Monitoring the Effect of Weed Encroachment on Cattle Behavior in Grazing Systems Using GPS Tracking Collars

Abstract

Weed encroachment on grasslands can negatively affect herbage allowance and animal behavior, impacting livestock production. We used low-cost GPS collars fitted to twenty-four Angus crossbred steers to evaluate the effects of different levels of weed encroachment on animal activities and spatial distribution. The experiment was established with a randomized complete block design, with three treatments and four blocks. The treatments were paddocks free of weeds (weed-free), paddocks with weeds established in alternated strips (weed-strips), and paddocks with weeds spread throughout the entire area (weed-infested). Animals in weed-infested paddocks had reduced resting time and increased grazing time, distance traveled, and rate of travel (p < 0.05) compared to animals in weed-free paddocks. The spatial distribution of the animals was consistently greater in weed-free paddocks than in weed-strips or weed-infested areas. The effects of weed encroachment on animal activities were minimized after weed senescence at the end of the growing season. Pasture weed encroachment affected cattle behavior and their spatial distribution across the pasture, potentially impacting animal welfare. Further long-term studies are encouraged to evaluate the impacts of weed encroachment on animal performance and to quantify the effects of behavioral changes on animal energy balance.

Using Activity Measures and GPS Data from a Virtual Fencing System to Assess Habitat Preference and Habitat Utilisation Patterns in Cattle

“…Recent advances in precision livestock farming technologies, such as GPS-based virtual fencing, allow for greater control of grazing pastures and easier monitoring of animals, providing potential benefits for both production, nature conservation and animal welfare [1][2][3]. This is especially true in areas with sloped and hilly terrain where traditional physical fencing can be challenging and labour intensive [4,5]. In the last few decades, there has been an increased focus on monitoring livestock in both production and nature conservation settings to make better and more informed management decisions [6][7][8][9].…”

Using Activity Measures and GNSS Data from a Virtual Fencing System to Assess Habitat Preference and Habitat Utilisation Patterns in Cattle

“…Recent advances in precision livestock farming technologies, such as GNSS-based virtual fencing, allow for greater control of grazing pastures and easier monitoring of animals, providing potential benefits for both production, nature conservation, and animal welfare [1][2][3]. This is especially true in areas with sloped and hilly terrain, where traditional physical fencing can be challenging and labour intensive [4,5]. In the last few decades, there has been an increased focus on monitoring livestock in both production and nature conservation settings to make better and more informed management decisions [6][7][8][9].…”