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The Italian Alpine region has a long-standing connection between the binary system of the tourism industry and silvopastoral sectors that offer different economic, ecological, and cultural benefits. This research investigates the perception of ecosystem services (ES) provided by mountain animal production among tourists in a specific mountain area (Upper Ellero Valley, North-West Italy). A total of 216 visitors were surveyed online between June and October 2022. The questionnaire was designed to explore the following aspects: (1) interviewees' socio-demographic characteristics; (2) the perceived impacts of alpine livestock systems on ecosystem services, including also the animal welfare variable; (3) the heterogeneity of hikers in response to their perception of ES and (4) the assessment of the individuals' opinion towards selected valorisation strategies of the herd-grazing production system. The responses about the ES perception were analysed using the Principal Component Analysis. The new principal components were employed to cluster the sample in the function of individuals' perceptions of ecosystem services. Finally, the Correspondence Analysis was adopted to analyse the association between the three hikers' groups and the proposed strategies for mountain area valorisation. This research revealed a positive perception of visitors towards the impact of herds on the ES. In addition, different opinions emerged among clusters related to the valorisation strategies adoptable for mountain area development exploiting the positive connection between animal farming and the environment. These findings could have concrete implications on the definition of social and economic development strategies for the alpine mountain valleys, representing an important source of production for national mountain pasture livestock farming. HIGHLIGHTS: Animal production provides ecosystem services for mountain area development; Hikers have different perception towards ecosystems services, including the animal welfare; The three obtained clusters of hikers perceived differently the valorisation strategies for increase agro-eco-tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Besides immunoglobulins which are essential for the calf to prevent Failure of Transfer of Passive Immunity (FTPI) colostrum contains multiple other constituents such microminerals, macrominerals and metals. The concentration of the minerals seems to be higher in colostrum than in normal milk. The aims of this study were to describe macromineral, micromineral and metal concentration of bovine colostrum samples from Salzburg, Austria and to see if there are differences in the concentrations between different cow feeding strategies and farm locations. Methods: Therefore, 1050 individual colostrum samples were collected from 72 dairy farms from different districts of Salzburg. All colostrum samples were analysed for macromineral (K, Mg, Na), micromineral (Co, Cu, Fe, I, Mg, Se, Zn) andmetal (As, Ba, Cd, Li, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sr, Tl, U) concentrations by inductive coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Results: The mean K, Mg and Na levels were 1218.71 mg l-1, 245.44 mg l-1 and 358.62 mg l-1, respectively. The micromineral concentrations of I, Se, Co and Zn were significantly higher in colostrum from dairy cows feeding a Total-Mixed-Ration during the lactation period in comparison to cows receiving microminerals by hand feeding, transponder feeding or via a licking bucket or licking stone. The metal analysis showed that in three farms, most of the colostrum samples showed Pb levels above the limit of 5 µg l-1. Implications: Herd-level factors need to be addressed to elevate micromineral concentrations and to reduce metal concentrations in colostrum from dairy cows from Salzburg, Austria. Conclusion: The results show that the macrominerals K, Mg and Na are within the range of published concentrations. For the microminerals, Co, Cu, Fe, I, Mg, Se and Zn the concentrations were significantly different depending on the mineral feeding strategies during the lactation and dry period. Metal concentrations of As, Ba, Cd, Li, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sr, Tl and U differed between the districts of Salzburg.

Autochthonous breeds of livestock are considered a pivotal genetic resource for agriculture, rural development, and food and nutrition security. In the Italian Alps, local livestock breeds are maintained using the traditional alpine farming system based on vertical transhumance, with the use of alpine pastures from late spring to autumn and indoor housing with a hay-based diet for the remaining part of the year. Because of their tight link with the territory of origin, local breeds could be used to biomonitor environmental contaminations. Moreover, animal welfare should also be monitored during transhumance in animals, which are exposed to a sudden farming system change and different types of stressors. For these reasons, this investigation hypothesized that the content of trace elements, heavy metals, and cortisol in the hair of goats changes during vertical transhumance, possibly reflecting different dietary contents and activity of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. This study aimed to assess the response of an Italian local goat breed to the change from indoor housing to alpine pasture in summer in terms of hair concentrations of (i) trace elements and heavy metals and (ii) cortisol. The regrown hair of Frisa goats was monthly collected for 2 consecutive years (n = 10 for heavy metals and trace elements and n = 6 for cortisol in 2021, n = 17 for both analyses in 2022), once before vertical transhumance and twice after that event. Hair was then analyzed for trace elements, heavy metals, and cortisol by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrophotometer (ICP-OES) and enzyme immunoassay (EIA), respectively. Data were analyzed by multilevel models. The results showed an increase in As content during alpine pasture (p < 0.01), probably reflecting the soil and water As contents of the grazing area, while Mg, Zn, and Al (p < 0.01) followed the opposite trend, decreasing in the second month after vertical transhumance. Hair cortisol concentrations increased during 2 months of alpine pasture (p < 0.001), indicating an increase in the activation of the HPA axis, in agreement with previous studies. Future investigations can consider a longer study period and the development of ad hoc animal welfare indicators.

