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Grazing—Distribution, Biodiversity, Animal Welfare and Forage Quality in Livestock Pasture...
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Grazing—Distribution, Biodiversity, Animal Welfare and Forage Quality in Livestock Pasture Systems

A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Farm Animal Production".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 November 2023) | Viewed by 23658

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Mariusz Kulik

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Grassland and Landscape Forming, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Lublin, Poland
Interests: grazing and biodiversity; dry grassland; Natura 2000 habitats; vegetation changes in grassland
Prof. Dr. Piotr Stypiński

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agronomy, Warsaw University of Life Sciences - SGGW, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
Interests: grazing management and systems; grazing of Konik horses; forage production; biology and use of legumes (white clover); grazing in protected areas
Prof. Dr. Anna Guðrún Þ Thórhallsdóttir

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Rural Tourism, Holar University, 551 Suðarkrokur, Iceland
Interests: plant–animal interaction; grazing ecology; grazing; biodiversity and SOC; cultural landscapes; grazing diet selection; product quality from grazing

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Grasslands are one of the semi-natural ecosystems requiring human activity. Historically, many of them were developed to provide feed for livestock. Grasslands, however, were also used by wild animals because grazing is a natural form of feeding for all herbivorous species. Thus, grazing was an integral part of these ecosystems.

The grazing of animals around the world takes many forms and has different historical and cultural backgrounds, ranging from rangelands and silvopastoral systems to highly productive pastures providing fodder for livestock, e.g., dairy cattle. In the latter case, the species composition and the appropriate grazing date are the key elements determining the appropriate milk or meat yield. In all these systems, pastures provide fodder for animals, as well as ensuring their welfare. Dairy or meat products from animals grazing in pastures have a greater pro-health value than traditional food.

On the other hand, unmanaged, excessive grazing can degrade ecosystems and associated goods and services.

In recent decades, the approach to feeding livestock has been changing continuously, resulting in a reduction in grazing land. Land-use changes, including the abandonment of grazing and traditional farming practices, as well as secondary succession, are major threats to biodiversity.

Therefore, efforts should be made to restore traditional farming methods, including livestock grazing. Research on grazing in a changing world is also still essential. It should be added that new, modern grazing tools (virtual fences, drones, modeling) are now available to scientists and farmers.

Grazing is an integral part of semi-natural agricultural ecosystems. It can provide a platform for combining the welfare of farm animals, the protection of valuable natural habitats, preservation of biodiversity, human health, and much more

Dr. Mariusz Kulik
Prof. Dr. Piotr Stypiński
Prof. Dr. Anna Guðrún Þ Thórhallsdóttir
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • animal welfare
  • biodiversity on pastures
  • changes over time
  • distribution of grazing land
  • forage quality
  • grazing behavior
  • management systems
  • pasture vegetation
  • silvopastoral systems
  • rangelands

