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This dissertation is an ethnographic study of pasture-cheesemaking in Kars, Northeastern Turkey, amid politicized boundaries and transnational connections. It investigates cheesemaking within the larger agro-pastoral worlds molded by the everyday practices of animal care, dairy crafts, and technosciences, and regulated by the nation-state politics of food safety and national security. Focusing on a farmers’ association in a village in Kars, I question the ways in which pasture-cheesemaking enabled farmers to organize for “a better life” for their more-than-human community. Cheesemaking is not a mere economic opportunity or a milestone industry; it is also a process through which local communities can reimagine places to make a better life in a depopulated village in rural Turkey. Throughout the dissertation, I explore how cheese has become an unexpected agent to remember the shared violent past and circumvent the spatiality of state and ethnopolitical boundaries, while it also makes new places, communities, and technosciences through material practices of composing archives, doing scientific research and sustaining dairy production in Northeastern Turkey. I approach cheesemaking from practices that precede and remain as the underpinning of the dairy craft, namely mera hayvancılığı (agro-pastoralism) and processes of arranging pastures for dairy production. I focus on two kinds of trademark cheeses of Kars: gravyer and kaşar. I argue that appropriating the Swiss cheesemaking heritage of the early 20th century as Boğatepe Gravyer cheese and composing the archive of cheesemaking in the village ecomuseum entailed place-making through reconfiguration of dairy arrangements in the everyday practices of agro-pastoral livelihoods in Boğatepe pastures. By analyzing a nascent collaboration between small farmers, cheesemakers, and a group of dairy scientists engaged in the Geographical Indication certification process of Kars Kaşar cheese, I argue that the collaborative efforts have been challenging the Pasteurization procedures imposed by the industrial dairy standards, and “pasturing” the dairy arrangements of kaşar cheesemaking in the last fifteen years. Lastly, I investigate the dynamics of the collaboration between cheesemakers and scientists. I suggest that this collaboration entailed pasture-cheese diplomacy, which not only obliged scientists to question the conventional approaches in dairy science research on traditional cheeses but also paved the way for new technoscientific interventions that would ensure crafting pastures into cheeses.

El agropiro alargado tiene un valor nutritivo bajo y cambia de acuerdo a la época del año y el estado fenológico de la pastura. En relación a ello se presentan los resultados de un trabajo para evaluar la acumulación neta y el valor nutritivo del forraje de una pastura de agropiro alargado en repuesta a diferentes tratamientos de corte mecánico pos pastoreo. EEA Pergamino Fil: Kussrow, Nahuel. Actividad Privada; Argentina Fil: Scheneiter, Jorge Omar. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Pergamino. Sección Dirección (Director); Argentina

Skrb za obnovo poškodovane ruše po zaključku prezimovanja živali na prostem je pomembno opravilo, saj se lahko zgodi, da se nam zaradi zanemarjanja nege v njo naselijo nezaželene zelnate rastline. Zato smo spomladi 2017 na prezimovališču za ovce na Laboratorijskem polju Biotehniške fakultete izvedli poskus obnove poškodovane ruša z namenom določiti najbolj primerno krmno vrsto za obnovo. Poskus je potekal na mestih, kjer so živali dobivale krmo, so ležale in se napajale. Izbrana mesta v ruši so bila različno poškodovana (krmišče, ležišče in napajališče) zaradi gaženja oziroma so bila pokrita z izjedjo oziroma ostanki krme in je od prvotne ruše ostalo premalo poganjkov za naravno obraščanje. Prav tako smo v proučevanje vključili 4 različne krmne rastline (navadna pasja trava, trpežna ljuljka, trstikasta bilnica in bela detelja) in 3 termine setve (1. februar, 1. marec in 3. april). Setev je bila opravljena ročno v polovičnem odmerku od priporočene setvene norme v predhodno le z grabljami z(mešano) slamo z zemljo. Najboljši vznik (med 65 in 75 %) je bil ocenjen pri beli detelji in to tako med lokacijami kot tudi roki setve. V povprečju je bil