Fluctuations in timber/treeline have largely been subjected to past climatic changes; but throughout the Holocene humans became one of the leading drivers of these changes. By understanding the reasons for timber/treeline changes, we retraced past climate variability and/or anthropogenic impact on the alpine environment. This study focussed on the sedimentary sequence of the Lake ‘Jezero v Ledvicah’ (Julian Alps, Slovenia), which is currently located at the treeline and covers the last ca. 6200 years. We used mineralogical and geochemical analyses to understand sedimentary changes in the lake and its catchment area. By combining this dataset with palynological data we tracked the causes of vegetation changes with a focus on human impact. Geological analyses indicate slow continuous and undisturbed sedimentation with a combined biogenic and detrital calcite input throughout the Holocene. High percentage of clay minerals indicate that they were eroded from the catchment bedrock and/or were brought to the catchment indirectly by wind. The palynological results indicate that area around the lake was forested around 6200–4300 cal. BP, with predominant occurrence of coniferous taxa. Infrequent but fairly continuous grazing indicators during this period suggest a human presence in the highlands. By 4300–1100 cal. BP, the human influence in the area increased, resulting in a gradual decrease in tree taxa. Since 1000 cal. BP relatively open landscape developed with increased grazing indicators suggesting a continuous use of highlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alpine grasslands are distributed widely on high-elevated ranges and plateaus from the wet tropics to polar regions, accounting for approximately 3% of the world's land area. The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) is the highest and largest plateau in the world, and approximately 60% of the plateau consists of alpine grassland, which is used mainly for grazing animals. Livestock structure was determined in Guinan (GN), Yushu (YS) and Maqu counties (MQ) on the QTP by interviewing 235 local pastoralists. Based on data collected from GN, the livestock carrying capacity was calculated using herbage dry matter biomass intake (LCC m) by the livestock, and the metabolizable energy yield (LCC e) and digestible crude protein (LCC p) available in pasture. The pasture area per household differed among the regions of the QTP, which was the main reason for the difference in livestock stocking rate. The householders raised the appropriate proportion of breeding females and young yaks and sheep in GN and MQ, but not in YS, to maintain a constant turnover. Most pasture in YS was used at the community level, especially in summer. The calculated carrying capacities based on metabolizable energy yield (LCC e) of the pasture and dry matter biomass (LCC m) were similar in most months except for August, when the value of LCC e was higher than LCC m. Based on the digestible protein of the pasture, the calculated livestock carrying capacity overestimated the actual carrying capacity during the herbage growing season from May to September. Appropriate practices should be taken in different regions of QTP, such as providing supplementary feed, especially protein, during the forage non-growing season. Livestock carrying capacity should be adjusted dynamically, and calculated by a number of parameters. The stocking rate should be controlled to optimize livestock production and curb or minimize grassland degradation to generate a sustainable system. This study examined the grasslands and LCC on the QTP, but the results could be applied to grasslands worldwide. • Maintaining old yaks is the main reason for high stocking rate on the grassland. • Livestock turnover rate is faster in lowland than highland of the Tibetan Plateau. • Using forage digestible protein overestimates pasture carrying capacity in summer. • It is recommended to use dry matter biomass to estimate pasture carrying capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summer mountain pastures (also called alpages) are a central element for many agro-pastoral livestock systems in the alpine region, by providing the feedstock for herds during the summer transhumance. However, vegetation phenology and productivity in mountain pastures are increasingly affected by climate hazards exacerbated by climate change, such as early snow removal, late frost events, or droughts. Difficulties can then arise to match animal demand with forage resource on alpages and, in the long term, threaten the sustainable management of these highly multifunctional socio-ecological systems. To help agro-pastoral actors adapt, an essential step is to quantify the risk of impacts on the forage resource, due to an increased occurrence or intensity of climate hazards. Exposure to climate hazards on alpages is defined locally by topographic aspects in combination with the broader influence of the regional climate. Our work therefore aimed at providing a tailored assessment of potential climate risk for the forage resource at the individual scale of each alpage in the French Alps. To this end, we developed agro-climatic indicators based on atmospheric and snow cover data accounting for geographic and topographic conditions, and applied them to a database providing unique spatially explicit information at the alpage level. For the first time, we introduce a description of agro-climatic conditions and provide a classification of agro-climatic profiles of alpages in the French Alps, ranging from low to high potential risk for the forage resource, mainly following a North-South gradient combined with altitude. We also bring insights on the evolutions of the climate risk with climate change and discuss management implications for agro-pastoral livestock systems using alpages. We finally present a web-based visualization tool that aim at communicating agro-climatic profiles and their evolution to practitioners and at assisting decision makers in understanding climate-related risks on the alpages of the French Alps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Changtang Plateau (CTP) in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau of China is one of the top-10 uninhabited areas with the most important ecological value in the world. It is of great academic and practical significance to carry out research on human settlements in the marginal zones of the uninhabited areas to promote harmonious coexistence between humans and nature on the CTP. Using high-definition remote-sensing images to visually interpret and identify settlement-patch data, combined with field investigations, this study explores the spatial characteristics of human settlements in Shuanghu and Nyima counties and their responses to natural and socioeconomic conditions in the hinterland of the CTP. Findings reveal that the scale of human settlements on the CTP is extremely small, and density is very sparse. Settlements on the CTP primarily consist of several households, with some containing more than a dozen households, or are sub-village scale. Socioeconomic development is low and socioeconomic factors have a weak influence on the settlement layout on the CTP. Natural factors are the core elements affecting the layout of human settlements on the CTP. Settlements tend to occur on low mountains, gentle slopes, and areas with high average annual temperatures. Careful settlement site selection can help to mitigate the impact of natural disasters. To meet the needs of grazing, settlement layouts must typically have a high-quality grassland orientation. Riverbanks are key settlement areas, and settlement sites are often far away from alpine salt lakes. The characteristics of settlements on the CTP and their responses to environmental conditions significantly differ from those of human settlements in low-altitude inland areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alpine pastures generate important ecosystem services, some closely related to the environment, others to historical and cultural aspects. The economic valuation of these services helps their recognition in public policies, thus encouraging their conservation and improvement. Discrete Choice Experiments are particularly useful in estimating ecosystem services as they allow the evaluation of each individual ecosystem service, allowing for policy modulation. However, preferences and willingness to pay may be influenced by some heuristics that respondents adopt when making their choices. The present study contributes to the Attribute-Non-Attendance (ANA) literature by analyzing the effect of serial ANA on WTP for the improvement of the ecosystem services of an Alpine pasture, the Entrelor pasture located in Val d'Aosta (North-West Italy). The novelty of this study is that we investigated ANA by asking a first group of respondents which attributes were ignored during choices, and a second group which attributes they considered. Our results show that considering ANA matters in DCE. In particular, framing the question positively (which attributes were attended) yields differences in marginal WTPs that are significantly and systematically higher for all the attributes. Conversely, with negative framing, differences in marginal WTP seem to be insignificant and unstable both in terms of magnitude and sign. Moreover, positively framing the ANA question can be more informative, as ANA appears more frequently. These results suggest that respondents probably do not feel judged for not having adopted the expected degree of attention with a positively framed ANA question. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A detailed assessment of a pasture’s functioning based on soil properties characterization, floristic composition, and ‘functional summary’ by evaluating competitor–stress tolerator–ruderal (CSR) strategies is provided for a doline in Central Italian Alps. A floristic survey was carried out at 35 sampling points, representative of the main topographic features, soil and vegetation types; the functional profile at the community level was evaluated by assessing for each species its Grime’s CSR strategy; each point was characterized through soil profiles and topsoil (0–10 cm) sampling; pH, soil organic carbon and total nitrogen, available P, soil humus fraction, root density, bulk density, water content, and available water capacity were determined. Our study showed i) a strong relationship between vegetation, soil properties, topography, and grazing; ii) a prevalence of stress-tolerant strategies; iii) the ability of plant strategy variation to reflect the ecological parameters; and iv) the vegetation potentiality to be an indicator of environmental spatial variability.

