In Somalia, camel (Camelus dromedarius) survivability and milk production has been higher than for other domestic livestock and contributes substantially to the subsistence of Somali pastoralists. The objective of this research was to study management, foraging behavior and nutrition of camels in their natural habitat to determine how production continues under seasonal nutritional stress. Management systems of Ceeldheer pastoralists are based on available natural pasture and water. The natural rotation grazing system maintained an ecological equilibrium in the District. Pastoralists manipulate their herds to suit existing environmental conditions, family needs and labor availability for herding. In herd management, control of breeding males and preferential treatment to increase the female component of the herd are geared to secure continuous milk supply for the family. Camels were watered only in the dry seasons. They foraged continuously throughout the day the first few days after watering, but foraged mostly in the morning and evening as watering days approached. The quantity of water camels consumed in summer and winter dry seasons were similar. In winter, milking camels foraged more, travelled shorter distance and rested less than dry ones. In fall, 1986, and spring, 1987, lactating camels spent less time foraging than non-milking animals. Foraging time was the same for both groups in summer 1986, 1987 and fall, 1987. Camels spent more time chewing bones in summer of 1986 in Xarar foraging area than other seasons. Low or high relative humidity together with hot temperature apparently reduced foraging time, increased rumination and idling times in winter and spring seasons. As forage availability declined, camels ingested a broader array of dietary items in the dry seasons and consumed large amounts of herbaceous plants. The diets of milking and dry camels were similar. Lactating camels consumed more green forage than dry camels in the dry seasons. Shrubs and trees comprised major components of the diets (80.9%). Physical structures of plant species did not prevent feeding on the plants. Camel diets were rich in crude protein (cp), calcium (Ca), potassiuim and sodium. Phosphorus (P) was deficient. Ca:P ratios were extremely low. Neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent lignin were high. CP intake seemed adequate year round assuming camel protein requirements are similar to other livestock requirements. Digestible energy was deficient in dry seasons. Low energy intake, inadequate phosphorous availability and water deprivation were probably responsible for the weight loss of camels as the dry season progressed.

No evaluations of plant and wildlife communities in Wetlands Reserve Program wetlands have been conducted in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley. Therefore, I evaluated active and passive moist-soil management (MTYPE) and early and late draw-down on plant communities, waterbird use, and water quality on 18 WRP lands, Mississippi, 2007-2009. Active-early sites had greater waterfowl Vegetative Forage Quality (VFQI), percentage occurrence of grass, plant diversity, and structural composition than passively managed sites (P < 0.10). I modeled variation in densities of wintering waterbirds; the best model included VFQI*MTYPE and decreased % woody vegetation (wi ≥ 0.79). Additionally, waterbird densities varied positively with active-late management (R2 ≤ 0.27), as did duck species richness with flooded area (R2 = 0.66). I compared water quality parameters among managed wetlands and drainage ditches but did not detect differences due to variability. Therefore, wetland restoration on WRP lands should focus on active management and maximizing wetland area.

No description available.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The objective of the present study was to evaluate the sorghum pasture (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) dynamics under different leaves blades offer, besides cull cows performance and carcass and meat characteristics. Thirty-six animals with average age of 5.5 years and 370 kg of average initial weight was used to forage evaluation. They were kept in 12 sorghum pasture pickets. The treatments used were: 5.1, 7.0, 9.5 and 12.5% of leaf blade offer, where the treatment of 5.1% showed higher accumulation rate (79.24 kg/ha/day of DM) and higher stocking rates (2254.02 kg/ha of weight), besides lesser forage masses (660.53 kg of DM/ha) and principal feet/ha numbers (42000.00 feet/ha). Nevertheless the third experimental period showed lesser accumulation rate (55.70 kg/ha/day of DM), higher forage masses (1986.58 kg/ha of DM) and lesser principal plants and tillers/ha quantities (29000.00 and 41333.33 feet/ha, respectively) in relation to the first and second pasture utilization experimental periods. When the offers and forage age increased, the crude protein levels decreased linearly (P<.05), as much as the sorghum leaves and capim papuã whole plant. In relation to the carcass characteristics, the treatments didn t influence the results (P>.05), with the exception of meat color, that was considered darker in less leaf blade offer treatment (2.5 points), and didn t differing among themselves in other treatments (3.8, 3.6 and 3.6 points, respectively to 7.0, 9.5 and 12.5%). / O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a