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Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) is characterized by chronic low ruminal pH, and occurs for feedlot cattle fed high-concentrate diets. Forages slow digestion and reduce acid production. We aimed to assess how motivated finishing cattle are to access forage (Sudan grass hay, SG) via their willingness to interact with an electrified barrier. Reticulorumen pH was measured to relate the results to digestive health. Twenty-eight animals fed a high-concentrate ration ad libitum had access to 4 L of one of two treatments (n = 14/treatment) fed 1×/d behind a barrier: 1) SG or 2) an additional offering of the normal ration (total mixed ration [TMR]). To access their treatment, the steer voluntarily pushed his muzzle against an electrified barrier. The electrical current was increased exponentially every 24 h (0, 156, 312, 625, 1,250, 2,500, 5,000 µA) until the animal ceased accessing it. Visits to the treatment were recorded continuously 24 h/d and reticulorumen pH was measured every 10 min. Time with a reticulorumen pH below 5.8 was 348 ± 101 and 280 ± 76 min/24 h for SG and TMR animals, respectively; these durations meet the criterion for SARA. However, animals with access to SG were less likely to advance to the next current than TMR animals (P

The objective of this study was to compare the effect of artificially rearing Holstein Friesian bull calves with either forage- (FS) or concentrate-based starter diets on rumen fermentation and blood metabolite profiles to 4.5 mo, residual feed intake (RFI) at 10 mo, lifetime growth, and carcass traits and meat quality at slaughter in a pastoral grazing system. Holstein-Friesian bull calves were allocated to FS or PS diets (n = 20/group). The FS calves grew slower than PS calves following MR weaning up to 100 kg BW but tended to grow faster up to 18 wks while grazing pasture with no difference in BW observed thereafter. Rumen fermentation profiles differed at wk 7 and 12 but not thereafter. Residual feed intake (RFI), age and weight at slaughter and meat yield/quality were similar between groups. These results highlight that artificially reared Friesian bulls fed a FS compared to PS starter diet take slightly longer to reach 100 kg BW but are better prepared for weaning onto pasture, with no long-term differences in RFI, growth and beef production/quality. This study highlights the opportunity for beef producers to utilise a whole of life grain-free alternative feeding system to meet specific market requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary forage levels contribute to the performance of non-nutritive oral behaviors (NNOB) in cattle, yet the impact of varying forage levels on these behaviors is unknown. To evaluate the impact of dietary corn stalk inclusion (CSI) levels on NNOB, rumination time, and activity, pre-dominantly British-continental crossbred drylot-housed steers (n=27) were blocked by weight and randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments (5%, 10%, or 15%) of CSI on a DM basis. Animals were fitted with a rumination collar upon arrival that measured rumination time and activity and video recorded. Cattle that spent more time bar licking had greater DMI, tended to have greater ADG and be more active. CSI in this study did influence NNOB performance; however, the impacts observed were not as expected. Cattle fed the 10% CSI performed the most bar licking and tongue rolling. This pilot investigation suggest that these CSI were insufficient to have a meaningful impact on NNOBs. Cattle spending more time bar licking and bar licked more frequently may be more orally motivated as reflected in their increased DMI and activity levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes. The purpose of this experiment was to determine if nicotinic acid (NA) effects on dairy cows and rumen microbial characteristics are forage-type dependent (corn silage, CS; grass silage, GS). Four late-lactation (DIM = 225 ± 12 d) Holstein cows were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. The main effects were a CS (66.10% CS) based diet or a GS (79.59%) based diet with or without 12 g/d NA. Each experimental period lasted for 28 d. Milk production and milk components, blood metabolites, apparent total-tract nutrient digestibilities, minutes rumen pH were below 5.8 as an indicator of ruminal acidosis, and body temperature changes were analyzed as indicators of heat stress. Nicotinic acid supplementation did not improve apparent total-tract nutrient digestibility. Feeding a GS-based diet improved NDF and hemicellulose digestibility. Feeding a CS-based diet increased the apparent total-tract digestibility of fat, and minutes rumen pH below 5.8 for a greater proportion of the time. The CS-based diet also improved milk yield, milk fat and protein yields, and ECM yield; however, somatic cell count and BHB were also increased. Supplementing NA tended to decrease nonesterified fatty acids, especially when combined with GS where DMI was low. There was a trend for the total protozoa population to increase when GS and NA were fed but decreased when CS and NA were fed. Nicotinic acid tended to decrease rumen protozoal populations of Dasytricha , but increased populations of Ophryoscolex and Diplodiniinae with GS diets and decreased with CS diets. Entodiniinae were increased with CS but NA had no effect. Body temperature was increased when a CS-based diet was fed when compared with a GS-based diet. More research is needed to determine how NA can affect rumen microbial protein synthesis and what kind of diets will provide the optimum effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Including dietary fat can increase the energy density of diets fed to ruminants, reducing dry matter intake (DMI). Effects of different fat sources on nutrient digestion and fermentation can vary depending on dietary fat concentration and the forage-to-concentrate ratio (F:C). Therefore, this study's objective was to screen the effects of fat sources supplemented at different concentrations to high- and low-forage diets on in vitro digestibility and fermentation. Treatments included either low forage (LF; 35%) or high forage (HF; 70%) with two fat levels (6 or 9% DM) using six different fat sources, plus control. The control diet (CON) had a basal level of fat in the diet (3% fat; 0% fat inclusion), and fat sources were added to attain 6% or 9% dietary fat and consisted of the following: Coconut oil, CO; Poultry fat, PF; Palm oil, PO; Palm kernel oil, PKO; Soybean oil, SOY; and Ca Salts, MEG. In vitro Gas Production (GP) modules were randomly assigned to treatments in a 2 × 2 × 7 factorial design and were incubated for four 24 h runs. The CO-fed module had the highest dry matter (DM) apparent digestibility (AD) (p < 0.01), followed by SOY and PF. The true DM digestibility (TDMD) and organic matter (OM) AD were the highest in CO (p < 0.01) than the other fat types. The AD for DM, OM, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) was higher in LF (p < 0.01). The 6% fat inclusion had a higher GP (109 vs. 103 mL ± 2.09; p < 0.03). Total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration was lower in different fat types than the CON and the acetate molar proportion (p > 0.01). The propionate was the lowest for the CON, which increased the acetate to propionate (A:P) ratio (p < 0.01). These results suggest that LF diets with high fat concentrations can be utilized, and different fat sources may improve DM and fiber digestibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macadamia oil has high concentrations of oleic and palmitoleic fatty acids, which can increase tissue sensitivity to insulin, improving glucose absorption efficiency, and reducing lipogenesis through gene modulation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of macadamia oil associated with vitamin E supplementation on performance, blood parameters, meat quality and sensory characteristics, meat fatty acid profile, and expression of genes associated with lipid metabolism in grazing lambs. The experimental treatments were control diet (Control), Control + 0.1% of body weight of macadamia oil (MO), MO + 745 IU of vitamin E/dry matter (MOVE). Macadamia oil improved feed efficiency, reflecting a lower dry matter intake, as the average daily weight gain did not differ from Control. Meat quality parameters were not affected by macadamia oil or vitamin E supplementation. Supplementation with macadamia oil improved meat appearance, flavor, and overall liking. Supplementation with macadamia oil provided a higher proportion of C18:3 n3 and a lower proportion of CLA. The expression of SREBP-1c, PPAR-α, SCD1, and ELOVL6 genes were not modified with the supplementation of macadamia oil and vitamin E. In conclusion, supplementation with macadamia oil improves feed efficiency and meat quality; and the inclusion of 745 IU of vitamin E/kg of dry matter for grazing lambs reduces 36% of lipid oxidation of the meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides information on nutritional strategies for managing gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) in small ruminants such as sheep and goats. GIN infections can have negative impacts on the health and economic well-being of these animals. The article discusses the effects of GIN on nutrition and metabolism and explores various approaches to managing GIN, including pasture management, supplementation, the use of copper oxide wire particles, and the inclusion of plant secondary compounds in the diet. The authors emphasize the importance of taking a holistic approach to nutrition in integrated parasite management programs. They also highlight the benefits of rotational grazing, complementary forages, and protein supplementation in enhancing the resistance and resilience of small ruminants to GIN. The article concludes by calling for further research to evaluate the effectiveness of these nutritional strategies on animal health, performance, and the sustainability of small ruminant production. [Extracted from the article]