Alpine transhumance or droving livestock to mountainous areas during summer months is highly relevant for Austrian agriculture but also for other countries in Alpine regions. Access of rearing stock to mountain pastures is often claimed to be beneficial with respect to health and longevity, but the robust evidence is scarce. Therefore, its effect was tested by including it in the routine genetic evaluation data set for longevity. Alpine transhumance records from 2004 to 2013 were used. After several plausibility checks and restriction to animals with sire and dam known, records of 871 287 dual-purpose Fleckvieh cows sired by 9953 bulls were available. Data were analysed by means of survival analysis accounting for the time-dependent fixed effects of region-year-season, relative performance within herd, change of herd size, and Alpine pasturing of cows, the fixed effects age at first calving and Alpine pasturing of rearing stock, the random time-dependent effect of herd-year and the random genetic effects of sire and maternal grandsire. Fleckvieh cows that had access to Alpine pasture during their rearing period at least once for a minimum of 60 days had functional longevity that was nearly 2 months prolonged compared with cows that had always stayed on the farms as calves or heifers. In a more detailed analysis, the lowest relative culling risk among the significant estimates was observed for cows that had been Alpine pastured in years 1 and 3; it was about 15% below that of cows that never had access to mountain grazing. Evidence for the beneficial effect of Alpine pasturing of rearing stock on the animals’ later fitness, indicated by longevity, could thus be provided.

