Building the GLENCOE Platform -Grasslands LENding eConomic and ecOsystems sErvices

To feed the rising population whilst also preserving ecosystem functions, creative solutions are needed for the ecological intensification of natural grassland-based livestock systems. In Uruguay, natural grasslands are the main nutritional resource for livestock production. In these ecosystems, cattle and sheep graze together all the year round, and grasslands are frequently heavily grazed. Considerable research has been generated concerning grassland management, but there is still no knowledge about the impact of decision rules that supports management actions on long-term ecosystem functioning, at the system level. To meet this deficit, a participatory working group of farmers, researchers, and consultants have developed the GLENCOE platform. This platform is a large-scale facility, supported by INIA-Uruguay, designed to answer the following question: How to intensify the grazing management to improve the sustainability of livestock systems based on natural grasslands? To build the platform three steps were followed: (I) definition of the research problem using a problem tree analysis; (ii) conceptualization of the platform and the design of the grazing systems to be evaluated; and, (iii) spatial allocation of the grazing systems according to the variability of soil, slopes, and seasonal dynamic of vegetation indexes. These criteria were considered across farmlets that were equivalent in the initial stage, allowing causal inferences for the systems trajectories on productive and environmental traits. The platform is composed of three independent farmlets of 50 ha each, where multiparous Hereford cows and Merinos wethers co-graze under three grazing management systems. Each farmlet is managed according to different spatio-temporal decisions of the specific management of vegetation communities, grazing methods, and the stockpile of forage that is allowed by the number of the existing paddocks. Farmlet-1; comprises less decisions (2 paddocks), Farmlet-2; intermediate (8 paddocks), and Farmlet-3; high level of decisions (32 paddocks). This innovative platform will be used as a participatory and interdisciplinary space for research and co-learning of management on processes that can only be observed in long-term evaluations, and at farmlet scale. We expect that this new approach will contribute to the developement and implemention of sustainable grazing management systems in Uruguay

Low-Intensity, High-Frequency Grazing Strategy Increases Herbage Production and Beef Cattle Performance on Sorghum Pastures

We assessed the effects of high-intensity and low-frequency (HILF) vs. low-intensity and high-frequency (LIHF) grazing on herbage production and performance of beef cattle grazing sorghum pastures. The experimental design was a complete randomized block with two treatments and four replicates (paddocks), carried out in 2014/15. The management target of 50 and 30 cm for pre- and post-grazing, respectively, a LIHF grazing management strategy oriented to maximize beef cattle herbage intake per unit time, was compared with a HILF grazing management strategy of 80 and 20 cm for pre- and post-grazing, respectively, aiming to maximize herbage accumulation and harvest efficiency. Sixteen Brangus steers of 15-month-old and 265 ± 21 kg of live weight (LW) were randomly distributed to paddocks (experimental units). The LIHF resulted in shorter rest periods when compared with the HILF. The greater leaf lamina mass in LIHF allowed greater sward light interception at post-grazing, resulting in greater total herbage production than HILF (7581 and 4154 kg DM/ha, respectively). The average daily gain (ADG) of steers was greater for the LIHF than for the HILF treatment (0.950 and 0.702 kg/animal, respectively); however, even with a greater stocking rate in the HILF, there was no difference for LW gain per ha, with an average of 4 kg LW/ha/day. Our findings demonstrated that the LIHF strategy that is based on offering to the animals an optimal sward structure to favor the maximum herbage intake rate fosters greater herbage production, harvesting efficiency, and ADG without compromising LW gain per area of beef steers, despite the lower herbage harvested per stocking cycle

Purified and enriched lignin as a marker to estimate faecal output of sheep fed temperate and tropical grasses

peer reviewedA series of trials were conducted in different experimental and feeding conditions to evaluate a purified and enriched lignin extracted from Eucalyptus grandis (LIPE®) as a marker to estimate faecal output in sheep fed temperate and tropical grasses. Two indoor trials were conducted in metabolism cages: the first one (Trial I) was conducted with sheep fed Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) pastures, which was evaluated in two different periods [Period I (n = 14), and Period II (n = 15)], and the second one (Trial II) was performed with sheep fed pearl millet [Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke] pastures (n = 16). Grazing trials were performed with sheep grazing Italian ryegrass [Trial III (n = 62)] and pearl millet [Trial IV (n = 34)]. According to the manufacturer's statements, sheep were dosed once a day with capsules containing 250 mg of LIPE® for a period of seven days, beginning two days before total faecal collections started and finishing on the last faecal collection day. To measure the observed daily faecal output, sheep were harnessed with faecal bags that were emptied once a day at 0800 h for five days. Faecal subsamples from indoor and grazing trials were taken to determine the LIPE® content by infrared spectroscopy. Regression analyses performed between estimated and observed faecal output (g DM/kg LW/day) by sheep were not significant (p > 0.05) in three of the four evaluated trials. Faecal LIPE® recovery from the total data of the four trials showed a statistical difference when compared to the reference value (100%). In conclusion, our results show that the LIPE® marker presents low accuracy to estimate the daily faecal output of sheep fed temperate (Italian ryegrass) and tropical (pearl millet) grasses

