Characterisation of extensive beef cattle systems: Disparities between opinions, practice and policy

Morgan-Davies, J.; Morgan-Davies, C; Pollock, M. L.; Holland, J.; Waterhouse, A.

doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2014.01.016

Cited by 19 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…As with dairy cattle, traits related to animal health in beef cattle would become more relevant under the climate change scenario than in the current climate for all RFs except SRUC-KA, which would, nevertheless, start selecting beef cattle based on hardiness to cope with predictions of more variable rangeland and upland conditions. Coincidently, hardiness is one of the main criteria when selecting breeds for rangeland environments, along with longevity and fertility (Morgan-Davies et al 2014). Similarly, ESL would improve disease and parasite tolerance by using adapted breeds (Oliveira et al 2013) and resilient production systems, such as the silvopastoral approach (De S. Oliveira et al 2017).…”

Section: Beef Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Key traits for ruminant livestock across diverse production systems in the context of climate change: perspectives from a global platform of research farms

Rivero

López‐Villalobos

Evans

et al. 2021

Reprod. Fertil. Dev.

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Ruminant livestock are raised under diverse cultural and environmental production systems around the globe. Ruminant livestock can play a critical role in food security by supplying high-quality, nutrient-dense food with little or no competition for arable land while simultaneously improving soil health through vital returns of organic matter. However, in the context of climate change and limited land resources, the role of ruminant-based systems is uncertain because of their reputed low efficiency of feed conversion (kilogram of feed required per kilogram of product) and the production of methane as a by-product of enteric fermentation. A growing human population will demand more animal protein, which will put greater pressure on the Earth’s planetary boundaries and contribute further to climate change. Therefore, livestock production globally faces the dual challenges of mitigating emissions and adapting to a changing climate. This requires research-led animal and plant breeding and feeding strategies to optimise ruminant systems. This study collated information from a global network of research farms reflecting a variety of ruminant production systems in diverse regions of the globe. Using this information, key changes in the genetic and nutritional approaches relevant to each system were drawn that, if implemented, would help shape more sustainable future ruminant livestock systems.

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Section: Beef Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Key traits for ruminant livestock across diverse production systems in the context of climate change: perspectives from a global platform of research farms

Rivero

López‐Villalobos

Evans

et al. 2021

Reprod. Fertil. Dev.

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“…This was also linked by farmers to the speed of response of these animals to all kinds of stimuli (not only fear-generating ones). Since a large part of the breeding herd is still handled extensively, farmers value these adaptive traits in their cattle, coinciding with preferences of many producers of mountain livestock [ 41 , 42 ]. This could confirm that the behavioral responses that farmers use to describe temperament include traits such as boldness, exploration or activity [ 1 ], going beyond those strictly related to human handling.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Revisiting Cattle Temperament in Beef Cow-Calf Systems: Insights from Farmers’ Perceptions about an Autochthonous Breed

Estévez-Moreno

Lama

Villarroel

et al. 2021

Animals

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Understanding temperament is an important part of cattle production since undesirable temperament may cause serious problems associated with aggression, maternal care, and human safety. However, little is known about how farmers define or assess temperament, especially in autochthonous cattle breeds. The aim of this study was to explore perceptions of farmers about the temperament of the Pyrenean cattle breed with special attention to beef cow-calf systems in Spain. The methodology used to obtain the information was focus group discussions (FGD). Farmers defined temperament as a behavioural response to challenging situations imposed by human handling. Specific terms used were related to active or passive reactions to fear (e.g., “strong”, “aggressive”, “nervous”, “fearful”). The speed of response to stimuli was also important. Female temperament was thought to become more docile with age while bull temperament was more variable. Maternal aggressiveness was highlighted as a potential human safety problem, but also desirable in an extensively bred animal who may need to defend calves against predators. Anatomical characteristics were seen as unreliable predictors of temperament, while behavioural indicators were more widely used, such as “alertness”, which was a general trait of the breed, and “gaze”, which, when associated with an alert expression, suggests a potential threat. Sensory acuity, such as sight and smell, were thought to be related with temperament in some FGDs but there was no overall agreement as to whether different behavioural responses were due to differences in sensory acuity. The results from the study could be useful during training programs or in the development of new genetic selection schemes and evaluation protocols involving cattle temperament.