dinâmica da pastagem de sorgo (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) manejado sob diferentes ofertas de lâminas foliares, além do desempenho e características da carcaça e da carne de vacas de descarte. Para a avaliação forrageira foram utilizados 36 animais com idade média de 5,5 anos e peso médio inicial de 370 kg, mantidos em 12 piquetes de pastagem de sorgo. Os tratamentos utilizados foram: 5,1; 7,0; 9,5 e 12,5% de oferta de forragem, onde o tratamento de 5,1% apresentou maiores taxas de acúmulo (79,24 kg/ha/dia de MS) e maiores cargas animais (2254,02 kg/ha de PV), além de menores massas de forragem (660,53 kg de MS/ha) e números de pés principais/ha (42000,00 pés/ha). No entanto, o terceiro período experimental apresentou menores taxas de acúmulo (55,70 kg/ha/dia de MS), maiores massas de forragem (1986,58 kg/ha de MS) e menores quantidades de pés principais e perfilhos/ha (29000,00 e 41333,33 pés/ha, respectivamente) em relação ao primeiro e ao segundo período de utilização da pastagem. À medida que as ofertas e a idade forrageira aumentaram, os teores de proteína bruta diminuíram linearmente (P<0,05), tanto as folhas de sorgo, quanto a planta inteira do capim papuã. Com relação às características da carcaça, os tratamentos não influenciaram os resultados obtidos (P>0,05), com exceção da coloração da carne, que foi considerada mais escura no tratamento de menor oferta de forragem (2,50 pontos), não diferindo entre si nos demais tratamentos (3,80; 3,60 e 3,67 pontos, respectivamente para 7,0; 9,5 e 12,5%).

Forage quality is a principal factor in managing both herbivores and the landscapes they use. Nutrition varies across the landscape, and in turn, so do the distributions of these populations. With the rise of remote sensing technologies (i.e. satellites, unmanned aerial vehicles, and multi/hyperspectral sensors), comes the ability to index forage health and nutrition swiftly. However, no methodology has been developed which allows managers to use unmanned aerial systems to the fullest capacity. The following methodologies produce compelling evidence for predicting forage quality metrics (such as fiber, carbohydrates, and digestibility) using 5 measured bands of reflectance (Blue, Green, Red, Red Edge, and NIR), 3 derived vegetation indices (NDVI, EVI and VARI), and a variety of environmental factors (i.e. time and sun angles) in a LASSO framework. Fiber content, carbohydrates, and digestibility showed promising model performance in terms of goodness-of-fit (R2= 0.624, 0.637, and 0.639 respectively).

No description available.

Kenntnisse zur Blattflächenentwicklung von Silomaissorten während der Vegetationsperiode sind erforderlich, um die Ausreife der Pflanzen charakterisieren und neue Sorte bewerten zu können. Die Blattfläche ist eine Funktion von Blattzahl und Blattfläche und kann den Ertrag und die Futterqualität von Silomais in Abhängigkeit von den Umweltbedingungen in unterschiedlichem Ausmaß variieren. Ein maßgebliches Kriterium für das Erreichen einer guten Futterqualität ist die Prognose des optimalen Erntetermins. In den Jahren 2002 und 2003 wurden zwei Experimente am Standort Berge des Institutes für Pflanzenbauwissenschaften (Landwirtschaftlich-Gärtnerische Fakultät der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin) durchgeführt, um zu zeigen, wie sich Silomaissorten der Reifegruppen früh und mittelfrüh im Blattflächenindex, in der Blattentwicklung sowie spezifischen Blattfläche unterscheiden und welche Unterschiede zwischen zwei Messmethoden zur Bestimmung des Blattflächenindexes bestehen. Unter Beachtung von Ertrag und Futterqualität haben sich bei limitiertem Wasserangebot unter den gegebenen Standortbedingungen Sorten mit einer geringeren Anzahl von Blattgenerationen (13 bis 16) als geeignet erwiesen. Um Trockenmassegehalte in der Gesamtpflanze im optimalen Bereich von 30 bis 35 % im Erntegut garantieren zu können, sollte Silomais speziell unter trocken-heißen Abreifebedingungen dann geerntet werden, wenn mindestens zwei Blätter unterhalb des Kolbenansatzes noch grün sind. / Knowledge of leaf area development of silage maize varieties during the vegetation period is useful in the characterisation of the maturity conditions of plants and in the evaluation of new varieties. Leaf area, which is a function of leaf number and leaf size may affect yield and quality parameters of silage maize at varying levels, depending on the environmental conditions under which the crops are grown. One of the criteria for obtaining good quality forage is prognosis for optimum harvest time. Two experiments were conducted in 2002 and 2003 at Berge research station, belonging to the Institute of Crop Science (Faculty of Agriculture and Horticulture, Humboldt-University Berlin) with the aim to assess how silage maize varieties of maturity group early and mid early differ in LAI, leaf area development, specific leaf area, what differences exist between the two methods used to measure LAI. Considering yield and forage quality, under the condition of location Berge, with limited water availability, varieties with fewer leaves (13-16) may be suitable. To maintain the whole plant dry matter content within the optimum range (30-35%), especially under drought condition, harvest time must fall within the period when at least a minimum of two leaves below the cob leaf are still green.

