Behavioural responses of beef cattle to different grazing systems and the influence of these responses on water productivity of livestock in a tropical savannah
Environmental conditions and available forage on pastures greatly differ between different farming systems, which can affect the behaviour of grazing cattle. The interplay between environment-, forage-, and animal-related variables may affect the use of feed and water resources in grazing-based syst...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Animal |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S175173112400048X |
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| author | M. Pereira Barsotti R. Giolo de Almeida M.C. Motta Macedo P. Zawada J. Werner U. Dickhoefer |
| author_facet | M. Pereira Barsotti R. Giolo de Almeida M.C. Motta Macedo P. Zawada J. Werner U. Dickhoefer |
| author_sort | M. Pereira Barsotti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Environmental conditions and available forage on pastures greatly differ between different farming systems, which can affect the behaviour of grazing cattle. The interplay between environment-, forage-, and animal-related variables may affect the use of feed and water resources in grazing-based systems. Hence, our objectives were (i) to study the differences between grazing-based systems and seasons in environment- and pasture-related variables as well as the behaviour, feed intake, performance, and water productivity of Nellore heifers, and (ii) to understand the interrelationships between these variables. The measurements were performed in a conventional grazing system (CON), an integrated crop-livestock (ICL), and a crop-livestock-forestry (ICLF) systems in the Brazilian Cerrado during the rainy and dry seasons. Ambient temperature and relative air humidity were hourly measured in both seasons. Forage biomass and sward height were determined every month. Forage samples were taken to determine the proportions of alive leaves, alive stems, and dead plant material and to analyse their nutritive value. Forage intake, drinking water intake, and liveweight changes were quantified in 12 Nellore heifers per system and season. Feeding behaviour was recorded by chewing sensors on nine continuous days in each season. Drinking water intake was measured by water meters attached to drinking water troughs, whereby trial cameras at the troughs recorded the frequency of drinking events of individual animals. Feed conversion efficiency and water productivity were estimated. The ICLF reduced the exposure time to high ambient temperatures so that heifers even grazed during the hottest hours. Forage biomass in ICL and CON had greater proportions of stem and dead plant material than in ICLF. Forage intake rate was greater and grazing events were longer for animals in ICLF than those in CON, whereas the daily number of grazing events was greater in CON. Feed conversion efficiency and water productivity were greater in integrated systems than in CON. Amongst studied variables, thermal environment and forage canopy structure with its proportions of dead plant material are the main driving factors for animal behaviour, forage intake rate, and animal performance. These variables reduce feed conversion efficiency and water productivity in grazing cattle. Further research should analyse strategies for promoting thermal comfort for the animals, increasing the proportions of alive biomass, and enhancing the nutritional value of pastures for more efficient use of forage and water resources in grazing-based systems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T20:13:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-771d0d3b652c4ca7824724ce4443cc27 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1751-7311 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T20:13:11Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animal |
| spelling | doaj.art-771d0d3b652c4ca7824724ce4443cc272024-03-23T06:23:32ZengElsevierAnimal1751-73112024-04-01184101117Behavioural responses of beef cattle to different grazing systems and the influence of these responses on water productivity of livestock in a tropical savannahM. Pereira Barsotti0R. Giolo de Almeida1M.C. Motta Macedo2P. Zawada3J. Werner4U. Dickhoefer5University of Hohenheim, Institute of Agricultural Sciences in the Tropics, Animal Nutrition and Rangeland Management in the Tropics and Subtropics, Fruwirthstrasse 31, 70599 Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, GermanyBrazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Embrapa Southeast Livestock, Washington Luiz Rod, km 234, 13560-970, São Carlos, São Paulo, BrazilBrazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Embrapa Beef Cattle, Radio Maia Ave. 830, 79106-550 Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, BrazilUniversity of Hohenheim, Institute of Agricultural Sciences in the Tropics, Animal Nutrition and Rangeland Management in the Tropics and Subtropics, Fruwirthstrasse 31, 70599 Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, GermanyUniversity