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“…Whether the result of livestock grazing practices, the historic drought affecting the rolling plains during our study, or both, some sites provided nesting cover that would have been thermally suitable for laying, incubation, and hatching quail for a longer portion of the reproductive season than did others. Although bobwhites existed historically under diverse agricultural land uses across their range (small farms to large ranches; Jackson, 1969 ; Leopold, 1931 ), the extensification ( Morgan-Davies et al, 2014 ) and/or intensification of land use threatens bobwhites. For example, over the last several decades, traditional agricultural systems have been replaced in the rolling plains by extensive “clean farming” cultivation and excessive cattle grazing ( Peterson, Wu & Rho, 2002 ; USDA-NASS, 2007 ; Wilkins et al, 2009 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inadequate thermal refuge constrains landscape habitability for a grassland bird species

Tomeček

Pierce

Reyna

et al. 2017

PeerJ

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Ecologists have long recognized the influence that environmental conditions have on abundance and range extent of animal species. We used the northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus; hereafter bobwhite) as a model species for studying how microclimates serve as refuge against severe weather conditions. This species serves as an indicator or umbrella species for other sensitive ground-nesting, grassland obligate species. We conducted a mensurative field experiment in the rolling plains of Texas, USA, a semi-arid ecosystem on the southwestern periphery of bobwhite range, to determine whether native bunch grasses, apparently suitable for bobwhite nesting, could reduce ambient temperature below levels harmful for eggs. During the nesting season, we compared temperature and relative humidity readings at daily heat maxima (i.e., the 3 h during each day with highest temperatures) during the nesting season over the course of two years at 63 suitable nest sites paired with 63 random locations (n = 126) using two sensors at ∼10 and ∼60 cm above ground level. Mean temperature at nest height was 2.3% cooler at nest sites (35.99 °C ± 0.07 SE) compared to random locations (36.81 °C ± 0.07 SE); at ambient height, nest sites were slightly cooler (32.78 °C ± 0.06 SE) than random location (32.99 °C ± 0.06 SE). Mean relative humidity at nest sites was greater at nest height (34.53% ± 0.112 SE) and ambient height (36.22% ± 0.10 SE) compared to random locations at nest (33.35% ± 0.12 SE) and ambient height (35.75% ± 0.10 SE). Based on these results, cover at sites that appear visually suitable for nesting by bobwhites and other ground nesting birds provided adequate thermal refuge in the rolling plains by maintaining cooler, moister microclimates than surrounding non-nesting locations. Post-hoc analyses of data revealed that habitat conditions surrounding suitable nest sites strongly influenced thermal suitability of the substrate. Given that eggs of bobwhites and probably other species would experience lethal temperatures without these thermal refuges in the context of proper habitat condition, nesting vegetation is a critical component of niche space for bobwhites and other ground nesting birds in semi-arid regions. Many contemporary land uses, however, degrade or destroy bunch grasses and grassland systems, and thus decrease landscape inhabitability. Conservationists working with obligate grassland species that require bunch grasses in semi-arid regions should develop land management strategies that maximize the availability of these thermal refuges across space and time.

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Characterisation of extensive beef cattle systems: Disparities between opinions, practice and policy

Cited by 19 publications

References 63 publications

Key traits for ruminant livestock across diverse production systems in the context of climate change: perspectives from a global platform of research farms

Key traits for ruminant livestock across diverse production systems in the context of climate change: perspectives from a global platform of research farms

Revisiting Cattle Temperament in Beef Cow-Calf Systems: Insights from Farmers’ Perceptions about an Autochthonous Breed

Inadequate thermal refuge constrains landscape habitability for a grassland bird species

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