This document is a letter to the editor in response to an article titled "An examination of the ability of plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) to mitigate nitrogen leaching from pasture systems." The authors of the letter express their disagreement with certain aspects of the article, specifically regarding the role of dairy cow urinary nitrogen in leaching from pasture systems. They argue that urine is a major source of nitrate leaching and cite previous studies to support their claim. They also criticize the article for focusing on a specific rate of nitrogen in urine patches, which they believe is not widely used in policy or reputable models. The authors conclude that the article's conclusions are confusing and unhelpful for understanding the role of urinary nitrogen in New Zealand's water quality challenges. [Extracted from the article]

The aim of this experiment was to study the difference of intestinal microflora of Kazakh horses in grass group and hay group after transfer. Twenty Kazakh mares aged five to six years old under uniform feeding and management conditions in the Tacheng area of Xinjiang were selected and divided into two groups: Fresh Grass Group (QC group) and Dry Grass Group (GC group). They were fed 2 kg of concentrate feed per horse per day. QC group consumed fresh grass daily, while the GC group consumed dry grass daily. At 30 days of the experiment, fecal samples of all horses were collected, and the characteristic sequences of microbial species such as 16S amplified by PCR were detected by high-throughput sequencing technology. There were 28 865 OTU in fecal flora of Kazakh horses in the two groups, and the OTU amount in fecal flora of Kazakh horses in QC group was higher than that in GC group. The results showed that Firmicute, Bacteroidota, Proteobacteria, Verrucomicrobiota, and Spirochaetota were the dominant bacteria in the manure of Kazakh horses in the two groups. The dominant bacteria genera were Solibacillus, Acinetobacter, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, Treponema, and Ruminococcaceae NK4A214_group. Compared with the GC group, the relative abundances of Actinobacteriota and Rummeliibacillus in feces of Kazakh horses in QC group were significantly increased (P<0.05). LEfSe analysis showed that 65 kinds of bacteria were significantly different in fecal flora of Kazakh horses in the two groups, among which 36 kinds of bacteria were significantly up-regulated in QC group and 29 kinds of bacteria were significantly up-regulated in GC group. The study indicates that the composition structure and community of fecal flora of Kazakh horses were affected by different forage, but the diversity and richness of intestinal flora did not change significantly. More important microbial groups played an important role in fecal flora of Kazakh horses in QC group than in GC group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boomplaas Cave in the Western Cape Province of South Africa is one of only a few African sites with inland archaeological deposits spanning Marine Isotope Stages 4–1. Work conducted half a century ago predicted Boomplaas to be a meagre plant-food location. We reassess this interpretation here by presenting updated lists of the current vegetation and foodplants growing within roughly a day's foraging distance from the cave. By doing so, we increase the known foodplant species potentially available to Stone Age foragers by 356% and show that almost all the plant species/genera in the Boomplaas archaeobotanical assemblage still grow within a day's range of the site. We present nutritional values for some of the plant foods, highlighting those richest in moisture, ash, protein, fat, fibre, carbohydrates and energy and suggesting that such foods may have been important staples in the dietary ecology of the Stone Age foragers who used the site. Lastly, we demonstrate that the Boomplaas Cave foodplant fitness landscape is relatively rich and varied compared to similar data from other Cape sites such as Klasies River Main Cave, Diepkloof Rock Shelter and Hollow Rock Shelter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop height and biomass are the two important phenotyping traits to screen forage population types at local and regional scales. This study aims to compare the performances of multispectral and RGB sensors onboard drones for quantitative retrievals of forage crop height and biomass at very high resolution. We acquired the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) multispectral images (MSIs) at 1.67 cm spatial resolution and visible data (RGB) at 0.31 cm resolution and measured the forage height and above-ground biomass over the alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) breeding trials in the Canadian Prairies. (1) For height estimation, the digital surface model (DSM) and digital terrain model (DTM) were extracted from MSI and RGB data, respectively. As the resolution of the DTM is five times less than that of the DSM, we applied an aggregation algorithm to the DSM to constrain the same spatial resolution between DSM and DTM. The difference between DSM and DTM was computed as the canopy height model (CHM), which was at 8.35 cm and 1.55 cm for MSI and RGB data, respectively. (2) For biomass estimation, the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) from MSI data and excess green (ExG) index from RGB data were analyzed and regressed in terms of ground measurements, leading to empirical models. The results indicate better performance of MSI for above-ground biomass (AGB) retrievals at 1.67 cm resolution and better performance of RGB data for canopy height retrievals at 1.55 cm. Although the retrieved height was well correlated with the ground measurements, a significant underestimation was observed. Thus, we developed a bias correction function to match the retrieval with the ground measurements. This study provides insight into the optimal selection of sensor for specific targeted vegetation growth traits in a forage crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to characterize the dynamics of forage accumulation during the regrowth of Mulatto grass submitted to rotational grazing strategies. The treatments corresponded to combinations between two pre-grazing conditions (95% and a maximum light interception during regrowth—LI95% and LIMax) and two post-grazing conditions (post-grazing heights of 15 and 20 cm), according to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement and randomized complete block design, with four replications. Rates of leaf growth (LGR), stems growth (SGR), total growth (TGR), leaf senescence (LSR), grass accumulation (GAR) (kg·ha−1·day−1), and the senescence/canopy growth ratio during different stages of regrowth. There was no difference between the management strategies for TGR. However, a higher GAR was reported for pastures managed with LI95% relative to LIMax, of 161.7 and 120.2 kg DM ha−1·day−1, respectively. Pastures managed with LI95% have a lower SGR in the intermediate and final regrowth period, reflecting the efficient control in the stalks production. On the other hand, in pastures managed, the LIMax showed higher SGR and LSR in the final regrowth phase. Thus, the LAI was higher in pastures managed at LI95% compared to those managed at LIMax, of 163.9 and 112.7 kg DM ha−1·day−1, respectively. Mulatto grass pastures, which were managed at LI95% pre-grazing, corresponded to approximately 30 cm in height, showed higher LAI, and ensured a low SGR throughout the regrowth period, constituting a more efficient management strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: Lamb fattening is one of the important sources of red meat production in the country. Fattening is the management and proper feeding of livestock to obtain maximum extra weight with minimum cost in a certain period of time. The use of concentrate in the diet of fattening lambs in the country is normal and common, but what is important is the appropriate level of concentrate, or in other words, the appropriate ratio of forage to concentrate in the diet. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of increasing the ratio of concentrate to forage on feed intake traits, body weight, feed conversion ratio and carcass characteristics of Afshari fattening male lambs. Materials and methods: The present study was conducted using 24 male lambs with a mean weight of 31.78 ± 1.32 kg and a mean age of 91 ± 3.13 days in three experimental groups (treatments) in a completely randomized experimental design with three treatments and 8 replications. The experimental treatments included diets with different ratios of forage to concentrate in the form of 30:70, 20:80 and 10:90. During the study period, growth performance traits including dry matter intake, daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio were measured. Also, at the end of the study, four lambs were selected from each treatment and slaughtered to check the carcass characteristics. Results: The results of growth performance showed that there was a significant difference in dry matter intake, daily weight gain and final weight between experimental treatments (P<0.05). The highest amount of dry matter intake, final weight and daily weight gain was in the treatment containing the ratio of 10:90 forage to concentrate. The results of the carcass characteristics showed that there was a significant difference between the experimental treatments in the slaughter weight, hot carcass weight, cold carcass weight, carcass efficiency, and also in the carcass parts, including half carcass, tail, neck, head, chest, girdle, neck, and thigh. (P<0.05). The treatment containing the ratio of 10:90 forage to concentrate had the highest values of carcass traits. Conclusion: According to the obtained results, the reduction of forage did not cause any production problems in these animals. Increasing the concentrate and reducing the forage in the diet increases the amount of feed intake and increases the daily weight and overall higher final weight in fattening lambs, and also improves the feed conversion ratio, growth performance and carcass percentage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ethanolic (EE) and hydroalcoholic (HE) extracts of Urochloa brizantha concentrations were developed with the aim of evaluating their effect on rumen fermentation using an in vitro gas production technique. The EE and HE presented 3.62 and 5.38 mg protodioscin/mL, respectively. Ten treatments were evaluated in a completely randomized factorial arrangement (2 × 4 + 2), where the main effects were two extracts (EE and HE) and four levels (50, 100, 150, and 200 mL of extract/kg of DM) plus two controls: one positive (25 ppm of monensin–MON) and one (with no additives–CTL). The extract treatments (EXT, EE, and HE) reduced colonization time by 33.59% compared to the MON. IVDMD (p < 0.001) and IVOMD (p < 0.0001) were negatively affected by EXT addition when compared to CTL. Additionally, EXT reduced the proportion of propionic acid and increased the proportion of butyric acid in relation to CTL and MON treatments. Both EE and HE extracts of U. brizantha were able to alter rumen fermentation kinetic, with HE showing a higher concentration of protodioscin. Further research is needed to optimize extraction methodologies, comprehensively profile secondary compounds, and conduct trials with varying doses to effectively assess the viability of U. brizantha extract as an additive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming may pose a threat to the productivity of grazed grasslands. In this study, we investigated changes in the warming response of aboveground regrowth with the repetition of simulated grazing in two Mongolian pasture species, Agropyron cristatum and Stipa krylovii. Plants were grown under warming or non-warming conditions and subjected to repeated clipping of aboveground parts three times at 4-week intervals. Aboveground parts collected at each clipping and whole plants harvested at the end of the experiment were dried and weighed. Specific leaf area (SLA) and the content of nitrogen (N) and crude fiber (CF) in leaves were measured to evaluate leaf morphology and pasture nutritional value. In both species, warming had little effect on regrowth when clipping was repeated one or two times. In A. cristatum, however, warming significantly diminished regrowth when clipping was repeated three times. Belowground biomass decreased with clipping–regrowth cycles only in A. cristatum, and the decline was enhanced by warming, implying that the depletion of belowground reserves contributed to the reduction of regrowth in this species. SLA and the N and CF contents were similar in the warming and non-warming treatments, indicating that warming had little effect on leaf morphology and pasture nutritive value in these Mongolian pasture species. Our results suggest that warming would likely have little effect on regrowth performance of grassland plants under lightly grazed conditions, but warming can decrease regrowth when grazing frequency is high, with the degree of decrease being species dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The annual forage crop production system, enclosing silage corn (Zea mays L.) and following cool-season annual forage, can enhance forage production efficiency where available land is limited for pasture production. In this forage production system, successful silage corn cultivation has a significant value due to the great yield of highly digestible forage. However, some untimely planting or harvesting of corn due to changing weather often reduces biomass and feeding values. Therefore, a study was conducted to quantify the corn silage biomass reductions by the deviations from optimum planting soil temperature and optimum growing degree day (GDD). The approximations of maximum corn production were estimated based on field trial data conducted between 1978 and 2018 with early, medium, and late-maturity corn groups. Based on weather data, the recorded planting dates and harvest dates were converted into the corresponding trials’ soil temperatures at planting (STP) and the GDD. The silage corn biomass data were regressed against STP and GDD using a quadratic function. The maximum biomass point was modeled in a convex upward quadratic yield curve and the optimum STP and GDD were defined as those values at the maximum biomass for each maturity group. Optimized STP was at 16.6°C, 16.2°C, and 15.6°C for early, medium, and late maturity corn groups, respectively, while optimized GDD at harvest was at 1424, 1363, and 1542°C. The biomass reductions demonstrated quadratic functions by the departures of STP or GDD. The 5% reductions were anticipated when STP departed from the optimum temperature by 2.2°C, 2.4°C, and 1.4°C for early, medium, and late maturity corns, respectively; the same degree of reductions were estimated when the GDD departed by 200, 180, and 130°C in the same order of the maturity groups. This result indicates that biomass reductions of late-maturity corn were more sensitive to the departures of STP or GDD than the early-maturity corn. Therefore, early maturing cultivars are more stable in biomass production in a silage corn–winter annual forage crop production system to enhance forage-based livestock production efficiency.

This study aimed at determining the diversity of forage plants utilized for small ruminant feeding in rural and peri-urban sites in Imo state, Nigeria. The survey was carried out at rural and peri-urban sites in Aboh Mbaise and Mbaitoli Local Government Areas (LGAs), respectively. Ten small ruminant farmers were purposively selected from each LGA across the study communities. Data on fodder diversity, proximate composition, and mineral concentration were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, means, and standard deviation. It was observed that a higher diversity of fodder plants existed at the rural sites compared to the peri-urban sites and 43.4% of the fodder plants were common to both sites. Respondents identified 60.8% of the fodder plants also as food-bearing plants, with 55.6% and 80% of these found at the rural and peri-urban sites, respectively. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the relative proximate or mineral supplies to the animals at the two sites. It was, therefore, concluded that despite the diversity and differences in forage selection at the two sites, the relative nutrient supplies to small ruminants will be similar if the cafeteria system of forage provision practiced at the sites is adhered to.

Objective This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the impact of wilted and unwilted silage on various parameters, such as nutrient content, fermentation quality, bacterial populations, and digestibility. Methods Thirty-six studies from Scopus were included in the database and analyzed using a random effects model in OpenMEE software. The studies were grouped into two categories: wilting silage (experiment group) and non-wilting silage (control group). Publication bias was assessed using a fail-safe number. Results The results showed that wilting before ensiling significantly increased the levels of dry matter, water-soluble carbohydrates, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber, compared to non-wilting silage (p0.05). Conclusion Wilting before ensiling significantly improved silage quality by increasing dry matter and water-soluble carbohydrates, as well as reducing dry matter losses, butyric acid, and ammonia. Importantly, wilting did not have a significant impact on pH, crude protein, or in vitro dry matter digestibility.

