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According to FAO, world demand for animal products will double in the first half of this century as a result of increasing population and economic growth. During the same period, major changes are expected in world climate. Food security remains one of the highest priority issues in developing Latin American countries, a region where livestock production plays a fundamental role. Agricultural activities seriously threaten natural resources; therefore, it is necessary to ensure that livestock production contributes to satisfy the demand for animal products in a sustainable manner. Intensive silvopastoral systems (ISS) are becoming the technology of choice for Colombian and regional livestock sectors because it can help reduce the seasonality of plants and animal production, and therefore contribute to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change. We have recently gained knowledge on the nutritional and productive attributes of these systems. However, in recent years, the low carbon approach acquired importance in animal agriculture, which seeks to primarily promote the adoption of programs running parallel activities aimed at adapting to and mitigating climate change. This review outlines projections on the effects of climate change on the livestock industry, presents concepts on Greenhouse Gas flow and highlights evidence in support of the conclusion that ISS is an interesting option to allow the livestock sector in the region to adapt to climate change and to mitigate some of its effects. The adoption of ISS may help to remove up to 26.6 tons of CO2 eq/Ha/yr from the atmosphere.

La selectividad es una estrategia fundamental en la dinámica de consumo de alimento. Además, es un proceso que determina la dinámica de las plantas en ecosistemas de composición botánica mixta. El consumo selectivo de ciertas plantas o de partes específicas de las mismas depende de factores externos e intrínsecos del animal, que modulan el comportamiento de consumo cuando existe diversidad de plantas para ser cosechadas en el hábitat. Debido a la diversidad vegetal que pueden consumir los animales, estos han creado adaptaciones anatómicas (p.e., estructura de los órganos de aprehensión) y fisiológicas (p.e., adaptaciones metabólicas) para llenar los requerimientos nutricionales con las plantas disponibles en el ecosistema que habitan. Los factores que afectan el comportamiento de consumo y selectividad pueden clasificarse en: 1) propios del animal (especie, raza, sexo, peso, estado fisiológico, salud, condicionamientos, tiempos de consumo, y experiencias), 2) factores sociales (densidad de animales y jerarquías), y 3) factores del hábitat (estructura de las pasturas, densidad de especies de plantas, facilidad de acceso a los forrajes y estaciones). Las plantas han desarrollado mecanismos para defenderse de la herbivoría con adaptaciones estructurales (p.e., espinas, pubescencias) y compuestos secundarios (fenoles, terpenos, oxalatos) que disminuyen la palatabilidad o generan efectos nocivos para quien la consume. El propósito de esta revisión es mostrar un panorama general de los factores que afectan el comportamiento de consumo y selectividad de forrajes en rumiantes teniendo en cuenta el contexto en el cual se esté estudiando, con el fin de planear estrategias de manejo eficientes y sostenibles.A seletividade é uma estratégia fundamental na dinâmica do consumo de alimento. Além disso, é um processo que determina a dinâmica das plantas em ecossistemas de composição botânica mista. O consumo seletivo de determinadas plantas ou partes específicas das mesmas depende de fatores extrínsecos e intrínsecos ao animal, que modulam o comportamento do consumo quando existe diversidade de plantas a ser colhidas no habitat. Devido à diversidade vegetal que os animais podem consumir, eles tem criado adaptações anatômicas (estrutura dos órgãos de apreensão) e fisiológicas (adaptações metabólicas) para suprir as exigências nutricionais a partir das plantas disponíveis no ecossistema que habitam. Os fatores que afetam o comportamento no consumo e seletividade podem ser classificados em: 1) Próprios do animal (raça, espécie, sexo, peso, estado fisiológico, saúde, condicionamentos, tempos de consumo experiências prévias, 2) fatores sociais (densidade de animais e hierarquias), 3) fatores de habitat (estrutura das pastagens, densidade de espécies de plantas, facilidade de acesso às forragens e estações) As plantas tem desenvolvido mecanismos para se defenderem da herbivoria com adaptações estruturais (espinhos, pubescências), e compostos secundários (fenóis, terpenos, oxalatos) que diminuem a palatabilidade ou geram efeitos nocivos para os consumidores. O objectivo desta revisão é apresentar uma visão geral dos fatores que afetam o comportamento de consumo e seletividade das forragens em ruminantes tendo em conta o contexto em que eles estão sendo estudados, a fim de planejar estratégias de gestão eficientes e sustentáveis.Selectivity is a fundamental strategy in forage intake dynamics. This process determines plant dynamics in botanically mixed ecosystems. Selective intake of certain plants or plant parts depends on intrinsic and external factors. These factors modulate consumption behavior when plant diversity does exists in the habitat. As a response to plant diversity, animals have developed anatomical (e.g., structure of apprehension organs) and physiological adaptations (e.g., metabolic adaptations). Adaptations help the animal to fulfill their nutritional requirements with the plants available in their ecosystem. Factors affecting consumption behavior and selectivity can be classified into three groups: 1) relative to the animal (species, breed, gender, weight, physiological stage, health, conditioning, consumption times, and experiences), 2) social factors (animal density and hierarchies), and 3) habitat (pasture structure, density of plant species, ease of access to fodder, and season). To defend themselves from herbivores, plants have developed structural adaptations (e.g., thorns, pubescence) and secondary compounds (e.g., phenols, terpenes, oxalates) which decrease palatability or generate harmful effects in animals. The objective of this review is to show an overview of the factors that affect forage intake behavior and selectivity in ruminants considering their context, to plan for efficient and sustainable management strategies.