Objetivou-se avaliar a interação da adubação fosfatada e nitrogenada, bem como a disponibilidade e a sua atuação na produtividade do Panicum maximum cv. Massai, disponibilidade no solo, aspectos nutricionais, e degradabilidade ruminal, consumo voluntário e rastreamento do fósforo disponível aplicado via adubação, mineralização animal e ciclagem de P do sistema em Neossolo Quartzarênico. O experimento foi conduzido na EMVZ - UFT, com delineamento em blocos casualizados, fatorial 2x2, utilizando P (50 e 200 kg ha-¹ de P2O5) e N (100 e 400 kg ha-¹ de N) e controle não adubado com quatro repetições. A área estudada foi constituída de 32 piquetes cada (301 m2), com pastagem já estabelecida de capim Panicum maximum cv. Massai. A área experimental foi manejada sob lotação intermitente, com taxa de lotação variável, utilizou-se 28 ovinos sem raça definida (SRD), utilizados para manejo de pastagem. As avaliações foram feitas no pré e pós pastejo quanto as características agronômicas e estruturais e produtividade do capim Massai, características químicas do solo. Os aspectos nutricionais da forragem com os parâmetros bromatológicas, degradabilidade ruminal, e consumo, utilizando dióxido de titânio como indicador externo de consumo, e o quanto que esse consumo modificou na biometria do animal. Verificou-se ainda o balanço de P no sistema foi estimado com base nas frações existentes no solo, planta e animal, e os acréscimos decorrentes da adubação, mineralização pelos animais e ciclagem de P no sistema. Ambas as adubações modificam temporariamente as características químicas do solo, incrementando os valores de pH, Mg, P, V%. As camadas de 0 a 10 cm obtiveram os maiores valores da base. A adubação de P e N aumentam a produção de forragem e consequentemente proporcionou um aumento na taxa de lotação. No entanto, é necessário que se estabeleça um ajuste fino entre a qualidade e quantidade de forragem produzida e fornecida aos ovinos visando o maior ganho por área. As adubações empregadas alteram a qualidade nutricional do capim Panicum maximum cv. Massai principalmente em que as altas concentrações de P. Dentre os parâmetros nutricionais avaliados, as adubações influenciam os teores de FDN, a digestibilidade do capim e o consumo voluntário pelos animais. As fontes de fósforo solúveis adicionados possuem pouco efeito residual no Neossolo Quartezarênico. O destino e a possível mobilidade e consequente perdas de fósforo no sistema solo-planta-animal em Neossolo Quartzarênico, devem ser melhor estudados com o objetivo aumentar a eficiência produtiva. A possibilidade de parcelamento das aplicações de adubos fosfatados solúveis com teores acimas de 50 kg P2O5 ha-¹, é uma alternativa para evitar ineficiência da adubação fosfatada em Neossolo Quartzarênico. / The goal of this paper was to evaluate the interaction of phosphorus and nitrogen fertilization, as well as availability and its performance in productivity of Panicum maximum cv. Massai, availability in the soil, nutritional aspects, and ruminal degradability, voluntary intake and tracking available phosphorus applied through fertilization, animal mineralization and P cycling system in Quartzipsamment soil. The experiment was conducted at EMVZ - UFT, in a randomized block, 2x2 factorial, using P (50 and 200 kg ha-¹ of P2O5) and N (100 and 400 kg ha-¹ N) and control unfertilized with four repetitions. The study area consisted of 32 paddocks each (301 m²), with already established Panicum maximum cv. Massai pasture. The experimental area was managed under intermittent stocking with variable stocking rate. It was used 28 mixed breed sheep for grazing management. Evaluations were made before and after grazing regarding the agronomic and structural characteristics and productivity of Massai grass, and soil chemical characteristics. Moreover, it was evaluated the nutritional value of the forage including bromatological parameters, degradability and intake, using titanium dioxide as an external indicator of consumption, and how much it was able to modify animal biometrics. It was also evaluated the P balance in the system which was estimated based on existing fractions in the soil, plant