najboljši vznik sejanih vrst na krmišču. Navadna pasja trava je dosegla najboljšo pokrovnost na ležišču, medtem ko je na krmišču tla najbolje pokrila trpežna ljuljka. Višina rastlin po 45 dneh rasti je bila najnižja na napajališču in tudi razlike med vsemi štirimi vrstami so bile tu najmanjše. Največ pridelka suhe snovi (4,82 t/ha) smo na krmišču izmerili pri pasji travi, ko je bila sejana v začetku aprila. Navadna pasja trava in trpežna ljuljka sta v poskusu obnove ruše prezimovališča dosegle podobne rezultate. The renovation of damaged sward on outwintering camping site is an important measure of pasture management as neglecting the sward care might lead to sward infestation with unwanted plants. In spring 2017 we established a field experiment on the outwintering camping site for sheep at the Biotechnical faculty with the intention of selecting the best forage plant for renovating the damaged sward. The trial was conducted on micro sites where animals get feed, they rest or they get water. The sward of the selected sites was differently damaged due to trampling intensity or the sward was covered with forage residues but not much tillers were left for sward to regenerate in spring. Also included were 4 different forage species (Dactylis glomerata, Festuca arundinacea, Lolium perenne, Trifolium repens) and three seeding dates (February 1st, March 1st and April 3rd). Seeding was performed by hand and half of the recommended seeding rate was used. White clover had the highest estimated emergence rate (between 65 and 75 %) between locations and seeding dates. On average the highest estimated emergence rate was found on feeding site. D. glomerata gained the best cover on the bedding site. Meanwhile L. perenne cover was highest on the feeding site. Plant height after 45 days of growth was the lowest on watering site and also differences in plant height between all four species were the lowest. The best yielding species (4.82 t/ha) was D. glomerata sown at the beginning of April. D. glomerata and L. perenne achieved similar results when testing them in a trial of sward renovation on outwintering camping site.

O experimento foi realizado com o objetivo de estudar, em ovinos mantidos em pastagens de capim-buffel, a utilização de leucena ou guandu, como bancos de proteína, durante estação seca. Foram testados nove tratamentos experimentais, constituídos pela combinação de três tipos de pastagens (capim-buffel, capim-buffel+guandu e capim-buffel+leucena), com três taxas de lotação (4, 6 e 10 borregos/ha). As pastagens, em duas repetições, foram estabelecidas em dezoito piquetes de 0,5 ha. Foram utilizados 60 borregos, com peso médio inicial de 19,4 kg, que receberam água e suplementação mineral completa à vontade e foram pesados a intervalos de 14 dias após 16 horas de jejum. Na pastagem de capim-buffel+leucena, foi possível elevar a lotação de quatro para seis borregos/ha, sem redução do ganho individual de peso dos animais, com conseqüente aumento da produção por unidade de área. Na pastagem de capim-buffel+guandu, não houve melhoria de desempenho dos animais em comparação à pastagem de capim-buffel. Concluiu-se que bancos de proteína de leucena podem melhorar a qualidade de pastagens de capim-buffel.The experiment was carried out to evaluate the use of Leucaena leucocephala and Cajanus cajan as protein sources, during the dry season for lambs grazing on buffel grass pastures. Nine experimental treatments resulting from the combination among three types of pasture (buffel grass, buffel grass+Cajanus cajan, and buffel grass+leucaena) and three stocking rates (4, 6 and 10 lambs/ ha) were tested. Eighteen paddocks (two replicates of pastures per treatment) of 0.5 ha were used. Sixty lambs with 19.4 kg live weight at the beginning of the experiment were allocated to pastures with water and mineral supplement offered ad libitum. Animal liveweight was recorded at 14 day-intervals after 16 hours of fasting. Lambs on the pasture of buffel grass+leucaena showed good performance with no variation in daily liveweight gain rate, when the stocking rate increased from 4 to 6 animals/ha. Buffel grass+Cajanus cajan pasture did not improve animal performance as compared to buffel grass pasture. It was concluded that leucaena, used as protein supplement, can improve the quality of buffel grass pastures.