A detailed assessment of a pasture's functioning based on soil properties characterization, floristic composition, and 'functional summary' by evaluating competitor–stress tolerator–ruderal (CSR) strategies is provided for a doline in Central Italian Alps. A floristic survey was carried out at 35 sampling points, representative of the main topographic features, soil and vegetation types; the functional profile at the community level was evaluated by assessing for each species its Grime's CSR strategy; each point was characterized through soil profiles and topsoil (0–10 cm) sampling; pH, soil organic carbon and total nitrogen, available P, soil humus fraction, root density, bulk density, water content, and available water capacity were determined. Our study showed i) a strong relationship between vegetation, soil properties, topography, and grazing; ii) a prevalence of stress-tolerant strategies; iii) the ability of plant strategy variation to reflect the ecological parameters; and iv) the vegetation potentiality to be an indicator of environmental spatial variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking Nagqu county in the alpine pasture of Tibetan Plateau as a case study, this paper built a land suitability evaluation index system of settlements, assessed the suitability of the land for the layout of settlements and its suitability grade in the study area using selforganizing mapping neural network (SOFM), evaluated the land suitability of current settlements, and further explored the paths of settlement reconstruction. The results showed that: (1) Nagqu county had a low level of land suitability for the layout of settlements. Suitable and sub-suitable areas, scattered in valleys with low elevations and flat terrain, only accounted for 12% of the total land area. Other areas of poorer suitability were relatively concentrated, accounting for 88% of the total land area. There were obvious differences among various townships and towns in the land suitability of settlements. (2) The current settlements of Nagqu county covered an area of 75.94 km2, accounting for only 0.47% of the total land area. Areas where the suitability level was generally suitable and above accounted for 86.47% . About 13.53% of settlement area was distributed in hardly suitable, unsuitable, or prohibited construction areas. The layout of settlements in various townships and towns tended towards high-grade suitability areas. The better the environmental conditions, the more reasonable the layout of settlements; and vice versa. Lack of planning guidelines, irrational setting of administrative villages, local identification with specific survival spaces, and worshipping of mountains by Tibetans all contributed to the unreasonable layout of settlements in Nagqu county. (3) Ecomigration, "village- oriented" development in suitable areas, and other promotion factors can be integrated to realize the spatial reconstruction of settlements. Through constructing the central villages and towns system supported by characteristic industries and giving full play to the element diffusion role of the "point- axis" system, restructuring can be promoted to achieve the economic restructuring of settlements. By means of improving the allocation of public service facilities, enhancing the degree of social organization, strengthening the inheritance of Tibetan culture, and promoting the optimization of other functions, the social restructuring of settlements will be accomplished. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alpine vegetation of the Himalaya is used as food, medicine or fodder, and is commonly managed with fire by agropastoralists. Prescribed fire can have positive effects on rangeland biodiversity, but studies evaluating its effects in alpine shrublands are scarce. Our objective was to examine the effects of anthropogenic fire on biophysical characteristics, species richness, abundance and composition in an alpine shrubland with socioeconomic value to local peoples in Langtang National Park in central Nepal. We surveyed biophysical variables, vascular plant species richness and composition along three transects at ascending elevations, and conducted interviews with local people and park officials on the use of fire in the region. We found 69 species of vascular plants in 89 plots; species richness was greater in burned plots and with increasing elevation, with 13 species unique to burned plots. We identified 14 indicator species in both burned and unburned plots; eight of them were Himalayan endemics. In burned plots, the indicator species were predominantly grasses and perennial forbs with ethnobotanical uses. This is the first detailed study on alpine shrubland anthropogenic fire in the Nepalese Himalaya. Burning may, at least temporarily, replace woody with more palatable herbaceous species, and weaken the elevational gradient of the shrubland. Alpine environments are considered the Earth's third pole and adversely affected by climate change. Himalaya residents often use fire for socioeconomic purposes. Fire in alpine shrublands can increase the availability of valuable herbaceous and woody species used as medicine, in religion and as fodder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of different supplementary feeding rates for grazing cattle on high-altitude pastures dynamics was evaluated. A field experiment was carried out during three years in a subalpine pasture area of the Eastern Alps. The investigated pasture area was 40 ha, located between 1820 and 2230 m a.s.l. Two paddocks were chosen in the experiment and two herds of 12 cattle each were kept in the two enclosures for 5 weeks. For the first herd (HS), the supplementary feeding rate was 4.8 kg OM head−1 per day, while for the second herd (LS), the rate was 1.6 kg OM head−1 per day. The amount of herbage consumed by each cattle was determined using the n-alkane technique. To monitor the pasture vegetation dynamics, eight metal exclusion cages were placed in each paddock to determine herbage growth, utilization rates, vegetation composition and animal grazing selectivity. Grazing behaviour of dairy cattle, in terms of herbage intake and species selection was affected by the different feeding rates. Cattle grazing Paddock HS consumed 1.9 kg OM day−1 of herbage less than Paddock LS. In the LS paddock, cattle grazed higher phytomass rates. When the animals were fed by higher concentrate rates, a more selective grazing seemed to significantly increase the pasture necromass component. The lower grazing selectivity favoured the development of species as Nardus stricta and Deschampsia caespitosa, which are well known for their low palatability. Distinct vegetation dynamic patterns were observed, with a reduction of hair grass and an increase of legumes in the Paddock LS.

Highlights • Pasture composition affects the fatty acid profiles in brain, lung and heart of lambs. • Breed affects biohydrogenation and de novo synthesis of fatty acids in lambs. • Effects of forage and breed are tissue specific. • The most stable of the investigated tissues regarding fatty acids was the brain. Abstract The known influence of forage composition on fatty acid (FA) profiles in ruminants' meat and milk may be different for other organs. Therefore, in the present study FA profiles of phospholipids in lung tissue, heart muscle and brain (medulla oblongata) were examined in growing Engadine and Valaisian Blacknose sheep grazing 4 pastures of different botanical composition, whereof three were extensively managed natural mountain swards. An intensively managed lowland pasture represented the control. On each pasture type, 6–7 lambs of each breed (54 in total) grazed for 9 weeks and were subsequently slaughtered. Tissue samples were taken at slaughter, homogenized and analyzed for FA profiles after phospholipid extraction. Response to the diets was tissue specific, with the weakest effects being found in brain tissue. Despite for a strong site effect on linoleic acid (P < 0.001), brain lipids were rather resistant to influences of diet. Proportions of linoleic acid in phospholipids were increased by 15–25%, 35–76%, and 31–37% in heart, lung and brain, respectively, in lambs grazing mountain pastures (P < 0.05). Alpha-linolenic acid was increased in heart (18–33%; P < 0.05) and lung lipids (5–36%; P < 0.05) of lambs from the highland sites. Proportions of n-3 and n-6 FA acids in the organs were not unequivocally associated to the concentrations of bioactive plant constituents. Further, the significance of these associations was limited by confounding between phenolic compounds and other plant constituents within the respective sward samples. Some long-chain PUFA were affected by vegetation type, but effects were less clearly related to the pasture location. Most prominently, the proportion of 22:5n-3 in the heart muscle was higher for lambs from the lowland pasture compared to the mountain site with the highest phenol concentrations. Breed effects were fewer than vegetation influences, but concerned feed-derived (e.g. α-linolenic acid), rumen-derived (e.g. CLA) as well as endogenously synthesized FA (e.g. 16:0). Also for the breed effects a strong tissue specificity was found, with the most and strongest effects in lung tissue. In conclusion, even though the direct applicability of the results is limited to the vegetation types investigated, the study demonstrated that FA profiles in functional tissues of ruminants depend on dietary and genetic factors in a differentiated way. This implies that forage composition matters, not only for efficiency and product quality but also for the composition of functional lipids in organs that may influence endogenous processes and health status of the animal itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Biodiversity-based payment program on Swiss alpine summer pastures introduced 2014. • Livestock density negatively associated to biodiversity-based payments. • Pasturing several rather than a single livestock species has positive effect. • Combination of legal entity and management relevant, but explanation ambiguous. Abstract This paper presents a case study of a results-based program for biodiversity on alpine pastures in Switzerland. This scheme is in its first cycle and makes payments based on biodiversity levels that were achieved prior to the scheme's start. The cross-sectional analysis presented in the paper is based on survey data from 429 respondents collected among scheme participants in two Swiss Cantons. Four sets of contextual variables on agronomic decisions, private versus common property management, social capital and environmental preconditions are presented as theoretical framework for the empirical analysis. The data reveal that livestock density, livestock species composition, property rights and individual versus collective management, as well as social capital can explain a large share of the variation in the biodiversity-based payment levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between fatty acids and the pattern that most contributes to discriminate between two farming systems, in which the main difference was the practice, or not, of alpine summer-grazing. Milk and cheese were sampled every month in two farms of Original Brown cows identical under geographical location and management during no grazing season point of view in the 2018 season. Fatty acids concentrations were determined by gas chromatography. The principal component analysis extracted three components (PCs). Mammary gland de novo synthetized fatty acids (C14:0, C14:1 n9, and C16:0) and saturated and monosaturated C18 fatty acids (C18:0, C18:1 n9c) were inversely associated in the PC1; PC2 included polyunsaturated C18 fatty acids (C18:2 n6c, C18:3 n3) and C15:0 while conjugated linoleic acid (CLA n9c, n11t) and fatty acids containing 20 or more carbon atoms (C21:0, C20:5 n3) were associated in the PC3. The processes of rumen fermentation and de novo synthesis in mammary gland that are, in turn, influenced by diet, could explain the relationships between fatty acids within each PC. The discriminant analyses showed that the PC2 included the fatty acids profile that best discriminated between the two farming systems, followed by PC3 and, lastly, PC1. This model, if validated, could be an important tool to the dairy industry.

