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Within the TechCare Project, a list of Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) tools, with potential for monitoring animal welfare in small ruminant production, was formulated in TechCare Countries. The opinions of stakeholders weretaken into account after consultations, following a multi-actor approach. The OPERA method was used to reach consensus between stakeholders. Overall, stakeholders’ opinions appear rather uniform. Regarding meat sheep, thehighest appreciated PLF tool was the automated weighing and low frequency identification (LF) system, followed by localisation (GPS) and 3-axial accelerometers, as well as new ultra-high-frequency (UHF) eartags and readers forseveral uses (e.g. water intake). The most suitable PLF tools selected for dairy sheep were environmental-air quality sensors (e.g. weather stations), followed by automated milk recording, LF and automatic weighing. As for dairy goats,in addition to those selected for dairy sheep, the new UHF eartags and readers were prioritized. Regardless of the production system, the most important traits of selected PLF tools were low cost and ease-of-use. Most stakeholdersalso expressed concerns on their ability to collect and handle the data generated from PLF tools for monitoring individual animals. TechCare (www.techcare-project.eu) receives funding from the European Union’s H2020 researchand innovation programme grant no. 862050.

Additional file 1: Figure 1. – Concentrations-time data of the analysed metabolites and hormones on day 3 of phase 1. Asterisks indicate significant differences between M100 group and other groups (P

Part-time grazing, i.e. restricted time access to pasture, is widespread but its effects on ingestive behaviour and performance of dairy ewes are still overlooked. The objectives of this thesis were: i) reviewing the literature focused on the effects of part-time grazing on ingestive behaviour and performance of ruminants and horses; ii) assessing the effects of different time restrictions on the above variables in milked ewes grazing Lolium multiflorum Lam (experiment 1) and Trifolium alexandrinum L (experiment 2); and iii) modelling the results of the above experiments for predicting herbge intake. The review showed that part-time grazing of pastures by ruminants results in compensatory behaviours such as higher intake rate and grazing intensity and lower energy expenditures, which often bring about mild to nil performance losses as compared with time-unrestricted grazers. Horese are less able in this compensation than ruminants. The experiments on dairy ews compared 2, 4, and 6 h/d time access to pasture. Their results confirmed the general trend of ingestive behaviour, showing that giving access to a moderate quality Italian ryegrass for less than 6 h/d decreased intake and milk yield of ewes in mid lactation, whereas for berseem clover access could be as short as 4 h/d without any loss of intake and performance. The modelling of the data based on both stepwise and partial least square regressions provided good performance in validation and satisfactory sensitivity.

Large Scale Grazing Systems (LSGS) are much more than large expanses of seminatural vegetation. LSGS are complex structures emerging from the interaction of human behaviour and natural resources. Man-made and nature laws are intertwined in systems of grassland management to produce large-scale effects. LSGS actually harbour a significant part of European natural valúes, but are also places where a small part of the rural population strives to make a living under harsh environmental and social conditions. This research is aimed at responding to what is left behind under current trend (abandonment). We have dealt with identification, analysis and diagnosis, but not with prescription. Our main argument is that extensive grazing is congenial with natural valúes, but is the former that gives way to the latter. This assumption was tested for the main LSGS of three Mediterranean countries of the European Union (EU): Spain, Italy, and Greece. Survey tools (fact-sheets, survey guidelines and sustainability questionnaires) were devised within the EU-funded LACOPE project and further, groups of external experts, within the three countries, were requested for collaboration. This research encompasses two parts. In the Presentation section, the most representative LSGS in Spain, Italy and Greece were identified and a comparative typology elaborated based on individual profiles for external experts. The Successional Trajectories and Target Vegetation types sections are devoted to the relationships between grazing and biodiversity, as assessed by plant species richness and vegetation types. In this case, external experts' contribution, literature review and further cooperative and interdisciplinary job were used. We detected general patterns of shrubby overgrowth on grazing cessation, increasing species richness with extensive grazing and plant species adapted to grazing or post-grazing succession. The relationship between grazing and biodiversity was not univocal, and spatial and temporal management of grazing play a major role. It must be stressed the importance of adequate knowledge of the species and habitat specific impacts of grazing regimes (temporality and grazing intensity). LSGS in the three countries face some common threats from intensification in the lowlands to abandonment in the far-reaching and less favoured grazing grounds. Harsh workings conditions, social fragility, lacks of assurance of family business turn over, and poor economic performance, are common drivers of change, under a global setting of economic development. However, differential diagnosis of these constraints and alternative management practices (prescription) at the regional level are further required in devising and implementing sensible grazing management plans and policy frameworks.