‘Rotatinuous’ stocking as a climate-smart grazing management strategy for sheep production

We aimed to evaluate the effect of different grazing management strategies on carcass characteristics traits, meat quality and CH4 intensity and yield of lambs grazing Italian ryegrass pastures in Southern Brazil. A grazing trial was performed (2014 and 2015) in a randomized complete block design with two grazing management targets and four replicates. Treatments were traditional rotational stocking (RT), with pre- and post-grazing sward heights of 25 and 5 cm, respectively, and ‘Rotatinuous’ stocking (RN), with pre- and post-grazing sward heights of 18 and 11 cm, respectively. Castrated crossbred Texel and Polwarth lambs were used. Results indicated that diet cost per kg of dry matter (p = 0.001) and per hectare (p < 0.001) were lower for RN than for RT treatment. Final live weight (p = 0.022) and hot and cold carcass weight (p = 0.006) were greater for the RN treatment. All commercial cuts were greater for RN than for RT treatment. The RN treatment presented greater (p < 0.001) production of carcass, edible food and crude protein. Feed efficiency and feed cost conversion were better for RN than for RT treatment. CH4 intensity per kg of carcass, edible food and crude protein gain were 2.6, 2.7 and 2.1 times lower (p < 0.001) for RN. Moreover, CH4 yield was lower (p = 0.014) for RN than for RT treatment, with an average of 7.6 and 8.3% of the gross energy intake, respectively. We conclude that the ‘Rotatinuous’ stocking results in a greater carcass production, carcass quality and lower diet cost, and CH4 intensity and yield of grazing lambs. Adopting this grazing management strategy could enhance both lamb production and mitigation of CH4 intensity and yield in grazing ecosystems, which could be considered a good example of climate-smart livestock production.Universal-CNPq nº 481941/2013-

Effect of sward management on the emissions of CH4 and N2O from faeces of sheep grazing Italian ryegrass pastures

Rotatinuous stocking (RN) management is based on animal ingestive behaviour responses, where optimal pre- and post-grazing sward heights are defined to increase nutrient intake per unit of grazing time. We hypothesized that the optimal sward structure and consequently, a high herbage nutritive value in RN treatment results in a greater faecal nitrogen (N) excretion by sheep and consequently, a greater faecal greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared with the traditional rotational stocking (RT) management, which is based on a maximum herbage accumulation and harvest. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of two grazing management strategies (RN and RT) on the amount of dry matter (DM) faecal excretion, faecal N excretion and faecal GHG (CH4 and N2O) emissions from growing sheep grazing Italian ryegrass pastures. In order to evaluate faecal production and N excretion per animal and per ha, a first experiment (1) was carried out: RT - pre and post-grazing sward heights of 25 and 5 cm, respectively and, RN - pre and post-grazing sward heights of 18 and 11 cm, respectively. A second experiment (2) was carried out to measure the CH4 and N2O fluxes from faeces, using the static chamber method. Daily DM faecal and N excretion per animal were higher (P < 0.001) in RN compared with RT treatment. However, when considered daily DM faecal and N excretion per ha, results were lower (P < 0.001) for the RN than the RT treatment. CH4 and N2O emissions from faeces were higher (P < 0.001) in RN compared with RT treatment, both per animal and per hectare. In conclusion, our study showed that the RN grazing management, based on animal behaviour, resulted in a higher daily N excretion per animal and higher CH4 and N2O emissions from faeces of sheep grazing Italian ryegrass pastures. This study contributes to improve GHG national inventories for the subtropical Brazilian climatic conditions, where estimations from CH4 and N2O emissions factors for faeces from growing sheep grazing Italian ryegrass are markedly lower than the values reported by IPCC Default Tier 1.Fil: Savian, Jean Víctor. Institucional Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria; Uruguay. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Priano, Maria Eugenia. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Centro de Investigaciones en Física e Ingeniería del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tandil. Centro de Investigaciones en Física e Ingeniería del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. - Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigaciones en Física e Ingeniería del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Nadin, Laura Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Tieri, María Paz. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Santa Fe. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela; ArgentinaFil: Três Schons, Radael Marinho. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Basso, Catarine. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Prates, Arthur Pontes. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Bayer, Cimélio. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Carvalho, Paulo César de Faccio. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasi

Land-use intensification trends in the Rio de la Plata region of South America: Toward specialization or recoupling crop and livestock production