Soil quality is defined as the ability of soil to maintain the soil environment and the biosphere. Due to the limitation of salt and alkali stress, soil quality can be reduced, which in turn affects agricultural production. Biochar is widely used in saline-alkali land improvement because of its special pore structure and strong ion exchange ability, while Piriformospora indica is widely used in saline-alkali land improvement because it can symbiose with plants and improve plant stress resistance. However, the synergistic effect of combined biochar application and inoculation of P. indica on the quality of saline-alkali soil and plant development is uncertain. Hence, we investigated the combined influences of biochar and P. indica on the soil physicochemical characteristics, as well as the growth and chlorophyll florescence of sorghum-sudangrass hybrids (Sorghum bicolor Ã--Sorghum sudane) in our study. The results indicated that after applying biochar and P. indica together, there was a considerable drop in soil pH, conductivity, Na+, and Clâ' concentrations. Meanwhile, the soil organic matter (SOM), available phosphorus (AP), and alkaline hydrolyzable nitrogen (AN) increased by 151.81%, 50.84%, and 103.50%, respectively, when the Bamboo biochar was combined with 120 ml/pot of P. indica. Eventually, sorghum-sudangrass hybrid biomass, transpiration rate, and chlorophyll content increased by 111.69%, 204.98%, and 118.54%, respectively. According to our findings, using P. indica and biochar together can enhance soil quality and plant growth. The results also provide insights to enhance the quality of saline-alkali soils and the role of microorganisms in nutrient cycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the lack of medium and large forage baling and wrapping equipment in China and the low operation quality of small and medium-sized baling and wrapping machines, the purpose of this study was to design an electric forage baling and wrapping machine with a baling diameter of 900 mm, and determine its optimal working parameters. By using the method of theoretical design and experimental analysis, the structure scheme of the whole machine was determined, and the structural design and parameter analysis of the baling device, feeding device, net feeding device, batching device, wrapping seat and wrapping device were carried out respectively. Through two-factor test analysis, the regression equation between baling noise, single bundle energy consumption, baling density, cabin opening current and baling motor frequency was determined, and the optimal operating parameters were determined by solving the objective function of performance indicators, namely the cabin opening current of 22.63 A and the baling motor frequency of 49.66 Hz. Under the best operating parameters, the baling noise was 86.56 dB (A), the energy consumption of a single bundle was 0.37 kWh, and the baling density was 758.13 kg/m3, and the overall operation performance is the best, which meets the needs of forage baling and wrapping silage operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to address the shortage of high-quality and high-yield forage in the livestock industry development of the arid and semi-arid planting areas of the Hexi Corridor. The experiment selected nine different sorghum forage varieties as research subjects. By measuring and analyzing traits such as growth period, production characteristics, forage yield, and nutritional quality, a variety comparison experiment was conducted. A comprehensive evaluation is carried out using fuzzy mathematical membership functions. The results showed that although there were differences in the phenological stages of the varieties, all could complete the entire growth process. The varieties Kewo No.2, Super Sweet King, and Liaotian No.1 had significantly higher fresh and dry forage yields of 125 803.10, 118 317.04, 102 914.09 kg/hm2, and 43 817.22, 45 350.92, 30 565.49 kg/hm2, respectively, compared to other varieties (P<0.05). The variety BJ0906 had the highest content of crude protein (CP) at 12.56% and crude fat (EE) at 2.96%, which was significantly higher than other varieties (P<0.05). The variety Yajin 4148 had the highest water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content at 40.60%, significantly higher than other varieties (P<0.05). The variety with the lowest content of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) was BJ0906, with values of 40.24% and 27.34%, respectively, significantly lower than all other varieties except Super Sweet King (P<0.05). The relative feed value (RFV) and relative forage quality (RFQ) were highest for BJ0906 and lowest for Hercules. The average membership function values were higher for BJ0906 and Super Sweet King, while the overall production performance was worst for Hercules. The study indicates that BJ0906 and Super Sweet King are suitable for large-scale planting in the arid and semi-arid planting areas of the Hexi Corridor, and appropriate varieties can be selected for different uses in actual production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted to determine the sensitivity of forage pea to drought stress intensities and the contribution of smoke solutions in preventing this sensitivity. For the smoke solution, dried poppy harvest residues were prepared with a special mechanism. Within this scope, two different concentrations (1 and 10%) of poppy smoke solution were utilized in priming of two distinct forage pea varieties (Gap pembesi and Özkaynak). After priming, the seeds were sowing in pots and it was exposed to moderate and severe drought conditions after 21 days. Effects of smoke solutions and drought stress in varieties were assessed by physically (shoot length) and chemical parameters (crude protein, ADF. NDF, Ca, Mg, P and K). Both forage pea varieties have been observed that crude protein and mineral substance (except Ca) contents decrease significantly under drought stress, especially in severe drought. This loss was increased again by eliminating both doses (especially 10%) of smoke solutions. In fact, under normal growing conditions (control), 10% smoke solution application had the highest crude protein in both varieties. However, the effect of drought and the defense mechanism of smoke solution created differences in forage pea varieties based on parameters. In general, the Özkaynak was more resistant to drought and the response to smoke solution was stronger. In conclusion, by incorporating the poppy-smoke solution into the drought stress mitigation strategy, this approach not only curbed environmental losses but also mitigated the impacts of drought stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animals interact with nutrient cycles by consuming and depositing nutrients, interactions studied separately in nutritional ecology and zoogeochemistry. Recent theoretical work bridges these disciplines, highlighting that animal‐driven nutrient recycling could be crucial in helping animals meet their nutritional needs. When animals exhibit site fidelity, they consistently deposit nutrients, potentially improving vegetation quality. We investigated this potential feedback by analysing changes in forage nitrogen stocks following simulated caribou calving. We found that forage nitrogen stocks increased after 2 weeks and remained elevated after 1 year, a change due to increased forage quality, not quantity. We also developed a nutrient budget within calving grounds, demonstrating that natal fluid and calf carcasses contribute substantial nitrogen subsidies. We, thus, highlight a positive zoogeochemical feedback whereby nutrients deposited during calving become bioavailable during lactation and provide evidence that site fidelity creates a biogeochemical boomerang in which animals deposit nutrients that can be reused later. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Degradation of lands (and pastures) is the deterioration of the properties, fertility and productivity of lands as a result of economic activity. Summer pastures are usually represented by cereals and cereal-wormwood types. The vegetation of summer pastures develops more slowly than on spring pastures and reaches its maximum development in the early summer. Summer pastures are most productive and their feed is more nutritious in the first half of summer (May-June). By mid-summer, the vegetation on the pastures dries up and in the second half of summer, cattle use the dried feed mass to a large extent. The productivity of summer pastures is usually high and averages 3.1 c/ha of dry matter, or 1.8 c/ha of feed units (Dobrovolsky, 1997, p. 313-321). Summer pastures in the mountainous areas and winter pastures in the plains ofAzerbaijan are rich in biodiversity. Summer mountain pastures are complex coupled ecological and human systems. They provide vital forage for livestock during summer, and their traditional use is decisive for the maintenance of biodiversity, ecosystem services, and open landscapes, which benefit local populations and tourists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to understand the drivers of the distribution and abundance of pelagic seabirds it is necessary to know what they eat, yet there remains little detailed, geo-referenced information on the diets of pelagic seabird. In particular, due to sampling difficulties, information is lacking for non-breeding stages, smaller species, such as storm-petrels, and remote oceanic areas, which may include important diversity hotspots. In this study, we aimed to characterize the trophic ecology of Leach's storm-petrels foraging in the vicinity of the North Atlantic Current and Evlanov Seamount Marine Protected Area using a combination of survey methods. On a cruise undertaken in June 2017 to characterize the distribution and ecology of seabirds in the region, nineteen Leach's storm-petrels were caught, sampled and released unharmed. Regurgitations and faecal samples were collected, as well as blood and feather tissues for stable isotope analyses. Of the 12 males, 6 females and 1 unsexed bird, 84% were in active flight feather moult, suggesting they were non-breeders. Prey species, assayed via molecular metabarcoding, were dominated by mesopelagic fish, principally lanternfishes (Myctophidae) and hatchetfishes (Sternoptychidae), but also included cephalopods and crustaceans. Additionally, almost half of the birds had microplastics in their regurgitates. Stable isotopic ratios did not differ significantly between sexes. Our results, combined with those of previous studies, suggest that within the oceanic North Atlantic, Leach's storm-petrels feed at a similar trophic level to much larger seabirds, targeting mesopelagic fishes that are a key component of the North Atlantic pelagic food web. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dirigent (DIR) genes play a pivotal role in plant development and stress adaptation. Manihot esculenta Crantz, commonly known as cassava, is a drought-resistant plant thriving in tropical and subtropical areas. It is extensively utilized for starch production, bioethanol, and animal feed. However, a comprehensive analysis of the DIR family genes remains unexplored in cassava, a crucial cash and forage crop in tropical and subtropical regions. In this study, we characterize a total of 26 cassava DIRs (MeDIRs) within the cassava genome, revealing their uneven distribution across 13 of the 18 chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis classified these genes into four subfamilies: DIR-a, DIR-b/d, DIR-c, and DIR-e. Comparative synteny analysis with cassava and seven other plant species (Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), poplar (Populus trichocarpa), soybean (Glycine max), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), rice (Oryza sativa), maize (Zea mays), and wheat (Triticum aestivum)) provided insights into their likely evolution. We also predict protein interaction networks and identify cis-acting elements, elucidating the functional differences in MeDIR genes. Notably, MeDIR genes exhibited specific expression patterns across different tissues and in response to various abiotic and biotic stressors, such as pathogenic bacteria, cadmium chloride (CdCl2), and atrazine. Further validation through quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) confirmed the response of DIR genes to osmotic and salt stress. These findings offer a comprehensive resource for understanding the characteristics and biological functions of MeDIR genes in cassava, enhancing our knowledge of plant stress adaptation mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared earthquake location estimation using grid search and manta ray foraging optimization algorithm for synthetic and real earthquakes data from Van, Turkey. Both locating methods worked well, and they achieved similar results. The horizontal coordinates (latitude and longitude) of the earthquake were obtained successfully with both methods, from the inversion of the arrival times calculated from the noisy and noise-free synthetic earthquake data. However, there was some deviation in depth parameter for the noisy data. The location parameters obtained from the inversion of the real earthquake data using grid search and manta ray foraging optimization methods were in accordance with the solutions presented in previous studies. The depth parameters for the Van earthquakes did not fully match those in the previous studies, possibly due to differences in crustal velocity models. The depth parameters obtained for both Van earthquakes using both methods performed in this study are self-consistent at around 24 km. In addition, Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency and German Research Centre seismology centres also reached depth solutions near those in this study. The grid search method has some disadvantages compared with the manta ray foraging method, as it must be applied gradually, and delays reaching a solution. The manta ray foraging method is an easy, fast way to determine the kinematic location of earthquake hypocentres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing perennial legumes in the understory layer in agroforestry systems is a strategy to improve the sustainability of agricultural systems, i.e., by increasing land productivity, fostering carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling and reducing reliance on inorganic nitrogen fertilizers for tree crops. In many parts of Central Italy, sulla, a biennial autochthonous legume, is widely adopted in forage cropping systems for its productivity and nutritive value and it is often intercropped with ryegrass for a better utilization as grazed temporary grassland. To evaluate the agronomic performance of these perennial species grown under different levels of light reduction, an artificial shade plot trial was established in the coastal plain of Pisa, Central Italy, with the aim to simulate the effect of tree presence with different levels of shade intensification in rainfed conditions. The experiment layout complies with a 2-way completely randomized design with four replicates. The two factors tested were the forage species (namely sulla, ryegrass and their intercropping) and the level of shade (no shade, moderate shade − 30% light reduction-, and intense shade − 50% light reduction-). Shading significantly reduced the above ground biomass (AGB) production, especially for the intense shading (on average about − 20% with respect to the full sun). The mixture resulted as the most productive crop, yielding on average about + 30 and + 40% AGB in comparison to sulla and ryegrass pure stands, respectively. The findings about the effect of the shading on AGB production showed that mixture was a suitable sward, especially under moderate shading conditions. Further studies are needed with the purpose to investigate the productive performance of these swards in real agroforestry conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal feeds under ruminant production are a challenge, and ruminants are mostly fed on fibrous plants including high-moisture plant by-products (HMPBs). These HMPBs are available during the food processing periods and cannot be fed entirely in their fresh form. These resources are conserved in the form of silage for future feeding. Silage-making entails the anaerobic preservation of forages with the aid of additives that reduce the pH of the ensiled materials and preserve the forage. Most silage research work focuses mainly on the preservation of forages/plants, with less attention on HMPBs. This review focuses on the silage production from HMPBs (e.g., pulps/pomaces), challenges involved in the ensiling of these resources, use of additives (e.g., chemical additives), and growth performance of ruminants fed silage from these resources. This review will assist farmers from developing countries who rely on HMPBs as sources of animal feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rabbits' ability to use forages is an important factor in rabbit nutrition. Tridax procumbens, Euphobia heterophylla, Alternanthera brasiliana, Aspilia africana, and Tithonia diversifolia are common forages for rabbits. Previous authors have reported the nutrient composition of these plants, but there is scanty information on how the available nutrient affects the consumption preference of these plants. This study was designed to ascertain the effect of nutrients present in these plants on their preferences. A total of 30 weaner rabbits (New Zealand White) were used in the experiment. The rabbits were separated into groups A and B, fifteen rabbits were in each group. Animals in Group A were offered fresh forages, while those in Group B were offered dry forages in a cafeteria arrangement. With the aid of cameras installed in the pens, the behaviours of experimental animals were recorded to help study the frequency of visitation to the various forages. Results of this study showed that E. heterophylla was the most visited, while A. africana was the least visited. The crude protein (CP) in the forages ranged from 4.70 - 5.62% with T. diversifolia and E. heterophylla having the significantly (p<0.05) highest and lowest values, respectively. A. africana recorded significantly highest (p<0.05) values for NDF, ADF and ADL followed by T. procumbens. Hemicellulose of E. heterophylla was significant (p<0.05). It was concluded that of the selected forages, E. heterophylla was the most preferred while the least was A. africana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to support the development of cattle fattening business in the Integrated Agricultural Center (SPT) managed by PT Arutmin Indonesia. The research method used in this study is Field Work Practice (PKL) which is carried out at PT Arutmin Indonesia Site Asamasam, Simpang Empat Sungai Baru Village, Jorong District, Tanah Laut Regency, South Kalimantan Province. This street vendor lasts for three months, from March 4, 2024 to June 3, 2024. The results of this study show that the productivity of indigofera, sorghum, elephant grass and odot grass in SPT is 2.92 tons, 4.5 tons, 2.9 tons, and 0.278 tons respectively with a dry matter content of 4.08% respectively; 4,8%; 6,57%; and 7.48%. Based on the results of the feasibility analysis of the cattle fattening business in the tax return. The cattle fattening farm business in the SPT is feasible to run because it has a turnover of Rp. 400,000,000 with PP for 5 years and the company will break even if the BEP price is Rp. 15,321,525 and successfully sells 15 cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To support the management of forage and cattle fattening business at the Integrated Agricultural Center (SPT) of PT Arutmin Indonesia Tambang Asamasam. This research uses the Field Work Practice (PKL) method which is carried out for three months, starting from March 4, 2024 to June 3, 2024. During this period, various activities are carried out according to a predetermined schedule and can be adjusted to other activities of the company. This street vendor was held at PT Arutmin Indonesia Tambang Asamasam, which is located in Simpang Empat Sungai Baru Village, Jorong District, Tanah Laut Regency, South Kalimantan Province. The results of this study show that Silage P3 (sorghum 40% and indigofera 60%) and P4 (sorghum 20% and indigofera 80%) are seen from physical quality (color, texture, aroma, and pH) and chemical quality, especially protein content, are in accordance with cow fattening. The physical qualities of sorghum silage and indigofera (color, texture and aroma) are almost the same very well there are no failures in the fermentation process. The pH value of silage is able to stay below 4 so that the silage