O experimento foi realizado com o objetivo de estudar, em ovinos mantidos em pastagens de capim-buffel, a utilização de leucena ou guandu, como bancos de proteína, durante estação seca. Foram testados nove tratamentos experimentais, constituídos pela combinação de três tipos de pastagens (capim-buffel, capim-buffel+guandu e capim-buffel+leucena), com três taxas de lotação (4, 6 e 10 borregos/ha). As pastagens, em duas repetições, foram estabelecidas em dezoito piquetes de 0,5 ha. Foram utilizados 60 borregos, com peso médio inicial de 19,4 kg, que receberam água e suplementação mineral completa à vontade e foram pesados a intervalos de 14 dias após 16 horas de jejum. Na pastagem de capim-buffel+leucena, foi possível elevar a lotação de quatro para seis borregos/ha, sem redução do ganho individual de peso dos animais, com conseqüente aumento da produção por unidade de área. Na pastagem de capim-buffel+guandu, não houve melhoria de desempenho dos animais em comparação à pastagem de capim-buffel. Concluiu-se que bancos de proteína de leucena podem melhorar a qualidade de pastagens de capim-buffel. The experiment was carried out to evaluate the use of Leucaena leucocephala and Cajanus cajan as protein sources, during the dry season for lambs grazing on buffel grass pastures. Nine experimental treatments resulting from the combination among three types of pasture (buffel grass, buffel grass+Cajanus cajan, and buffel grass+leucaena) and three stocking rates (4, 6 and 10 lambs/ ha) were tested. Eighteen paddocks (two replicates of pastures per treatment) of 0.5 ha were used. Sixty lambs with 19.4 kg live weight at the beginning of the experiment were allocated to pastures with water and mineral supplement offered ad libitum. Animal liveweight was recorded at 14 day-intervals after 16 hours of fasting. Lambs on the pasture of buffel grass+leucaena showed good performance with no variation in daily liveweight gain rate, when the stocking rate increased from 4 to 6 animals/ha. Buffel grass+Cajanus cajan pasture did not improve animal performance as compared to buffel grass pasture. It was concluded that leucaena, used as protein supplement, can improve the quality of buffel grass pastures.

Bezüglich der Winteraussenhaltung von Rindern liegen umfassende Untersuchungen zu Teilaspekten wie Futterqualität und Ertrag des „Winterfutters auf dem Halm“, Wirtschaftlichkeit, physikalische und chemische Einflüsse auf den Boden am Weidestandort sowie Verhalten, Wohlbefinden und Gesundheit der Weidetiere vor. Die vorliegende Arbeit befasst sich mit der Schädigung der Grasnarbe nach Winterbeweidung sowie deren Regeneration. Grundlage waren fünf Betriebe mit überwiegend langjährig praktizierter Winteraussenhaltung von Fleischrindern und Mutterkühen in den Regionen Westerwald und Lahn-Dill-Bergland. Teilbereiche der Winterweiden mit den Schadensintensitäten 0 (ungeschädigt), 25, 50, 75 und 100 % (Totalausfall der Vegetation) dienten zur Anlage von Dauerbeobachtungsflächen. Wiederholt erfasste Zielgrößen waren die Bodenbedeckung sowie die Ertragsanteile der vorkommenden Arten, die nach ökologischen und funktionellen Artengruppen gegliedert zusammengefasst wurden. Untersuchungen der Bodensamenbank und ein Versuch zur Trittwirkung mit einer mechanischen Rinderklaue ergänzen die über Vegetationsaufnahmen gewonnen Daten. Folgende Ergebnisse lassen sich herausstellen: 1. Eine einmalige Winterbeweidung bewirkt auch bei starken Trittschäden keine signifikante Veränderung des anstehenden Pflanzenbestandes, obwohl Etablierungsmöglichkeiten für z. T. unerwünschte Arten eröffnet werden. Bei langfristiger Durchführung dieser Haltungsform kann es in Bereichen, die regelmäßig stark geschädigt werden zu nachhaltigen Änderungen in der Narbenzusammensetzung kommen. Ansonsten unterscheiden sich auch nach langjähriger Nutzung die Winterweiden nicht grundsätzlich von reinen Sommerweiden. 2. Weidebereiche mit nicht völlig zerstörter Grasnarbe regenerieren sich bei Verzicht auf Nachsaat deutlich besser als vegetationslose Areale. Als geeignete Schadschwelle, deren Unterschreitung noch eine ausreichende Selbstregeneration ermöglicht, kann eine Lückigkeit von bis zu 75 % angesehen werden. 3. In Weidebereichen, die wiederholt zu mehr als 75 % geschädigt werden, treten signifikant erhöhte Ertragsanteile von Therophyten, Stickstoffzeigern und Arten mit hoher Tritt- und Weideverträglichkeit sowie geringem Futterwert auf. Dementsprechend können diese ökologischen Kennwerte sowie die Lebensform Therophyt als Indikatoren für durch Winterbeweidung beeinflusste Pflanzenbestände herangezogen werden. 