Monitoring the Effect of Weed Encroachment on Cattle Behavior in Grazing Systems Using GPS Tracking Collars
Weed encroachment on grasslands can negatively affect herbage allowance and animal behavior, impacting livestock production. We used low-cost GPS collars fitted to twenty-four Angus crossbred steers to evaluate the effects of different levels of weed encroachment on animal activities and spatial dis...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/21/3353 |
| _version_ | 1797632296348549120 |
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| author | Igor L. Bretas Jose C. B. Dubeux Priscila J. R. Cruz Luana M. D. Queiroz Martin Ruiz-Moreno Colt Knight Scott Flynn Sam Ingram Jose D. Pereira Neto Kenneth T. Oduor Daniele R. S. Loures Sabina F. Novo Kevin R. Trumpp Javier P. Acuña Marilia A. Bernardini |
| author_facet | Igor L. Bretas Jose C. B. Dubeux Priscila J. R. Cruz Luana M. D. Queiroz Martin Ruiz-Moreno Colt Knight Scott Flynn Sam Ingram Jose D. Pereira Neto Kenneth T. Oduor Daniele R. S. Loures Sabina F. Novo Kevin R. Trumpp Javier P. Acuña Marilia A. Bernardini |
| author_sort | Igor L. Bretas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Weed encroachment on grasslands can negatively affect herbage allowance and animal behavior, impacting livestock production. We used low-cost GPS collars fitted to twenty-four Angus crossbred steers to evaluate the effects of different levels of weed encroachment on animal activities and spatial distribution. The experiment was established with a randomized complete block design, with three treatments and four blocks. The treatments were paddocks free of weeds (weed-free), paddocks with weeds established in alternated strips (weed-strips), and paddocks with weeds spread throughout the entire area (weed-infested). Animals in weed-infested paddocks had reduced resting time and increased grazing time, distance traveled, and rate of travel (<i>p</i> < 0.05) compared to animals in weed-free paddocks. The spatial distribution of the animals was consistently greater in weed-free paddocks than in weed-strips or weed-infested areas. The effects of weed encroachment on animal activities were minimized after weed senescence at the end of the growing season. Pasture weed encroachment affected cattle behavior and their spatial distribution across the pasture, potentially impacting animal welfare. Further long-term studies are encouraged to evaluate the impacts of weed encroachment on animal performance and to quantify the effects of behavioral changes on animal energy balance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:35:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-beda78d3124247d1ba57c66c389722fe |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:35:00Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-beda78d3124247d1ba57c66c389722fe2023-11-10T14:57:49ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-10-011321335310.3390/ani13213353Monitoring the Effect of Weed Encroachment on Cattle Behavior in Grazing Systems Using GPS Tracking CollarsIgor L. Bretas0Jose C. B. Dubeux1Priscila J. R. Cruz2Luana M. D. Queiroz3Martin Ruiz-Moreno4Colt Knight5Scott Flynn6Sam Ingram7Jose D. Pereira Neto8Kenneth T. Oduor9Daniele R. S. Loures10Sabina F. Novo11Kevin R. Trumpp12Javier P. Acuña13Marilia A. Bernardini14North Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Marianna, FL 32446, USANorth Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Marianna, FL 32446, USARange Cattle Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Ona, FL 33865, USANorth Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Marianna, FL 32446, USANorth Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Marianna, FL 32446, USAUniversity of Maine Cooperative Extension, Orono, ME 04469, USACorteva Agriscience, Lee’s Summit, MO 64015, USACorteva Agriscience, Lee’s Summit, MO 64015, USADepartment of Animal Science, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USANorth Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Marianna, FL 32446, USADepartament of Animal Science, Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia, Cruz das Almas 44430-622, BA, BrazilNorth Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Marianna, FL 32446, USANorth Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Marianna, FL 32446, USANorth Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Marianna, FL 32446, USANorth Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Marianna, FL 32446, USAWeed encroachment on grasslands can negatively affect herbage allowance and animal behavior, impacting livestock production. We used low-cost GPS collars fitted to twenty-four Angus crossbred steers to evaluate the effects of different levels of weed encroachment on animal activities and spatial distribution. The experiment was established with a randomized complete block design, with three treatments and four blocks. The treatments were paddocks free of weeds (weed-free), paddocks with weeds established in alternated strips (weed-strips), and paddocks with weeds spread throughout the entire area (weed-infested). Animals in weed-infested paddocks had reduced resting time and increased grazing time, distance traveled, and rate of travel (<i>p</i> < 0.05) compared to animals in weed-free paddocks. The spatial distribution of the animals was consistently greater in weed-free paddocks than in weed-strips or weed-infested areas. The effects of weed encroachment on animal activities were minimized after weed senescence at the end of the growing season. Pasture weed encroachment affected cattle behavior and their spatial distribution across the pasture, potentially impacting animal welfare. Further long-term studies are encouraged to evaluate the impacts of weed encroachment on animal performance and to quantify the effects of behavioral changes on animal energy balance.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/21/3353animal activitygeographic information systemglobal navigation satellite systemgrasslandslivestock monitoringweed management |
| spellingShingle | Igor L. Bretas Jose C. B. Dubeux Priscila J. R. Cruz Luana M. D. Queiroz Martin Ruiz-Moreno Colt Knight Scott Flynn Sam Ingram Jose D. Pereira Neto Kenneth T. Oduor Daniele R. S. Loures Sabina F. Novo Kevin R. Trumpp Javier P. Acuña Marilia A. Bernardini Monitoring the Effect of Weed Encroachment on Cattle Behavior in Grazing Systems Using GPS Tracking Collars Animals animal activity geographic information system global navigation satellite system grasslands livestock monitoring weed management |
| title | Monitoring the Effect of Weed Encroachment on Cattle Behavior in Grazing Systems Using GPS Tracking Collars |
| title_full | Monitoring the Effect of Weed Encroachment on Cattle Behavior in Grazing Systems Using GPS Tracking Collars |
| title_fullStr | Monitoring the Effect of Weed Encroachment on Cattle Behavior in Grazing Systems Using GPS Tracking Collars |
| title_full_unstemmed | Monitoring the Effect of Weed Encroachment on Cattle Behavior in Grazing Systems Using GPS Tracking Collars |
| title_short | Monitoring the Effect of Weed Encroachment on Cattle Behavior in Grazing Systems Using GPS Tracking Collars |
| title_sort | monitoring the effect of weed encroachment on cattle behavior in grazing systems using gps tracking collars |
| topic | animal activity geographic information system global navigation satellite system grasslands livestock monitoring weed management |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/21/3353 |
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