of Hohenheim, Institute of Agricultural Sciences in the Tropics, Animal Nutrition and Rangeland Management in the Tropics and Subtropics, Fruwirthstrasse 31, 70599 Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, GermanyUniversity of Hohenheim, Institute of Agricultural Sciences in the Tropics, Animal Nutrition and Rangeland Management in the Tropics and Subtropics, Fruwirthstrasse 31, 70599 Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany; Kiel University, Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Hermann-Rodewald-Str. 9, 24118 Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany; Corresponding author.Environmental conditions and available forage on pastures greatly differ between different farming systems, which can affect the behaviour of grazing cattle. The interplay between environment-, forage-, and animal-related variables may affect the use of feed and water resources in grazing-based systems. Hence, our objectives were (i) to study the differences between grazing-based systems and seasons in environment- and pasture-related variables as well as the behaviour, feed intake, performance, and water productivity of Nellore heifers, and (ii) to understand the interrelationships between these variables. The measurements were performed in a conventional grazing system (CON), an integrated crop-livestock (ICL), and a crop-livestock-forestry (ICLF) systems in the Brazilian Cerrado during the rainy and dry seasons. Ambient temperature and relative air humidity were hourly measured in both seasons. Forage biomass and sward height were determined every month. Forage samples were taken to determine the proportions of alive leaves, alive stems, and dead plant material and to analyse their nutritive value. Forage intake, drinking water intake, and liveweight changes were quantified in 12 Nellore heifers per system and season. Feeding behaviour was recorded by chewing sensors on nine continuous days in each season. Drinking water intake was measured by water meters attached to drinking water troughs, whereby trial cameras at the troughs recorded the frequency of drinking events of individual animals. Feed conversion efficiency and water productivity were estimated. The ICLF reduced the exposure time to high ambient temperatures so that heifers even grazed during the hottest hours. Forage biomass in ICL and CON had greater proportions of stem and dead plant material than in ICLF. Forage intake rate was greater and grazing events were longer for animals in ICLF than those in CON, whereas the daily number of grazing events was greater in CON. Feed conversion efficiency and water productivity were greater in integrated systems than in CON. Amongst studied variables, thermal environment and forage canopy structure with its proportions of dead plant material are the main driving factors for animal behaviour, forage intake rate, and animal performance. These variables reduce feed conversion efficiency and water productivity in grazing cattle. Further research should analyse strategies for promoting thermal comfort for the animals, increasing the proportions of alive biomass, and enhancing the nutritional value of pastures for more efficient use of forage and water resources in grazing-based systems.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S175173112400048XAgroforestryBehaviourMixed crop-livestock systemsPastureSeasonality |
| spellingShingle | M. Pereira Barsotti R. Giolo de Almeida M.C. Motta Macedo P. Zawada J. Werner U. Dickhoefer Behavioural responses of beef cattle to different grazing systems and the influence of these responses on water productivity of livestock in a tropical savannah Animal Agroforestry Behaviour Mixed crop-livestock systems Pasture Seasonality |
| title | Behavioural responses of beef cattle to different grazing systems and the influence of these responses on water productivity of livestock in a tropical savannah |
| title_full | Behavioural responses of beef cattle to different grazing systems and the influence of these responses on water productivity of livestock in a tropical savannah |
| title_fullStr | Behavioural responses of beef cattle to different grazing systems and the influence of these responses on water productivity of livestock in a tropical savannah |
| title_full_unstemmed | Behavioural responses of beef cattle to different grazing systems and the influence of these responses on water productivity of livestock in a tropical savannah |
| title_short | Behavioural responses of beef cattle to different grazing systems and the influence of these responses on water productivity of livestock in a tropical savannah |
| title_sort | behavioural responses of beef cattle to different grazing systems and the influence of these responses on water productivity of livestock in a tropical savannah |
| topic | Agroforestry Behaviour Mixed crop-livestock systems Pasture Seasonality |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S175173112400048X |
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