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 8509 KiB  
Article
Plant Community and Soil Properties Regulate Space-Scale Dependence of Species Diversity under Grazing Exclusion and Rest Grazing in the Qilian Mountains of China
by Lixiang Liu, Yongwei Han, Weiwei Liu and Yuemin Liu
Agriculture 2023, 13(10), 1966; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13101966 - 9 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1120
Abstract
Grazing exclusion (GE) and rest grazing (RG) are important management systems for the restoration of degraded grassland ecosystems. In order to evaluate the effects and mechanisms of different grazing management systems on the scale dependency of species diversity, plant community indices and soil [...] Read more.
Grazing exclusion (GE) and rest grazing (RG) are important management systems for the restoration of degraded grassland ecosystems. In order to evaluate the effects and mechanisms of different grazing management systems on the scale dependency of species diversity, plant community indices and soil variables were determined in 32 plots in the Qilian Mountains in Gansu Province. The results show that diversity effects and their regulating mechanisms had space-scale dependence under different grazing management systems. The species richness and species diversity indices of RG grassland were significantly higher than those of GE at the regional scale. Species richness for RG and GE plots was 128 and 98, respectively, and the Shannon–Wiener and Simpson indices for RG and GE plots were 2.26 and 2.16, and 0.85 and 0.83, respectively. Additionally, three grazing management systems had a significant effect on species richness in mountain meadows, but different management systems had significantly different effects on species diversity indices in mountain meadows and temperate steppes. Meanwhile, soil variables only influenced species diversity at the regional scale. Most of the plant and soil variables at each scale had positive effects on species diversity. However, a negative correlation was seen between biodiversity and species coverage, mean plant height, soil porosity (SP) and bulk density (BD) under the two contrasting grazing management systems. In conclusion, choosing RG at the regional scale and selecting grazing management systems according to different grassland types at the local scale can help to restore degraded grassland vegetation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Grazing—Distribution, Biodiversity, Animal Welfare and Forage Quality in Livestock Pasture Systems)
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12 pages, 943 KiB  
Article
Some Physiological Responses of Native Sheep Breeds to Environmental Conditions during Grazing in Natura 2000 Habitats
by Monika Greguła-Kania, Paulina Nazar, Mariusz Kulik, Krzysztof Patkowski, Agata Hahaj-Siembida and Andrzej Junkuszew
Agriculture 2023, 13(5), 982; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13050982 - 29 Apr 2023
Viewed by 1179
Abstract
The calcareous xerothermic grasslands of the Festuco-Brometea class are among the most endangered Natura 2000 sites in Europe. The greatest threats include a lack of grazing, secondary succession, and invasive alien and expansive native species. The abandonment of such grasslands is caused by [...] Read more.
The calcareous xerothermic grasslands of the Festuco-Brometea class are among the most endangered Natura 2000 sites in Europe. The greatest threats include a lack of grazing, secondary succession, and invasive alien and expansive native species. The abandonment of such grasslands is caused by the low nutritional value of biomass, as well as by difficult habitat conditions. The aim of this study was to assess the physiological responses of native sheep breeds to hard environmental conditions when grazing in Natura 2000 habitats and to confirm the hypothesis that native sheep of the Świniarka and Uhruska breeds can be used to protect valuable natural habitats. The analysed grasslands were characterised by very difficult climatic and edaphic conditions and a low fodder value for sheep. Grazing in environmentally valuable areas, sometimes poor in fodder, did not adversely affect the welfare of grazed sheep. In both the Uhruska and Świniarka breeds, there were no indicators for heat or nutritional stress, but physiological changes were observed in the animals’ adaptation to new environmental conditions. Despite poor fodder positions, Świniarka sheep improved their condition and body weight. Fluctuations in indicators showing an adaptation process were also visible. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Grazing—Distribution, Biodiversity, Animal Welfare and Forage Quality in Livestock Pasture Systems)
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19 pages, 2932 KiB  
Article
The Influence of Konik Horses Grazing and Meteorological Conditions on Wetland Communities
by Anna Chodkiewicz, Piotr Stypiński, Marcin Studnicki and Barbara Borawska-Jarmułowicz
Agriculture 2023, 13(2), 325; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13020325 - 28 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1663
Abstract
Extensive management is one of the methods used in the conservation of fen meadows. The aim of the study was to characterize grassland communities grazed by Konik horses in the Biebrza National Park and to assess the influence of short-term grazing on the [...] Read more.
Extensive management is one of the methods used in the conservation of fen meadows. The aim of the study was to characterize grassland communities grazed by Konik horses in the Biebrza National Park and to assess the influence of short-term grazing on the sward. During a 3-year period, phytosociological studies, measurements of the sward cover and height, as well as an assessment of the botanical composition of meadows were conducted in places grazed and excluded from grazing. The grasslands were mowed once a year at the turn of July and August, with the exception of mid-forest meadows. The area studied was dominated by communities of the Molinion alliance. Horses kept at a very low stocking rate reduced the height and cover of the sward. In the short-term, weather conditions, especially the duration of floods, had an even greater impact on the species composition of communities than grazing. Therefore, in order to protect the Molinia meadows, apart from extensive mowing, it is necessary to maintain appropriate habitat conditions, especially in terms of controlling the moisture, and conduct its regular monitoring. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Grazing—Distribution, Biodiversity, Animal Welfare and Forage Quality in Livestock Pasture Systems)
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14 pages, 1556 KiB  
Article
Is Grazing Good for Wet Meadows? Vegetation Changes Caused by White-Backed Cattle
by Mariusz Kulik, Andrzej Bochniak, Witold Chabuz, Paweł Żółkiewski and Anna Rysiak
Agriculture 2023, 13(2), 261; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13020261 - 20 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1985
Abstract
Wetland ecosystems are highly productive and valued for numerous reasons including wildlife habitat, biodiversity, water quantity and quality, and human uses. Grazing livestock on wet grasslands can sometimes be controversial due the humidity of the habitat, but on the other hand, it plays [...] Read more.
Wetland ecosystems are highly productive and valued for numerous reasons including wildlife habitat, biodiversity, water quantity and quality, and human uses. Grazing livestock on wet grasslands can sometimes be controversial due the humidity of the habitat, but on the other hand, it plays an important role in grassland preservation. Therefore, we evaluated the impact of Polish white-backed cattle grazing on changes in the vegetation (13 phytosociological relevés taken in years 2016–2019) of wet meadows as well as forage quality based on the species composition. Biodiversity was estimated based on species richness, Shannon–Wiener diversity and evenness indices, and Rényi diversity profiles. The peatland featured mostly high-sedge and wet meadows communities of the Magnocaricion and the Calthion alliances. The species and biodiversity indices demonstrated significant rising trends. Extensive grazing resulted in the decreased cover of the dominant species of rush meadows, e.g., the common reed, acute, and tufted sedge. The gaps that had emerged thanks to the reduced cover of the dominant species were filled by meadow plants, which led to increased biodiversity. During the four years of grazing, the cattle obtained satisfactory weight gains, particularly in 2019, which indicates that wet meadows are suitable for grazing and can provide sufficient feed for cattle. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Grazing—Distribution, Biodiversity, Animal Welfare and Forage Quality in Livestock Pasture Systems)
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Review