and animal, and additions resulting from fertilization, mineralization by animals and P cycling in the system. Both fertilizations temporarily modify the chemical characteristics of the soil, increasing pH, Mg, P, V%. The layers from 0 to 10 cm achieved the highest values of the base. Fertilization of P and N increase forage production and consequently provide an increase in stocking rate. However, it is necessary to establish a fine adjustment between the quality and quantity of forage produced and provided to sheep in order to obtain the highest gain per area. Fertilization alters the nutritional quality of Panicum maximum cv. Massai grass especially in high concentrations of P. Among the nutritional parameters evaluated, fertilizations influence the NDF, grass digestibility and voluntary intake by animals. Soluble phosphorus sources added have little residual effect on Quartzipsamment soil. The destination and the possible mobility and consequent loss of phosphorus in the soil-plant-animal system in Quartzipsamment soil should be better studied in order to increase production efficiency. An installment possibility of soluble phosphate fertilizer levels above 50 kg P2O5 ha-¹ is an alternative to avoid P fertilization inefficiency in Quartzipsamment soil.

Die Nutzung von Beweidung zur Erhaltung und Förderung von Biodiversität wird allgemein als positiv erachtet, da so strukturell diverse Flächen erhalten werden können. Die Auswirkungen unterschiedlicher Managementszenarien auf die Artenvielfalt sind zwar weitreichend untersucht, auf Langzeitexperimenten jedoch sehr rar. Mit unserem ersten Experiment wollten wir die Frage beantworten, welche Nutzungsintensität am besten geeignet ist, um Diversität von Insekten zu fördern. Das dafür genutzte Langzeitexperiment wurde 2002 mit zwei Beweidungsintensitäten etabliert und eine dritte Intensitätsstufe 2005 eingeführt. Zwischen 2002 und 2004 sowie 2010 und 2011 wurde der Einfluss der Beweidungsvarianten auf die Insektendiversität im Sinne des Artenreichtums und der Abundanz von Heuschrecken (Orthoptera) und Tagfaltern (Lepidoptera) aufgenommen. Wie erwartet, zeigte sich bei intensivster Beweidung die geringste Diversität. Trotzdem war die extensivste Beweidung nicht vorteilhafter als die mittel intensive Beweidung. Aus diesem Grund empfehlen wir eine mittelstarke Beweidung, da diese besonders geeignet ist um eine ausreichende Narbenhöhe und eine strukturell diverse Grasnarbe zu schaffen. Dieses Management zeichnet sich durch vielfältige ökologische Nischen aus, die einer Bandbreite von unterschiedlichen Arten Habitat bieten, wovon besonders weniger mobile Herbivoren wie Heuschrecken profitieren können. Wenn Pflanzendiversität im Vordergrund steht, muss auch die Art des Weidetiers betrachtet werden, da sich die Tierarten in ihren Beweidungseigenschaften unterscheiden und demnach auch Vegetation und Narbenstruktur beeinflusst werden können. In einem zweiten Experiment haben wir deshalb den Einfluss von Rindern und Schafen in Monobeweidung als auch in Mischbeweidung untersucht. Eine Hälfte der Parzellen wurde mit Herbiziden gegen Dikotyle behandelt um den Weidetiereffekt in Abhängigkeit der Narbenzusammensetzung zu analysieren. Das Experiment wurde zwischen 2007 und 2011 beweidet und die Vegetationszusammensetzung jeweils vor jeder Beweidungsperiode und zusätzlich im Jahr 2012 aufgenommen. Die beiden Narbentypen zeigten wie erwartet deutliche Unterschiede in Zusammensetzung und Diversität. Dahingegen unterschieden sich die Weidetier-Varianten nur marginal voneinander. Die Rinderparzellen wiesen zwar eine höhere alpha-(Artenreichtum) als auch beta-Diversität auf, allerdings war dieser Effekt nur in einem Jahr auf jeweils einem Narbentyp zu finden. Zusammenfassend können gewöhnliche Weiden in ihrer Vegetationszusammensetzung und -diversität mithilfe unterschiedlicher Tierarten nur geringfügig gesteuert werden. Es konnte lediglich ein marginaler Vorteil von Rinder- gegenüber Schafbeweidung festgestellt werden Auf demselben Experiment waren wir weiterhin daran interessiert, wie pflanzliche Diversität und agrarische Produktivität miteinander verbunden sind. Unsere Ergebnisse