Three 5 ha dairy sheep systems with different input levels were compared during three years. The percentage oftotal system area conventionally cultivated each year was equal to 80%, 20% and 30% in systems C, EPM and EPMP respectively. Each system was rotationally grazed by 30 dairy ewes. Milk yield was significantly higher in EPM group, the total annual yield for each system being equal to 1.10 (C), 1.33 (EPM) and 1.17 (EPMP) t ha-1 of milk. Hay consumption tended to be lower in the system EPM in comparison with system C and EPMP averaging to 0.30 (EPM), 0.34 (C) and 0.36 t ha-1 of DM (EPMP). On the basis of overall results, the EPM system showed the best performances. Nel triennio 1990-93 sono stati confrontati tre sistemi foraggero zootecnici C (Cereali), EPM (Erbaio Pascolo Migliorato) e EPMP (Erbaio Pascolo Migliorato Prati), caratterizzati da una percentuale di SAU coltivata rispettivamente pari all'80, 20 e 30%. Ciascun sistema è stato pascolato da 30 pecore da latte di razza Sarda. La produzione di latte è stata significativamente più elevata nel sistema EPM e la produzione totale media annua è stata di 1,10 (C), 1,33 (EPM) e 1,17 (EPMP) t ha-1. Il consumo di fieno è stato in media 0,30 (EPM), 0,34 (C) e 0,36 (EPMP) t ha-1 di sostanza secca. In conclusione il sistema EPM, fra quelli a confronto, ha mostrato i migliori risultati sia in termini di produzione di latte e di carne e nel contempo di un minore consumo di supplementi.

The results on the economic evaluation of three different rainfed forage systems for dairy sheep are reported. The research, aimed at individualize the more convenient system, was carried out with interdisciplinary approach during 1990-93. Each system was 5 ha in size and grazed by 30 mature Sarda ewes, but it was characterized by a different level of crop intensification. A traditionai cereal farming system (C) in which 80% of the surface was ploughed and cultivated with winter cereal each year. Two low input systems (EPM, EPMP) by a reduction of the surface yearly ploughed and by using minimum tillage and self reseeding and perennial pasture species. The economie evaluation was made using the Gross income. It was ca1culated as difference between Gross production and Variable costs obtained in the three systems. The total, per ewe and per ha Gross income resulted higher in the EPM system, being the milk production very important. The crops of this system allowed forage availability quality and distribution more favourable with lower costs, when compared to those of the other systems. The introduction of the EPM system can be an effective opportunity for the farmers. Si riportano i risultati relativi alla valutazione tecnico-economica di tre differenti sistemi foraggeri asciutti per ovini da latte, effettuata nell'ambito di una ricerca interdisciplinare durante il triennio 1990-93 e finalizzata all'individuazione del sistema di massima convenienza. Ciascun sistema era realizzato su una superficie agricola di 5 ha e utilizzato da 30 pecore da latte di razza sarda, ma caratterizzato da un diverso livello di intensificazione colturale. Un sistema «cerealicolo-zootecnico» tradizionale (sistema cereali, C), nel quale ogni anno veniva destinata a cereali, coltivati con tecniche tradizionali, 1'80% della superficie totale. Due sistemi (Erbaio - Pascolo migliorato, EPM; Erbaio - Pascolo migliorato – Prato, EPMP), a minore intensità, che prevedevano la riduzione della superficie annualmente coltivata con tecniche tradizionali, rispettivamente al 20 e 30% del totale, il ricorso alla minima lavorazione e l'impianto di foraggere annue autoriseminanti e perenni. II confronto in termini economici è stato effettuato in base all'entità del reddito lordo, ottenuto dalla differenza tra la produzione vendibile ed i costi variabili, relativi all'allevamento attuato nei tre sistemi foraggeri. II reddito lordo complessivo, per capo e per ha, alla cui formazione ha concorso in particolare la produzione di latte, è risultato più elevato nel meno intensivo sistema EPM. Infatti le colture introdotte in questo sistema hanno assicurato disponibilità foraggere quanti-qualitativamente superiori e con una distribuzione più continua nel corso dell'anno. Inoltre vengono sostenuti minori costi per l'impianto delle colture, grazie all'impiego di specie di durata pluriennale. L'introduzione del sistema EPM può costituire pertanto una valida opportunità di scelta per l'imprenditore zootecnico.