4. Die Simulation von Trittbelastung mit Verbiss zu verschiedenen Terminen im Winter hat nach zwei Jahren Versuchsdauer noch keinen Einfluss auf die Bestandszusammensetzung. Jedoch sind im Mai erhobene Wuchshöhen und TS-Erträge von im November trittbehandelten bzw. beernteten Beständen geringer als die von im Februar bei Frost behandelten Beständen. 5. Für eine rasche Regeneration ist es vorteilhaft, totale Narbenschäden durch Wechsel der Futterplätze und Umtrieb zu vermeiden bzw. kleinflächig zu halten. Hierfür sind mobile Systeme empfehlenswert. 6. Darüber hinaus können offenbar vor allem die Gräser Dactylis glomerata, Festuca pratensis und Lolium perenne bezogen auf Ausdauer, Belastbarkeit im Winter und Futterwert als für Winterweiden gut geeignet beurteilt werden. Previous studies concerning to year-round outdoor keeping of livestock give attention to aspects like fodder quality and yield of the “fodder on the spear”, economics, physical and chemical impacts on the soil of the pasture, behaviour, animal-comfort and health. The thesis at hand concerns the damaging of the sward after winter pasturing and its regeneration. Bases were five farms with longstanding practise of year-round outdoor keeping of suckler cows and beef cattle, located in the regions Westerwald- and Lahn-Dill-Highlands. Plots with the extents of sward damage 0 (unharmed), 25, 50, 75, and 100 % (no aboveground vegetation left) had been established in these winter pastures. Targets were percentage of gaps and yield proportions of present species, summarized to ecologic and functional groups. A seed bank analysis and a treading experiment with a mechanical cow foot were additional conducted. The results can be summarized as follows: 1. No significant changes in sward composition were evident if winter pasturing was practised once. Even though, damages of sward by treading allow unwanted species to establish. Areas, which are periodical damaged in longstanding practice of winter pasturing, are at risk to lasting changes in sward composition. Otherwise winter pastures do not basically differ from pure summer pastures. 2. Pasture areas with sufficient residual vegetation regenerate themselves much better than areas without any aboveground biomass as long as no repair seeding has been undertaken. A damage intensity of 75 % still allows an adequate self-regeneration of the sward. 3. In repeated disturbed pasture areas with a damage intensity up to 75 % increased proportions of nitrogen indicator species, treading tolerant and undesirable species as well as therophytes are found. These biological and ecological characteristics can be used as indicators for degenerated sward composition by longstanding winter pasturing. 4. Simulation of treading and defoliation at different winter dates alone had no effect on sward composition. Sward height and dry-matter yield in May are significantly lower when treading was simulated in November compared to treading simulation in February under freezing conditions. 5. It is advisable for a rapidly regeneration to minimize completely sward damages by altering feeding grounds and rotational grazing systems. 6. As an additional conclusion, mainly Dactylis glomerata, Festuca pratensis and Lolium perenne can be assessed to be good dedicated species for winter pastures relating to persistence, winter-hardiness and forage value.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the economics of pasturing feeder steers on irrigated alfalfa and compare this alternative to harvesting, storing, and selling alfalfa hay as well as selling standing alfalfa in the field. Available prices, costs and returns were calculated for fall planted wheat as a rotation crop, alfalfa establishment, alfalfa hay, alfalfa sold standing in the field, and pasturing feeder steers of different weight classifications on alfalfa with side roll irrigation. A case study mode 1 farm was developed to examine the cost and returns of each enterprise option. The pasturing of feeder steers on alfalfa was found to have the highest returns to land and management with the exception of the 450-pound weight class. The other enterprise alternative that showed promise was selling alfalfa standing in the field.

This essay, which is the 6(th) in the series "Recollections, Reflections, and Revelations: Ethnobiologists and Their First Time in the Field", is a personal reflection by the researcher on his first field experiences with ethnobiology. Author writes on how Hungarian herders in the Hortobágy salt steppes and Csángó people in the Carpathian mountains changed his views on landscape, vegetation, local people, traditional small-scale grassland management and finally, ecology and nature conservation.