The Rio de la Plata region comprises central Argentina, Uruguay, and southern Brazil. Modern agriculture developed around 1900 with recent decades being characterized by the advance of cropping areas over native grasslands. Highly specialized agriculture has decoupled crop and livestock production but has succeeded in intensifying yields. However, significant losses of ecosystem services have been reported. Thus, questions have been raised on the sustainability of this pathway. A glance at world regions that have experienced similar trends suggests that an urgent course correction is needed. A major concern has been the lack of diversity in regions with highly specialized agriculture, promoting renewed interest in integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS), not only because ICLS are more diverse than specialized systems, but also because they are rare examples of reconciliation between agroecosystem intensification and environmental quality. Consequently, this paper discusses alternatives to redesign multifunctional landscapes based on ICLS. Recent data provide evidence that recoupling crop and animal production increases the resilience of nutrient cycling functions and economic indicators to external stressors, enabling these systems to face climate-market uncertainty and reconcile food production with the provision of diverse ecosystem services. Finally, these concepts are exemplified in case studies where this perspective has been successfully applied.Fil: De Faccio Carvalho, Paulo Cesar. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Savian, Jean Víctor. Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria ? Inia Uruguay; UruguayFil: Della Chiesa, Tomás. Universidad de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: De Souza Filho, William. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Terra, Jose Alfredo. Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria. Inia; UruguayFil: Pinto, Priscila. Universidad de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Posselt Martins, Amanda. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Villarino, Sebastián Horacio. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; ArgentinaFil: Da Trindade, Julio Kuhn. Livestock and Rural Development of Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: De Albuquerque Nunes, Pedro Arthur. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Piñeiro, Gervasio. Universidad de la Republica; Urugua

Feed intake, methane yield, and efficiency of utilization of energy and nitrogen by sheep fed tropical grasses

Forage allowance impacts dry matter (DM) intake and the use of nutrients by ruminants. The efficient use of protein and energy from pasture is related to better livestock performance and lower environmental impacts. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effect of forage allowance levels on intake, digestibility, nitrogen (N) and energy balance, and methane (CH4) emissions by lambs fed fresh pearl millet [Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke]. An indoor trial was performed using lambs in a completely randomized design with four treatments [forage allowance at 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 kg DM/100 kg of live weight (LW), and ad libitum allowing 20% of refusals] and four replicates (lambs). Forage intake, digestibility, total urine and feces excretion, and CH4 emission were measured to calculate N and energy balances. An increase in forage allowance resulted in a linear increase in lamb forage intake, N retention, and metabolizable energy intake. Moreover, lamb CH4 emission (g/day) also increased with greater forage allowance, while CH4 yield decreased linearly as forage allowance increased. Our results indicate that maximizing forage intake improves N and energy use efficiency and mitigates CH4 yield and decreases CH4 conversion factor (Ym) by lambs fed pearl millet forage. Thus, management strategies that optimize intake of tropical forages by ruminants improve the use of nutrients ingested and mitigates negative impacts to the environment.Fil: de Azevedo, Eduardo Bohrer. Universidade Federal do Pampa; BrasilFil: Savian, Jean Víctor. Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria ; UruguayFil: Azevedo do Amaral, Gláucia. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Bitencourt de David, Diego. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Gere, José Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Buenos Aires. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo de las Ingenierías; ArgentinaFil: Kohmann, Marta Moura. University of Florida; Estados UnidosFil: Bremm, Carolina. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Jochims, Felipe. Santa Catarina Research and Rural Extension Company; BrasilFil: Zubieta, Angel Sánchez. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Gonda, Horacio Leandro. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences; SueciaFil: Bayer, Cimélio. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Faccio Carvalho, Paulo César de. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasi

Replication Data for: Adequate vegetative cover decreases nitrous oxide emissions from cattle urine deposited in grazed pastures under rainy season conditions

The new Latin America Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Network (LAMNET) is a regional subsidiary of The Climate Food and Farming Research Network (CLIFF), an international research network that helps to build the capacity of young researchers working on climate change mitigation in smallholder farming. The objective of the network is to enhance regional capacity to conduct mitigation research. Experiments at seven sites in five countries of LAC region compared emissions from paired pastures with low vegetative cover and adequate vegetative cover based on a combination of estimates of aboveground biomass and local farmer assessments. Were quantified N2O emissions from simulated cattle urine patches with closed static chamber methodology. • Major variables: Urine content (Kg N ha-1), Daily flux (mg N2O m-2 d-1), Accumulated fluxes (Kg N _ N2O ha-1), Emission factor _ urine

Replication Data for: Adequate vegetative cover decreases nitrous oxide emissions from cattle urine deposited in grazed pastures under rainy season conditions

The new Latin America Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Network (LAMNET) is a regional subsidiary of The Climate Food and Farming Research Network (CLIFF), an international research network that helps to build the capacity of young researchers working on climate change mitigation in smallholder farming. The objective of the network is to enhance regional capacity to conduct mitigation research. Experiments at seven sites in five countries of LAC region compared emissions from paired pastures with low vegetative cover and adequate vegetative cover based on a combination of estimates of aboveground biomass and local farmer assessments. Were quantified N2O emissions from simulated cattle urine patches with closed static chamber methodology. Major variables: Urine content (Kg N ha-1), Daily flux (mg N2O m-2 d-1), Accumulated fluxes (Kg N _ N2O ha-1), Emission factor _ urine. </ul