verneinen jedoch einen positiven Zusammenhang. Weiden besitzen wahrscheinlich ein genügend großes Arteninventar auch bei artenarmer, herbizidbehandelter Ausprägung, so dass eine komplementäre Ressourcennutzung bereits ausgeschöpft wird. Im Gegensatz dazu enthielten die artenreicheren Futterproben tatsächlich mehr Rohprotein und weniger ADF, so dass von einer gesteigerten Futterqualität gesprochen werden kann. Diese Ergebnisse könnten jedoch auch durch ein erhöhtes Vorkommen von Leguminosen erklärt werden, da auf dem Versuch aufgrund des Designs eine hohe Korrelation von Artenreichtum mit Kräutern und Leguminosen besteht. Hinsichtlich der unterschiedlichen Weidetiere konnte kein signifikanter Effekt weder auf Primärproduktivität noch auf Futterqualität festgestellt werden. Über alle Jahre hinweg zeigte sich vor allem die Phytodiversität als förderlich für die Lebendmassezunahmen der Lämmer. Zudem konnte die Mischbeweidung zu einer gesteigerten Wachstumsintensität von Lämmern und Mutterkühen beitragen. Zusammenfassend kann Beweidung genutzt werden um die Narbenstruktur zu steuern, was vor allem durch eine Anpassung der Beweidungsintensität erreicht werden kann. Nachfolgend wird sich die Intensität auf die Biodiversität aus, die jedoch durch die Wahl des Weidetieres nur recht geringfügig beeinflusst wird. Auch wenn die Primärproduktivität nicht mit dem Artenreichtum verbunden war, so kann durch das Hinzukommen von Kräutern und Leguminosen doch eine Steigerung der Futterqualität erreicht werden, die sich auch in höheren Lebendmassezunahmen der Lämmer wiederspiegelt. Demnach kann durch ein geeignetes Graslandmanagement Einfluss auf die Biodiversität genommen werden, welche wiederum das Potential besitzt, die tierischen Leistungen zu steigern.

Increasing differences in United States energy consumption and production has influenced the passing of legislation for biomass fuel production. To determine feasibility of energy crops for alternative fuels, research is needed to investigate dry matter yield over an extended harvest season; physical characteristics need to be described for potential harvesting problems; chemical characteristics described to identify selective harvest potential, optimal harvest timing, losses during harvest and storage; various harvest techniques investigated to identify potential cost savings; and impact of various storage techniques on quantity and quality of deliverable biomass. This study investigated the use of two sorghum varieties as a potential bioenergy feedstock where 20 ha were planted for three years. Standing crop samples were collected from August through January to document changes in dry matter yield, moisture, height, fiber content, proximate and ultimate analysis. The sorghum was cut and conditioned – as a two-cutting ratoon or single-cutting – using various mower-conditioners and windrow samples taken daily to determine best method of field drying, quantify dry matter loss and soil entrainment. Two storage methods were utilized – baling with wrapping in a tubeline, and chopping and compressing in bag using a modified cotton module builder – to determine best method of storage for reduced dry matter loss. The optimal time of harvest for maximum dry matter occurred with the November once-cut where 30 Mg ha^-1 was documented, but comparable yields were observed with the two-cutting scenario. Fiber content increased with maturity, peaked, and declined, while ash content and moisture decreased with maturity. The achievement of 55% moisture in January shows field curing to be necessary for transportation at any significant distance, but soil entrainment – as measured by ash concentration – was not found to be a significant problem after conditioning, multiple windrow inversions, and harvesting. The geometric mean length of particle was determined to be 1.4 to 3.7 times lower than nominal chop length, indicating potential cost savings in comminution. Dry matter loss estimates during storage proved difficult due to mobility of moisture throughout the packages, where losses were documented up to 40%. Module packages tended to have lower dry matter and constituent losses than bales.