Introduction: After the successful eradication of the bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in cattle in Austria, the risk of infections with the border disease virus (BDV) remains. Both viruses belong to the pestivirus genus. BDV infections lead to false-positive results in BVDV surveillance. This can be attributed to the contact to small ruminant populations. In particular, keeping cattle together with sheep or goats on a farm or alpine pasture are significant risk factors. Between 2015 and 2022, BDV type 3 was detected in 15 cattles in Austria. These animals were almost exclusively persistently infected calves. However, a positive antibody result for pestiviruses can lead to an extremely time-consuming and costly, and not always successful search for the source of the infection if no active virus excretor is found. This study documents how small ruminants can be integrated into pestivirus monitoring with a manageable amount of work and costs. 23 406 sheep and goat samples from two brucellosis surveillance programs in small ruminants were analyzed retrospectively. Blood samples were examined using pestivirus real-time pool RT-PCR (qPCR). Direct virus detection of BDV-3 was achieved in 40 sheep from five different federal states. Over the entire investigation period a further 37 detections of BDV-3 were found in cattle, sheep and goats outside of this study throughout Austria. This study accounts for 52 % of all border disease detections from 2015 to 2022. By including small ruminants in pestivirus monitoring, the disruptive factor BDV and the risk of its introduction into cattle herds can be significantly minimized in the future.

Introduction: Diseases of the digits often occur in cattle on larger cattle mountain pastures. In the late spring 2020, at the time of the ascent of 1554 cattle to 11 high altitude alpine pastures in the Lower Engadine region, lesions in the area of the digits were clinically assessed and documented. 254 cattle were of non-cantonal and 1300 of local origin (Lower Engadine; postal code CH-75XX). Skin lesions in the area of the digits, identified as digital dermatitis (DD; Mortellaro's disease), were further classified according to the DD scoring system. Nonspecific skin lesions with clinical evidence of granulation tissue formation were termed chronic penetrating skin lesions (CPSL). At the end of the alpine pasturing season, in the early fall (descent of cattle from the alpine pastures), the procedure was repeated, and biopsies were taken from randomly selected cattle with CPSL. Digital dermatitis lesions were found in 34 of 1551 cattle at ascent, but no case of CPSL was found at that time. At descent, 19 of 1529 cattle had DD lesions and 88 cattle had CPSL. The clinical appearance of the CPSL was consistent with chronic skin lesions caused by penetrating skin lacerations. Histologically, the majority of the CPSL were classified as chronic hyperplastic dermatitis with granulation tissue formation. In all CPSL biopsies examined by PCR, Fusobacterium necrophorum and Porphyromonas levii, but neither Dichelobacter nodosus nor the tested Treponema species were detected. Fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed a negative result for Treponema species in all biopsies. In the regression analysis, cattle in the age group of 365 to 730 days had an increased risk for the presence of CPSL compared to the age group of 160 to 365 days (odds ratio (OR) = 4,95; confidence interval (CI) = 1,97-12,43). Holstein cattle had an increased risk of developing CPSL compared to Brown cattle (OR = 2,92; CI = 1,46-5,86) and cattle of non-cantonal origin showed a massively higher risk compared to local cattle (OR = 10,59; CI = 5,79 - 19,37). The statistically significant associations found in the present study can be taken into account in the selection of animals for summer pasturing on high altitudes in the future in order to reduce the prevalence of CPSL and consequently reduce the antimicrobial use. Spread of DD during the alpine pasturing season within the cattle groups examined was not found.