is of good quality. The chemical quality of sorghum and indigofera with water content of 67.78 – 70.02%, ash content 4.03 – 6.83%, crude protein 4.69 – 19.41%, crude fat 7.58 – 9.35%, crude fiber 38.21 – 40.29%, carbohydrates 18.60 -23.59%, phosphorus 0.13 – 0.21%, calcium 0.16 – 0.91% and calories 197.27 – 228.54Cal/g can be used for cattle fattening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study assesses the gender implications of a target product profile for table potato in Kenya. Breeding programs mostly emphasize farmers’ trait requirements and rarely pay attention to other value chain actors’ preferences. This partially contributes to the low uptake of improved varieties. Therefore, efforts are required to assess the gender implications of crop product profile proposals during development, testing, and dissemination. In this paper, we assess the gender implications of traits targeted by a potato breeding program in Kenya using the G+ tools. The study applies the G+ product profile tool to examine the instances the selected traits may exacerbate gender disparity along four domains: unpaid labor, access to employment opportunities, requiring extra inputs and control over benefits. We use mixed methods including a review by social scientists, key informant interviews and a multistakeholder workshop to gather insights from female and male farmers, breeders, and other stakeholders. Findings show that pest, disease resistance, and shelf-life traits benefit women and men in the target customer segments. On the other hand, earliness, dry matter, and yield could increase drudgery for women. The traits increase demand for women’s unpaid labor during harvesting, sorting and food preparation time while also displacing women from profitable nodes. We recommend that gender-responsive strategies accompany the release of the target variety to mitigate inequities and enhance adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant–microbe interactions are essential in shaping plant performance and overall ecosystem functioning. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying plant–microbe interactions mediated by mycorrhizal symbiosis in saline–alkaline soils are still not fully understood. Here, we aimed to clarify the synergistic regulatory mechanism through which arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) symbiosis drives the rhizosphere microbiome to improve perennial herbage growth in saline–alkaline soils and evaluate phytoremediation efficiency. This study revealed that Funneliformis mosseae inoculation (i) strongly promoted the growth of all three herbage species (with values ranging from 21.62% to 233.33%), Na+ accumulation in plants (with values ranging from 24.63% to 188.89%), and decreased soil electrical conductivity (with values ranging from 7.68% to 12.87%), potentially suggesting improved phytoremediation efficiency with AMF symbiosis; (ii) increased nutritional content and decreased C:P and N:P ratios (with values ranging from 27.20% to 92.87%) and improved K+/Na+ and P/Na+ ratios (with values ranging from 2.60% to 302.96%); (iii) increased the abundance of some beneficial bacterial taxa and strengthened the significant strong relationships among most of these bacteria and plant biomass, ion homeostasis as well as stoichiometric ratio constants, and AMF inoculation treatments also consisted the higher proportion of differential genera significantly correlated with these plant factors as well as plant nutrient contents, potentially reflecting that AMF mediated the enrichment process of beneficial bacterial taxa and may strength functional interaction between plant and bacterial taxa, which may be importance for the enhancement of saline–alkaline tolerance of plants; and (iv) enhanced stability of the rhizosphere bacterial community and complexity of interaction networks, and the related indictors also established significant correlations with plant/soil factors, suggesting that the improvement of stability and functional complexity driven by AMF may also be beneficial for enhancing phytoremediation efficiency. These findings indicate that AMF inoculation plays its own beneficial role by simultaneously activating the potential of beneficial rhizosphere bacterial taxa and that their synergistic interaction is more beneficial for enhancing plant growth in salt‐affected soils and enhancing phytoremediation efficiency. This study helps to elucidate the underlying mechanisms through which AMF‐mediated rhizosphere bacterial community improve plant growth and tolerance to saline–alkaline stresses, and provides evidence that effective ecological restoration of saline–alkaline degraded grasslands can be achieved via the use of mycorrhizal symbiosis herbage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the effect of using animal excreta on the nutritional content of forages, focusing on macro- and micro-element concentrations (nitrogen; N, phosphorus; P, sulphur; S, copper; Cu, zinc; Zn, manganese; Mn, selenium; Se) from animal feed to excreta, soil, and plants. Data were collected from pot and field trials using separate applications of sheep or cattle urine and faeces. Key findings indicate that soil organic carbon (SOC) and the type of excreta significantly influences nutrient uptake by forages, with varied responses among the seven elements defined above. Although urine contributes fewer micronutrients compared to faeces (as applied at a natural volume/mass basis, respectively), it notably improves forage yield and micronutrient accumulation, thus potentially delivering positive consequences at the farm level regarding economic performance and soil fertility when swards upon clayey soil types receive said urine in temperate agro-climatic regions (i.e., South West England in the current context). In contrast, faeces application in isolation hinders Se and Mn uptake, once again potentially delivering unintended consequences such as micronutrient deficiencies in areas of high faeces deposition. As it is unlikely that (b)ovine grazing fields will receive either urine or faeces in isolation, we also explored combined applications of both excreta types which demonstrates synergistic effects on N, Cu, and Zn uptake, with either synergistic or dilution effects being observed for P and S, depending largely on SOC levels. Additionally, interactions between excreta types can result in dilution or antagonistic effects on Mn and Se uptake. Notably, high SOC combined with faeces reduces Mn and Se in forages, raising concerns for grazed ruminant systems under certain biotic situations, e.g., due to insufficient soil Se levels typically observed in UK pastures for livestock growth. These findings underscore the importance of considering SOC and excreta nutritional composition when designing forage management to optimize nutrient uptake. It should be noted that these findings have potential ramifications for broader studies of sustainable agriculture through system-scale analyses, as the granularity of results reported herein elucidate gaps in knowledge which could affect, both positively and negatively, the interpretation of model-based environmental impact assessments of cattle and sheep production (e.g., in the case of increased yields [beneficial] or the requirement of additional synthetic supplementation [detrimental]). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harvester ants are one of the most extensively studied groups of ants, especially the group foraging ants, Messor barbarus (Linnaeus, 1767), which construct long‐lasting trunk trails. Limited laboratory investigations have delved into head‐on encounters along foraging trails involving workers moving in opposing directions, with fewer corresponding studies conducted in the natural environment. To address this gap, we devised an in‐field experimental design to induce lane segregation on the foraging trunk trail of M. barbarus. Using an image‐based tracking method, we analyzed the foraging behavior of this species to assess the costs associated with head‐on encounters and to figure out the natural coexistence of outgoing and returning workers on a bidirectional route. Our results consistently reveal heightened straightness and speed in unidirectional test lanes, accompanied by an elevated foraging rate compared to bidirectional lanes. This suggests a potential impact of head‐on collisions on foraging behavior, especially on foraging efficiency. Additionally, Kinematic analysis revealed distinct movement patterns between outbound and inbound flows, particularly low speed and sinuous trajectories of inbounding unladen workers. The study of encounter rates in two traffic systems hints at the plausible utilization of individual memory by workers within trails, underscoring the pivotal role of encounters in information exchange and load transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Environmental managers require reliable and cost‐efficient monitoring methods for effective decision‐making. Understanding forage availability is important for managing wild, vertebrate herbivore populations. We developed a process for exploring the accuracy and cost efficiency of various biomass estimation techniques for a case study where semi‐arid woodland restoration is threatened by kangaroo grazing, with the aim of determining which method was most fit for purpose in a given decision context. Location: Wyperfeld National Park, southeastern Australia. Methods: Grass biomass was estimated using a variety of methods, then compared to clipped biomass using linear models. Biomass estimation methods were either field‐based (i.e., rising plate meter, multispectral radiometer) or satellite‐based (i.e., Landsat satellite imagery, AussieGRASS forage production model). Sampling occurred across open and wooded semi‐arid vegetation types. We compared methods based on accuracy, the ability of each method to accurately predict a 'forage‐switch' threshold, cost, and the suitability for the management context. Results: For this case study, the multispectral radiometer was the most precise, yet most expensive, biomass estimation method over a single survey. However, satellite imagery proved to be the most cost‐efficient and fit for purpose, as it was inexpensive and most accurately estimated biomass around a forage‐switch threshold, second only to the multispectral radiometer. Accuracy of all methods was improved by including tree cover in the regression models. Conclusions: We demonstrate a process for exploring which biomass estimation tool might be preferred for a given decision context, highlighting accuracy, consideration of tolerance to uncertainty and risk, the spatial and temporal scale of information required, and budget constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contextualization: forage production response is determined by factors inherent to the ecotype and external environmental and management conditions. The high variation of factors influencing forage growth implies the need to establish responses based on the biological development regarding the accumulated temperature. Knowledge gap: the growth response of Cenchrus Clandestinus expressed in heating degree days (HDDs) when fertilized with different doses of N is unknown to establish grazing times at peak biomass accumulation accurately. Purpose: to determine the growth dynamics of kikuyu grass with different levels of nitrogen fertilization. Methodology: a control treatment without application of any source of N (T0) was evaluated, a dosage of 100 kg. N ha.