A pilot study on the foraging behaviour of heifers in intensive silvopastoral and monoculture systems in the tropics

Abstract

Intensive silvopastoral systems (ISS) are a sustainable alternative to monoculture systems (MS). The presence of trees and legumes improves animal welfare due to the increased food quality and quantity and the presence of shade while providing a variety of environmental services. As cattle behaviour is greatly affected by environmental conditions, knowledge on the behavioural trade-offs that cattle make to meet their demands while foraging in different grazing systems is important, as this will help us understand the perceived advantages of ISS. This pilot study assessed the behaviour of heifers in an ISS (n=8 heifers) and MS (n=8 heifers) in the Mexican tropics during the dry and rainy seasons, and its relationship with forage availability, mean travelled distance and the temperature humidity index (THI). In both seasons, daily foraging times were longer in the MS than the ISS (P<0.01). The duration of rumination was higher for ISS (P<0.01) and the duration of lying was higher for the dry season (P<0.05). The decrease in foraging times in relation to THI was significantly higher in the ISS than in the MS (mean slope±SE: ISS=-4.64±0.34; MS=-2.34±0.22; t=-14.20, P<0.001). The results suggest that the forage availability and access to shade in the ISS allow cattle to rest longer and increase rumination, whereas cattle in MS spend more time searching for food and foraging at times of the day were the temperatures were higher as a compensatory strategy, which potentially decreases cattle's welfare and production qualities when compared with the ISS. In conclusion, ISS are likely to generate positive behavioural trade-offs that result in better welfare conditions and higher productive potential.

Sistemas silvopastoriles: una alternativa para la ganadería bovina sostenible

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Photoelastic plasmonic metasurfaces with ultra-large near infrared spectral tuning

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The Effect of Maternal Behavior around Calving on Reproduction and Wellbeing of Zebu Type Cows and Calves

“…Amendola et al [ 64 ] performed an interesting experiment comparing a group of heifers grazing in a silvopastoral scheme as opposed to a monoculture system during two distinct seasons of the year in the dry tropics of Mexico, concluding that the hierarchy in the silvopastoral system was more constant and stable between seasons compared to the monoculture system. The same group [ 65 ] compared the effect of improved pastures and shaded areas in the hottest months of the year, as opposed to the traditional system of monoculture, suggesting that forage availability and access to shade allow cattle to have longer periods of rest, permitting a better rumination and general performance. These experiments were carried out in heifers; therefore, how such factors affect mother and offspring relationships remains to be elucidated.…”