Alpine transhumance or droving livestock to mountainous areas during summer months is highly relevant for Austrian agriculture but also for other countries in Alpine regions. Access of rearing stock to mountain pastures is often claimed to be beneficial with respect to health and longevity, but the robust evidence is scarce. Therefore, its effect was tested by including it in the routine genetic evaluation data set for longevity. Alpine transhumance records from 2004 to 2013 were used. After several plausibility checks and restriction to animals with sire and dam known, records of 871 287 dual-purpose Fleckvieh cows sired by 9953 bulls were available. Data were analysed by means of survival analysis accounting for the time-dependent fixed effects of region-year-season, relative performance within herd, change of herd size, and Alpine pasturing of cows, the fixed effects age at first calving and Alpine pasturing of rearing stock, the random time-dependent effect of herd-year and the random genetic effects of sire and maternal grandsire. Fleckvieh cows that had access to Alpine pasture during their rearing period at least once for a minimum of 60 days had functional longevity that was nearly 2 months prolonged compared with cows that had always stayed on the farms as calves or heifers. In a more detailed analysis, the lowest relative culling risk among the significant estimates was observed for cows that had been Alpine pastured in years 1 and 3; it was about 15% below that of cows that never had access to mountain grazing. Evidence for the beneficial effect of Alpine pasturing of rearing stock on the animals' later fitness, indicated by longevity, could thus be provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of different supplementary feeding rates for grazing cattle on high-altitude pastures dynamics was evaluated. A field experiment was carried out during three years in a subalpine pasture area of the Eastern Alps. The investigated pasture area was 40 ha, located between 1820 and 2230 m a.s.l. Two paddocks were chosen in the experiment and two herds of 12 cattle each were kept in the two enclosures for 5 weeks. For the first herd (HS), the supplementary feeding rate was 4.8 kg OM head−1per day, while for the second herd (LS), the rate was 1.6 kg OM head−1per day. The amount of herbage consumed by each cattle was determined using the n-alkane technique. To monitor the pasture vegetation dynamics, eight metal exclusion cages were placed in each paddock to determine herbage growth, utilization rates, vegetation composition and animal grazing selectivity. Grazing behaviour of dairy cattle, in terms of herbage intake and species selection was affected by the different feeding rates. Cattle grazing Paddock HS consumed 1.9 kg OM day−1of herbage less than Paddock LS. In the LS paddock, cattle grazed higher phytomass rates. When the animals were fed by higher concentrate rates, a more selective grazing seemed to significantly increase the pasture necromass component. The lower grazing selectivity favoured the development of species asNardus strictaandDeschampsia caespitosa, which are well known for their low palatability. Distinct vegetation dynamic patterns were observed, with a reduction of hair grass and an increase of legumes in the Paddock LS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was carried out in an alpine area of North-Eastern Italy to assess the reliability of proton nuclear magnetic resonance 1H NMR to fingerprint and discriminate Asiago PDO cheeses processed in the same dairy plant from upland pasture-based milk or from upland hay-based milk. Six experimental types of Asiago cheese were made from raw milk considering 2 cows’ feeding systems (pasture- vs. hay-based milk) and 3 ripening times (2 months, Pressato vs. 4 months, Allevo_4 vs. 6 months, Allevo_6). Samples (n = 55) were submitted to chemical analysis and to 1H NMR coupled with multivariate canonical discriminant analysis. Choline, 2,3-butanediol, lysine, tyrosine, and some signals of sugar-like compounds were suggested as the main water-soluble metabolites useful to discriminate cheese according to cows’ feeding system. A wider pool of polar biomarkers explained the variation due to ripening time. The validation procedure based on a predictive set suggested that 1H NMR based metabolomics was an effective fingerprinting tool to identify pasture-based cheese samples with the shortest ripening period (Pressato). The classification to the actual feeding system of more aged cheese samples was less accurate likely due to their chemical and biochemical changes induced by a prolonged maturation process.

Summer transhumance to alpine pastures (ALP) is widespread in dairy systems of alpine regions. This study aimed to investigate the effects of transhumance of Brown Swiss cows to ALP on the yield, composition, and coagulation properties of milk (MCP), and on cheese yield (CY). The study involved 12 multiparous cows kept at a mountain lowland permanent farm (PF), which were divided into two equal groups: One remained at the PF, the other was moved to the ALP (1860 m above sea level) from July to September. Every month (June to October), daily milk yield (MY) and body condition score (BCS) were recorded, and individual milk samples (n = 60, 2000 mL each) were collected to assess milk composition, MCP, and CY. Compared with PF, ALP cows had a reduced MY and BCS, which was maintained on return to the PF, greater fat and lower protein contents of milk. Neither MCP nor CY were affected by summer transhumance. In conclusion, summer transhumance did not affect the cheese making efficiency of milk but depressed MY and consequently daily cheese yield, which was nearly 2 kg/d lower for the ALP than the PF cows and was only partially recovered after returning to the PF in autumn.

The aim of this trial was to assess the effect of pasture type and concentrate supplementation on the fatty acids (FA) composition of milk and cheese obtained during summer grazing on mountain pasture. Seventy-two Italian Simmental dairy cows were assigned to two groups that differed by the amount of concentrate supplementation: 3.0 kg/head/d (HIGH) vs. 1.5 kg/head/d (LOW). The dairy cows grazed on a Poion alpinae alliance pasture (PAST1), and subsequently they grazed on a Seslerion caeruleae alliance pasture (PAST2) for 10 d each. In the last three days of each experimental period, milk samples were collected immediately before each cheese-making event. Cheese samples were collected from each cheese loaf after 60 d of ripening. LOW showed higher isoFA, FA intermediates of the ruminal biohydrogenation, C18:3 c9,c12,c15, and total polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels than HIGH. The pasture type had a more limited effect on FA composition of milk than concentrate level and was mainly related to monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), which were higher in PAST1 than PAST2 (p < 0.05). In cheeses, these differences were reduced. The phytanic acid and phytanic isomer ratio (SRR/RRR) in milk were not affected either by supplement level (p > 0.05) or by type of pasture (p > 0.05). Increasing the concentrate offered to dairy cows from 1.5 to 3.0 kg/d did not markedly influence the level of PUFA in cheeses produced during summer grazing on high mountain pasture.