-1 (T1) and a dosage of 150 kg. N ha.-1 (T2). The fertilization plan was programmed for 42-day defoliation with a residual height of 10cm. Subsequently, the growth of kikuyu grass was evaluated with a seven-day frequency based on the analysis of dry matter, chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance, number of leaves, height, leaf area, and dry matter of leaves and stems. Growth rates were calculated from the dry matter of the forage: Absolute Growth Rate (AGR), Relative Growth Rate (RGR), Net Assimilation Rate (NAR), Specific Leaf Area (SLA), Leaf Area Ratio (LAR), and Leaf Area Index (LAI). Analysis of repeated measures was carried out to determine the effect per sampling point (HDDs) in a completely randomized arrangement. Results and conclusions: with the application of 150 kg. N ha.-1 (T2) and 208.6 HDDs (42 days), plants showed higher growth rate, leaf tissue production, leaf area, and greater height. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the impact of wilted and unwilted silage on various parameters, such as nutrient content, fermentation quality, bacterial populations, and digestibility. Methods: Thirty-six studies from Scopus were included in the database and analyzed using a random effects model in OpenMEE software. The studies were grouped into two categories: wilting silage (experiment group) and non-wilting silage (control group). Publication bias was assessed using a fail-safe number. Results: The results showed that wilting before ensiling significantly increased the levels of dry matter, water-soluble carbohydrates, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber, compared to non-wilting silage (p<0.05). However, wilting significantly decreased dry matter losses, lactic acid, acetic acid, butyric acid, and ammonia levels (p<0.05). The pH, crude protein, and ash contents remained unaffected by the wilting process. Additionally, the meta-analysis revealed no significant differences in bacterial populations, including lactic acid bacteria, yeast, and aerobic bacteria, or in vitro dry matter digestibility between the two groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: Wilting before ensiling significantly improved silage quality by increasing dry matter and water-soluble carbohydrates, as well as reducing dry matter losses, butyric acid, and ammonia. Importantly, wilting did not have a significant impact on pH, crude protein, or in vitro dry matter digestibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although fires are common in Mediterranean ecosystems, there are substantial knowledge gaps regarding post-fire shifts in animal diets, especially for carnivores. Red fox Vulpes vulpes is a generalist medium-size carnivore known to have a positive post-fire response, probably due to increased prey availability or facility to hunt. As small mammals are often one of its primary food categories, and early successional visitors of post-fire habitats, we hypothesize a change in red fox diet composition in the warm season after a fire. Hair trapping and scat collection were used to investigate selection of small mammals in a typical Mediterranean region, 3 years after a fire. The diet composition of the fox was compared with that of the fox in the same area in 1992, and with other undisturbed Mediterranean areas. Diet selection was evaluated through the Forage ratio and single resource preference tests. Red fox diet was consistent with other Mediterranean areas, with fruits and seeds, invertebrates, and small mammals being the most consumed categories. However, small mammals were consumed significantly less than in 1992, while fruits and seeds significantly more. Resource selection analysis indicated avoidance for some ground-foraging small mammals, including Crocidura spp. house mouse Mus domesticus and voles, whereas Apodemus spp. were selected. Arboreal-foraging species, e.g. red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris and garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus were used in proportion to their availability. We concluded that this mesocarnivore had high feeding plasticity and exploited various resources according to their availability and catchability. Future studies are needed to further investigate red fox and other carnivores' food shifts after fire disturbance, including various seasons, other successional stages and competition within predator guilds. Fox mostly consumed fruits post-fire avoidance on 3 ground-foraging species Fox feeding follows both resource availability and catchability [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Mutiles campus, in San Mateo, Esmeraldas, Brachiaria Hybrid Sabia AIG-330 J was evaluated at three cutting ages (30, 60 and 90 days), using a completely randomized experimental design and statistical analysis with Fisher's test at 5%. Variables of forage potential were studied, such as cutting height, cover, green forage production and dry matter, as well as nutritional composition (dry matter, ash, protein, fiber, nitrogen free extract and ethereal extract). The results showed significant differences, highlighting greater height at 90 days (1.32 m) and greater production of green forage (77.13 ton/ha/year) and dry matter (13.13 ton/ha/year). Nutritional analysis revealed a decrease in protein content with increasing cutting age, being higher at 30 and 60 days (14.16%) and lower at 90 days (10.86%). Fiber reached its maximum at 90 days (31.50%). These findings suggest that cutting at 60 days offers an optimal balance between biomass production and nutritional value, recommending the Brachiaria Sabia AIG-330 J hybrid as an efficient forage source for this age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The forage Urochloa ruziziensis ((R. Germ. and C.M. Evrard) Crins (synonym Brachiaria ruziziensis) (Poales: Poaceae)) has great potential to be adopted as pasture. However, this forage is susceptible to spittlebugs, the main insect pest of pastures in Brazil. Thus, the objective of this study was to select genotypes of U. ruziziensis resistant to Deois schach (Fabricius) and Mahanarva spectabilis (Distant) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) through 16 cycles of recurrent selection. The resistance of 13,114 U. ruziziensis plants to spittlebugs was evaluated in experiments conducted between 2008 and 2023. Each plant was infested with six eggs of the insect pest at stage S4 and kept in a greenhouse for up to 40 days. After this period, surviving nymphs from the second to fifth instars were counted. The original population of U. ruziziensis (POP01-2008) presented a nymphal survival rate of 63%, while for the improved population (POP36-2023) the average nymphal survival rate was 32.8%. The estimated total genetic gain was 15%, and the annual genetic gain was 1%. After 16 selection cycles, in POP36-2023, approximately 63% of the genotypes (716 plants), had nymphal survival rates equal to or less than 33% and were considered resistant to D. schach and M. spectabilis nymphs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite a clear preference of the Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides tridactylus for spruce trees as foraging sites by both males and females, some studies showed intersexual resource partitioning that allows competition for food to be minimized. The objective of the study was to characterize foraging sites of the Three-toed Woodpecker in the primeval stands of the Białowieża National Park (BNP, Poland) in relation to sex. Although the woodpeckers foraged on seven tree species, both males and females foraged predominantly on spruce (83% and 90% of the observations, respectively). Selection indices showed a significant preference for dead spruce trees for both sexes and additionally for live spruce trees in the case of females. Spruce trees where woodpeckers foraged were twice as thick as those available, regardless of whether they were dead or alive. The only feature differentiating the feeding sites of males and females was the diameter of the part of the tree at foraging locations. This suggests that there is some niche partitioning between the sexes of the Three-toed Woodpecker in primeval stands of the BNP. Our research clearly showed that even in the very rich environment of the BNP, abounding in various forms of dead wood, large dead spruce trees are crucial for the Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In various cooperative breeding species, a group member often sentinels from a prominent position that enables early detection of approaching predators, and then utters alarm calls to which the other group members react immediately. We tested in the cooperatively breeding Arabian babbler (Argya squamiceps), whether in the presence of a sentinel the other group members forage for longer or more effectively. In natural observations, in different distances from shelter and in different group sizes, we found no effect of sentinel presence on foraging time. Likewise, in a giving-up density (GUD) experiment with artificial food patches containing mealworms in each of 3 different distances from shelter, fewer mealworms were consumed further from shelter, but irrespective of whether a sentinel was