and economic affordability were the main factors. However, even if the awareness of the existence and the potential of these upcoming tools are still limited, farmers' and researchers' demands are increasing, and positive outcomes in terms of rangeland conservation, animal welfare, and labour optimisation are expected from the spread of PLF in grazing systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Aquilani
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agrarie, Alimentari, Ambientali e Forestali, Università di Firenze, Scuola di Agraria, Via delle Cascine 5, 50144 Florence, Italy.
| | - A Confessore
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agrarie, Alimentari, Ambientali e Forestali, Università di Firenze, Scuola di Agraria, Via delle Cascine 5, 50144 Florence, Italy
| | - R Bozzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agrarie, Alimentari, Ambientali e Forestali, Università di Firenze, Scuola di Agraria, Via delle Cascine 5, 50144 Florence, Italy
| | - F Sirtori
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agrarie, Alimentari, Ambientali e Forestali, Università di Firenze, Scuola di Agraria, Via delle Cascine 5, 50144 Florence, Italy
| | - C Pugliese
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agrarie, Alimentari, Ambientali e Forestali, Università di Firenze, Scuola di Agraria, Via delle Cascine 5, 50144 Florence, Italy
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Gou X, Tsunekawa A, Tsubo M, Peng F, Sun J, Li Y, Zhao X, Lian J. Seasonal dynamics of cattle grazing behaviors on contrasting landforms of a fenced ranch in northern China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 749:141613. [PMID: 32836130 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The number of livestock per unit area is commonly used as a proxy of grazing pressure in both experimental studies and grassland management. However, this practice ignores the impact of landform heterogeneity on the spatial distribution of grazing pressure, leading to localized patches of degraded grassland. The spatial distribution of actual grazing density thus needs to be examined. Owing to the corresponding changes in resource availability and energy consumption as livestock move across an elevation gradient, we predict that livestock will preferentially use low-land and that different temporal patterns of grazing pressure will occur in the contrasting landforms. GPS location data and a machine learning technique were used to identify the seasonal pattern and the factors driving grazing pressure on a fenced ranch. Over both low-land and sand-dune landforms, the proportion of time that livestock spent on foraging increased from 63% in July to 67% in August and 69% in September, and non-foraging behavior decreased correspondingly. In low-land, the log-transformed average foraging density significantly increased from 0.61 (i.e., total foraging behaviors in 5 days measured at 50-s intervals per 10 × 10 m grid) in July to 0.66 in August and 0.88 in September, whereas there was no significant change on sand-dunes. From July to September, the relative area of low-land foraged by cattle accounted for 31%, 35%, and 36%, respectively, and in sand-dunes the proportions increased from 45% to 47% to 51%. In low-land, the foraging density was negatively correlated with biomass (P = .07), total digestible nutrients (P < .05), and crude protein (P = .06) and positively correlated with acid detergent fiber (P < .05), whereas no such relationships were observed in sand-dunes. Our results indicate that topographic features should be considered when managing livestock, especially during periods with adverse conditions of herbage quality and quantity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowei Gou
- The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-Minami, Tottori 680-8553, Japan.
| | - Atsushi Tsunekawa
- Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori 680-0001, Japan.
| | - Mitsuru Tsubo
- Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori 680-0001, Japan.
| | - Fei Peng
- International Platform for Dryland Research and Education, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori 680-0001, Japan; Key Laboratory of Desert and Desertification, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 73000, China.
| | - Jian Sun
- Synthesis Research Centre of Chinese Ecosystem Research Network, Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modelling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), 11A, Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Yulin Li
- Naiman Desertification Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tongliao 028300, China.
| | - Xueyong Zhao
- Naiman Desertification Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tongliao 028300, China.
| | - Jie Lian
- Naiman Desertification Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tongliao 028300, China.
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