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31 pages, 2460 KiB  
Review
Challenges of Pasture Feeding Systems—Opportunities and Constraints
by Barbara Wróbel, Waldemar Zielewicz and Mariola Staniak
Agriculture 2023, 13(5), 974; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13050974 - 28 Apr 2023
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 6941
Abstract
Grazing plays an important role in milk production in most regions of the world. Despite the importance of grazing, current trends in livestock farming in Europe are causing a decline in the popularity of pasture-based feeding of dairy cows. This paper aims to [...] Read more.
Grazing plays an important role in milk production in most regions of the world. Despite the importance of grazing, current trends in livestock farming in Europe are causing a decline in the popularity of pasture-based feeding of dairy cows. This paper aims to provide an overview of the challenges faced by the pasture feeding system under climate change. Grazing lands provide ecosystem services including regulation and storage of water flows, nutrient cycling, and C sequestration. Livestock grazing is the most important factor shaping and stabilizing pasture biodiversity. Some opportunities for pasture feeding are the health-promoting and nutritional qualities of milk and milk products, especially milk from pasture-fed cows. The beneficial effects of pasture feeding on animal health and welfare are not insignificant. Available organizational innovations can help better manage livestock grazing and, above all, better understand the impact of the grazing process on the environment and climate change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Grazing—Distribution, Biodiversity, Animal Welfare and Forage Quality in Livestock Pasture Systems)
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14 pages, 679 KiB  
Review
Virtual Fencing Technology for Cattle Management in the Pasture Feeding System—A Review
by Piotr Goliński, Patrycja Sobolewska, Barbara Stefańska and Barbara Golińska
Agriculture 2023, 13(1), 91; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13010091 - 29 Dec 2022
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 9441
Abstract
Maximizing annual pasture consumption without negatively impacting individual cow performance is of great importance in grass-based dairy and beef systems due to pasture being the most cost-effective nutrient source. However, the disadvantages of conventional and electric fencing include material and labor costs and [...] Read more.
Maximizing annual pasture consumption without negatively impacting individual cow performance is of great importance in grass-based dairy and beef systems due to pasture being the most cost-effective nutrient source. However, the disadvantages of conventional and electric fencing include material and labor costs and increased manual labor. Virtual fencing has been developed and evaluated for almost two decades. The evolution of precision livestock farming, specifically virtual fencing, presents new opportunities for maximizing the utilization of available pasture land. Virtual fencing technology decreases the labor involved in physical fencing, provides greater adaptability to changes in pasture conditions, increases precision and efficiency, and offers additional flexibility in grazing management practices. However, that innovative technology should be further developed, and improvements should include decreasing the total costs of the system and increasing its application to other technological groups of ruminants, e.g., suckler cows with calves, increasing the efficiency of the system operation in large areas and a larger number of animals. Recent advancements in electronic communication and device (i.e., collar) design hold the potential to significantly enhance the effectiveness of the technology while also reducing costs. However, it is necessary to conduct a further evaluation to determine their utility in precision agricultural systems. This review paper aims to present an innovative concept of virtual fencing technology for pastures, compare currently available systems of this type, and indicate areas where further research and development should be carried out using Internet of Things (IoT) systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Grazing—Distribution, Biodiversity, Animal Welfare and Forage Quality in Livestock Pasture Systems)
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