BACKGROUND Compared with weaned calves, nursed calves benefit from access to milk as nutrient-dense feed and mentoring by their dams. Both may be decisive for growth under difficult conditions such as grazing on alpine pastures, where experience could play an essential role. These factors were investigated separately by comparing nursed calves with calves weaned at 3 months of age and grazing with or without a mentor cow ( n = 8 calves). RESULTS Weaned calves with mentor cows spent less time lying and walked more than nursed calves. Irrespective of whether they had a mentor cow or not, the weaned calves grew slower than the nursed calves (357, 428 and 1324 g day−1 respectively). This also adversely affected slaughter weight, dressing percentage, conformation and fat cover at slaughter. In general, mentoring had no effect. Meat quality did not differ whether weaned calves were mentored or not. Nursed calves were superior in intramuscular fat content, tenderness and water-holding capacity. CONCLUSION The availability of milk appeared to be much more important to the calves under demanding grazing conditions than did mentoring. The differences in growth rate were accompanied by unexpectedly large differences in meat quality, showing that early weaning was not suitable for this system.© 2016 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roughly 10% of all dairy cows in Austria are kept on Alpine pastures during the summer months. Keeping higher-yielding dairy cows on Alpine pastures is increasingly controversial, as animals' nutritional requirements have changed due to the increased lactation performance. For this reason, this study analyzed the milk performance and live weight change of 88 Brown Swiss and 35 Holstein cows, kept on the Alpine pasture Gamperdona (1,370 m) in the province of Vorarlberg (close to Swiss border) over the course of an Alpine pasture season of 3 months. The cows were divided into 3 performance groups. In addition to pasture both during the day and at night, concentrates and hay were supplemented daily in amounts of 5.3 kg maximum and 0.4 kg (dry matter) per cow, respectively. Average daily milk performance was 24.1, 20.8, and 18.1 kg for group 1 (n = 40), 2 (n = 40), and 3 (n = 43), respectively. Therefore, the performance levels in groups 2 and 1 were 15% and 33% higher than in group 3, respectively. Day of pasture season and performance group had a significant effect on change in daily milk yield. By the end of the Alpine pasture season, milk performance had dropped by 28% in groups 1 and 3 and by 25% in group 2. Day of pasture season, but not the performance group, had a significant effect on live weight. On day eight of the pasture season, live weight of the cows in group 1 was 603 kg, animals in the two other groups were lighter by 18 kg (-3%). During the following 22 days, the live weight of cows in groups 1, 2, and 3 increased by 17 kg (2.8%), 10 kg (1.7%), and 27 kg (4.6%), respectively. After this time, live weight in all 3 groups hardly changed until the end of the Alpine pasture season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inhibitory action of allelochemicals can be used effectively for biological weed management and can minimise environmental impacts related to herbicides. The aim of the present study was to identify allelochemicals of Artemisia nanschanica Krasch, a typical weed with strong allelopathic effects, that could potentially control Pedicularis kansuensis Maxim, the key pioneer weed that causes rapid degradation of alpine pastures. Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry were used to identify the compounds of six extracts from A. nanschanica. Two ethyl acetate extracts were the most effective in reducing the seed germination rate and in inhibiting seedling shoot and root growth of P. kansuensis. Three chemical compounds from the ethyl acetate extracts were identified for their allelopathic inhibitory effects, a sesquiterpene and two aromadendrene oxides, with the sesquiterpene being the most effective. The three compounds showed the best inhibitory effect through synergistic action. We concluded that the three allelochemicals of A. nanschanica, either alone or in combination, can be used to biologically control P. kansuensis in alpine pastures on the Tibetan plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economical and ecological issues as well as consumer demand for sustainably produced agricultural food rise the trends to fatten beef cattle on pasture during the grazing season. However, particularly for mountainous regions, implications of turning beef cattle on pasture remain unclear concerning animal performance and product quality. Therefore, the present study was conducted to compare short grass grazing with a semi-intensive indoor fattening system in the Alps. Charolais × Simmental heifers of about 300 kg live weight were either fattened on continuous pasture (3-6 mm sward height) and finished in barn (Pasture group) or solely raised in barn on a grass silage-based diet with 2 kg concentrates (Indoor group). Animals were slaughtered at 550 kg live weight. Results showed that continuous pasture with a finishing period in barn allowed as good growth and carcass performance as fattening in barn. Over the whole experiment, average daily gain was 993 g/day in the Pasture group and 1026 g/day in the Indoor group. During the growing period, daily gain was numerically lower in the Pasture group than in the Indoor group (767 g and 936 g, respectively). Carcass fatness of pasture fed animals was lower but within the desirable threshold. Water holding capacity, meat colour, and shear force, an indicator for beef tenderness, were unaffected by feeding practices, but fat colour was more yellow in the Pasture group. Furthermore, meat from animals fattened on pasture had lower intramuscular fat contents and enhanced proportions of nutritionally valuable omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acids.

The alpine area in Garhwal Himalaya is highly fragile and is known for its beautiful flora and fauna. The study area was located just below the Gangotri glacier which is the origin of Bhagirathi, a holy river of India. Pilgrimage, tourism, adventure activities and mules are the factors responsible for causing disturbance in this area. There is a remarkable variation in the values of diversity, species richness, dominance, density IVI and biomass production at Bhojbasa Protected (BP) and Bhojbasa Disturbed (BD) sites. The value of liveshoot biomass was highest in August (444 g m-2 on BP and 80 g m-2 on BD sites). Belowground biomass was also recorded highest for BP site and lowest for BD site. The ANP value at BP site was 363 g m-2 y-1 and 26 g m-2 y-1 at BD site.This area has shown decrease in diversity and productivity, and heavy soil erosion that indicate the consequence of increasing human activities due to pilgrimage, tourism and camping and frequent movement of mules carrying goods. Therefore, this area requires strict measures for biodiversity conservation and disaster mitigation.