Copyright of Revista Cientifica de la Facultade de Veterinaria is the property of Universidad del Zulia, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Cientifica de la Facultade de Veterinaria is the property of Universidad del Zulia, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Milk production from buffaloes has experienced significant growth in Colombia over the past 20 years. These systems are primarily located in the low tropics, where production systems face limitations in intensification. At Hacienda Cuba, situated in Montelíbano, Córdoba, Colombia, various sustainable intensification strategies have been implemented to enhance buffalo milk production. This study describes the soil, plant, and animal components to assess the capacity for high-quality buffalo milk production. We collected soil and forage samples from the grazing area for chemical characterization and quantified the available forage supply. Subsequently, the milk production potential of the animals was determined based on the forage diet provided, as well as the impact and quantification of intensification practices, such as strategic supplementation, on buffalo milk production. Our findings revealed that soil composition was 10% sand, 46% silt, and 44% clay, pH of 5.0, CEC of 15.16, and P of 11. Microbiological analyses indicated that most functional groups were within acceptable ranges. Characterizing the forage component revealed that buffaloes primarily consume a mixture of forages, including Paspalum fasciculatum, Dichanthium annulatum, Brachiaria decumbens, Dichanthium aristatum, Brachiaria arecta, and Panicum virgatum. On average, these forages exhibited the following nutritional quality characteristics: crude protein of 10.25%, neutral detergent fiber of 65.60%, the in vitro digestibility of dry matter was 56.45%, and the metabolizable energy was 2.75 Mcal Kg DM-1. Our results indicate that buffaloes received a substantial forage supply or allocation, ranging between 7 and 8 kg DM/100 kg of live weight. The production potential is based on a pasture yielding 4.04 liters of daily milk with 6% fat. When the intensification practices were adopted (2 kg of balanced feed and 6 kg of sorghum silage), an increase of 78.5% in milk production was observed. These sustainable intensification practices, such as strategic supplementation in dairy buffaloes in Colombia, enhance milk production and may improve milk quality (it needs to be evaluated). Consequently, these prac-tices can potentially increase profit since payment for milk islinked to these parameters.

Colombia’s water buffalo dairy market has experienced significant growth in recent years, emerging as the industry’s leading sector in milk quality and favorable prices. Buffaloes are renowned for their early maturity and ability to produce high-quality meat. Two key characteristics stand out when considering animals for dual- purpose systems: excellent milk quality suitable for sale, calf rearing and strong maternal abilities. A yield gap analysis was conducted to assess the potential for greenhouse gas emissions mitigation in Colombian buffalo systems to identify achievable buffalo milk productivity. This study is adapted to the standards for life cycle assessment, focusing specifically on greenhouse gas emissions from the International Organization for Standardization. Two functional units were used for measurement: tons of CO 2 -equivalents (CO 2e ) per hectare (ha) and kilograms of CO 2e per kilogram of fat-and-protein-corrected milk (FPCM). Greenhouse gas emissions were calculated using the 2019 Refinement to the 2006 IPCC guidelines, with emission factors sourced from databases. Emissions were categorized into those associated with animals, feces, and soils, with the corresponding sequestration or assimilation accounted in soils, forage biomass, trees, shrubs, and milk production. The simulations were conducted for 550 kg live-weight buffaloes, with a dry matter intake of 11 kg per day alongside 2 kg of balanced feed, under two milk production scenarios: 1500 liters and 3000 liters per lactation. Herd gross energy (GE) intake was calculated using IPCC Tier 2 equations, considering daily gross energy intake per animal category, diet digestibility, and daily net energy requirements for pregnancy, lactation, growth, activity and maintenance. Dry matter intake (DMI) was determined by dividing gross energy intake values by 18.45 MJ of metabolizable energy per kg dry matter, representing the feed’s energy density. These greenhouse gas emissions encompassed methane (CH4) from enteric fermentation and excretions left in paddocks, nitrous oxide (N 2 O) from excretions deposited on pastures and fertilizer application, and carbon dioxide (CO2 ) from lime and urea application, as well as the burning of fossil fuels. The global warming potential indices GWP100 and GWP* were employed to calculate the impact of emissions. Milk carbon footprints (CFs) ranged from 0.7 to 1.41 kgCO2 -eq kg FPCM-1, but when calculated with the GWP* index, they decreased by nearly 35% for both scenarios.