present or not during foraging. While foragers react to a sentinel's alarm calls when a predator approaches, our findings indicate that Arabian babbler foragers do not improve their foraging efficiency due to the sentinel's presence. Combined with previous studies on the Arabian babbler, these findings reinforce the conclusion that in this species the sentinel is "selfish" and benefits from early detection of predators. These results contrast with those from other cooperative breeders in which sentinels utter calming calls and foraging efficiency increases when sentinels are present. We, therefore, suggest that similar sentinel behavior may serve different sentinel systems and functions in different cooperative breeders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Competition for resources and space can drive forage selection of large herbivores from the bite through the landscape scale. Animal behaviour and foraging patterns are also influenced by abiotic and biotic factors.Fine‐scale mechanisms of density‐dependent foraging at the bite scale are likely consistent with density‐dependent behavioural patterns observed at broader scales, but few studies have directly tested this assertion.Here, we tested if space use intensity, a proxy of spatiotemporal density, affects foraging mechanisms at fine spatial scales similarly to density‐dependent effects observed at broader scales in caribou. We specifically assessed how behavioural choices are affected by space use intensity and environmental processes using behavioural state and forage selection data from caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) observed from GPS video‐camera collars using a multivariate discrete‐choice modelling framework.We found that the probability of eating shrubs increased with increasing caribou space use intensity and cover of Salix spp. shrubs, whereas the probability of eating lichen decreased. Insects also affected fine‐scale foraging behaviour by reducing the overall probability of eating. Strong eastward winds mitigated negative effects of insects and resulted in higher probabilities of eating lichen. At last, caribou exhibited foraging functional responses wherein their probability of selecting each food type increased as the availability (% cover) of that food increased.Space use intensity signals of fine‐scale foraging were consistent with density‐dependent responses observed at larger scales and with recent evidence suggesting declining reproductive rates in the same caribou population. Our results highlight potential risks of overgrazing on sensitive forage species such as lichen. Remote investigation of the functional responses of foraging behaviours provides exciting future applications where spatial models can identify high‐quality habitats for conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial light at night has been considered an emerging threat to global biodiversity. However, the impacts of artificial light on foraging behavior in most wild animals remain largely unclear. Here, we aimed to assess whether artificial light affects foraging behavior in Asian parti‐colored bats (Vespertilio sinensis). We manipulated the spectra of light‐emitting diode (LED) lighting in a laboratory. Using video and audio recording, we monitored foraging onset, total foraging time, food consumption, freezing behavior (temporary cessation of body movement), and echolocation vocalizations in triads of bats under each lighting condition. Analyses showed that the foraging activities of experimental bats were reduced under LED light. Green, yellow, and red light had greater negative effects on bats' foraging onset, total foraging time, and food consumption than white and blue light. LED light of different spectra induced increased freezing time and echolocation vocalizations in captive bats, except for the white light. The peak wavelength of light emission correlated positively with freezing time, estimated echolocation pulse rate (the number of echolocation pulses per minute), and foraging onset, but negatively with total foraging time and food consumption. These results demonstrate that artificial light disturbs foraging behavior in Asian parti‐colored bats. Our findings have implications for understanding the influencing mechanism of light pollution on bat foraging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sainfoin species (Onobrychis spp.) have been employed for centuries as an essential forage for ruminant animals, both for grazing and as hay. The seeds produced by sainfoin have also been investigated as an animal feed source and were indicated to be a particularly protein‐rich supplement for monogastric animals. This study explores the effects of two sainfoin seed inclusion rates in rat diets compared to a control diet, focusing on blood biochemical parameters and a comprehensive histopathological evaluation of multiple organ systems. Thus, we provide a novel contribution to the body of evidence investigating sainfoin seeds as a protein supplement in monogastric animal diets. In this 21‐day experiment, seven rats each were assigned to the control group, a 5% sainfoin seed group, and a 10% sainfoin seed group. The control group received standard feed and water; the second group received feed with 5% sainfoin seeds; and the third group received feed with 10% sainfoin seeds. At the experiment's end, necropsies and evaluations were conducted. Histopathological exams revealed normal organ structures in all 21 samples, regardless of the group. Blood analysis showed statistically significant decreases in creatine, ALT, P, Ca, and Mg levels in the sainfoin seed groups compared to the control group, with most values nearing reference levels, suggesting potential benefits. Notably, no adverse effects were observed when sainfoin seeds were included at 5% and 10% in the rat feed. These findings contribute to a growing body of research investigating the inclusion of sainfoin seeds in monogastric animal diets, which is a foundational component of assessing sainfoin's potential as a novel pulse crop for human consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The productivity of animal agriculture in developing countries will need to be substantially increased in order to satisfy increasing consumer demand, to more efficiently utilize scarce resources and to generate income for a growing agricultural population. Biotechnology has the potential to improve the productivity of animals via increasing in growth, carcass quality and reproduction, improved nutritional quality, safety of food, improved health and welfare of animals and reduced waste through more efficient utilization Agricultural biotechnology is one area of application of biotechnology involving applications to agriculture and the application has long been source of innovation in production and processing, extremely impacting the sector. Agricultural biotechnology has been practiced for a long time, as people have sought to improve agriculturally important organisms by selection and breeding. This includes plant breeding to raise and stabilize yields; to improve resistance to pests, diseases and abiotic stresses such as drought and cold; and to enhance the nutritional content of foods. Biotechnology is being used to develop low-cost disease-free planting materials for crops such as cassava, banana and potato and is creating new tools for the diagnosis and treatment of plant and animal diseases and for the measurement and conservation of genetic resources. Modern biotechnology has the potential to provide new opportunities for achieving enhanced livestock productivity in a way that alleviates poverty, improves food security and nutrition and promotes sustainable use of natural resources. The major cause of poor livestock productivity in tropical regions of the world is inadequate nutrition. Low-quality forages are a major component of ruminant diets in the tropics. The lack of quality of ruminant feeds is caused by a high content of lignified crop residues and mature grasses, usually associated with a low content of nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur. The shortage of feed in most developing countries and the increasing cost of feed ingredients mean that there is a need to improve feed utilization. Animal feeds and feeding practices are being changed by biotechnology to improve animal nutrition and to reduce environmental waste. The ultimate goal of using biotechnology in animal nutrition is to improve the plane of nutrition through the use of enzymes to improve the availability of nutrients from feed and to reduce the wastage of the feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Characterize the yield traits and nutritional values of Maralfalfa grass (Pennisetum glaucum L. × P. purpureum Schumacher), under humid tropical conditions. Design/methodology/approach: The study was carried out in the Germplasm Bank from Rosario Izapa Experimental Unit, plant height, number of tillers, and fresh herbage and dry matter production were evaluated. Crude protein, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of grass samples were determined at 28, 42, 56, 70, 84 and 97 days. Results: Plant height, number of trillers, and fresh herbage and dry matter production increased as cutting age increased. In relation to the nutritional value, the crude protein content decreased as the cutting age increased, but the NDF and ADF content increased, consequently, the DVDMS decreased. Limitations of the study/implications: The study was carried out in the humid tropics; the evaluation is required to be carried out under dry tropic conditions. Findings/conclusions: The appropriate harvest time of Maralfalfa grass in humid tropical conditions is between 42 and 56 days of regrowth, whereas nutritional values decrease over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study on colonial Cliff Swallows in western Nebraska found that social foraging and information transfer among the birds has declined over the past 40 years. This decline in social behavior may be due to changes in flying insect distribution and abundance. The study suggests that the benefits of group living for these birds may change over time. The reasons for this shift are still unclear and may be related to overall changes in insect abundance, climate change, or landscape alteration. [Extracted from the article]