During grazing on Alpine pastures, the use of concentrates in dairy cows’ diet leads to a reduction of the environmental sustainability of farms, and influences the selective pressure on some plant species. In order to minimize the use of concentrates, it is imperative to obtain data on the grazing behavior of cows. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of concentrate levels on the behavior of dairy cows during grazing. One hundred and ten lactating Italian Simmental cows, that sequentially grazed two pastures characterized by Poion alpinae (Poion) and Seslerion caeruleae (Seslerion) alliance, were considered. For each pasture, eight cows were selected and assigned to two groups: High and Low, supplemented with 4 kg/head/d, and 1 kg/head/d of concentrate respectively. Cows were equipped with a noseband pressure sensor and a pedometer (RumiWatch system, ITIN-HOCH GmbH) to assess grazing, ruminating, and walking behavior. In addition, the plant selection of the animals was assessed. On Poion, increased supplement intake caused a more intense selection of legumes, without affecting feeding and walking times. On Seslerion, grazing time was higher in Low than High. Grazing management in alpine region must take into account the great variability of pastures that largely differ from a floristic and nutritional point of view.

Summary High-elevation grasslands of the Cyperaceae Kobresia pygmaea cover nearly half a million km 2 on the Tibetan Plateau. As a consequence of climate change, precipitation patterns in this monsoon-influenced region may change with possible consequences for grassland productivity. Yet, not much is known about the water cycle in this second largest alpine ecosystem of the world. We measured the evapotranspiration of a high-elevation Kobresia pasture system at 4400 m a.s.l. in the south-eastern part of the plateau in two summers using three different approaches, weighable micro-lysimeters, eddy covariance measurements, and water balance modeling with the soil–plant–atmosphere transfer model SEWAB. In good agreement among the three approaches, we found ET rates of 4–6 mm d −1 in moist summer periods (June–August) and ∼2 mm d −1 in dry periods, despite the high elevation and a leaf area index of only ∼1. Measured ET rates were comparable to rates reported from alpine grasslands at 1500–2500 m a.s.l. in temperate mountains, and also matched ET rates of managed lowland grasslands in the temperate zone. At the study site with 430 mm annual precipitation, low summer rainfall reduced ET significantly and infiltration into the subsoil occurred only in moist periods. Our results show that the evapotranspiration of high-elevation grasslands at 4400 m can be as high as in lowland grasslands despite large elevational changes in abiotic and biotic drivers of ET, and periodic water shortage is likely to influence large parts of the Tibetan Kobresia pastures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ecrins National Park organized a meeting of its Agriculture Commission to discuss repeated droughts and fears arising from the impact of alpine farming practices on high altitude environments. The alpine pasture was pronounced an area of shared challenges in terms of climate change, involving the co-responsibility of livestock farmers and the Park. It was also seen as an ideal area for observation and intervention based on cooperation. The ideas put forward led to the creation of the Sentinel Alpine Pastures programme.The ultimate aim of this programme is to anticipate the impact of climate events in order to ensure sustainable alpine pasture management. Studying modes of adaptation to events is part of a long-term approach to address the complex dynamics of climate change. We show how this approach, the information collection protocols and the data capitalization methods implemented aim to meet the requirements stemming from this current issue: involvement of all actors (livestock farmers and herdsmen, farming technicians, pastoral systems specialists, researchers and managers of protected areas), collective learning based on shared observations, and integration of an alpine pasture farms system. The programme works as a tool providing help with analysis and decision-making in relation to processes involving the climate, the environment, pastoral practices and livestock farming systems. The work collectives implementing it are also paving the way for new forms of governance in terms of the relations between pastoralism and local area stakeholders.

The research aimed at developing a specific near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) calibration using faecal spectra to assess two levels of concentrate supplementation provided to lactating dairy cows during summer grazing on alpine pastures. Faecal samples were used as analytical matrix since they are easy to be taken without being invasive for the animals. A total of 153 individual faecal samples were collected from lactating grazing cows in 28 alpine farms located in the highland of Asiago in the Veneto region of Italy during the summer of 2011 (80 samples from 10 farms) and 2012 (73 samples from 18 farms). The average amount of concentrate provided to the lactating cows was recorded in each farm and compared with the legal limit of 20% of the total energy requirement for maintenance and lactation set by the regional law 52/1978 on the use of woodlands and alpine pastures. Dried and ground faeces were subjected to chemical analysis and scanned by NIRS in the region between 1100 and 2500 nm. Faeces from cows supplemented with concentrate above 20% of their total requirement had lower ash (P<0.001), crude protein (P<0.001), and lignin content (P<0.001) but higher starch content (P<0.001) than those from animals supplemented in compliance with the legal limit. A partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) classification model for the two levels of concentrate supplementation built on NIRS faecal spectra showed variable importance for projection index (VIP) greater than 1 in the regions below 1400 nm, between 1700 and 1750 nm, around 2175 nm and between 2250 and 2300 nm. The model had a good fit for the calibration data with sensitivity and specificity >90%, but poor specificity (55.5%) for the validation samples. The orthogonal pre-processing of data (OPLS-DA) improved classification accuracy, with sensitivity and specificity values >90% also for the validation set. Therefore, this calibration can be proposed as a quick routinely tool to assess the two levels of concentrate supplementation during summer grazing in alpine pastures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]