Native trees and shrubs for the productive rehabilitation of tropical cattle ranching lands

Murgueitio, Enrique; Calle, Zoraida; Uribe, Fernando; Calle, Alicia; Solorio, Baldomero

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2010.09.027

Cited by 350 publications

(312 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Here, the improved herbage quality in the SPS was probably good enough to reach the animal genetic potential. However, the carrying capacity was lower than that reported by Murgueitio et al (2011).…”

Section: Nutritive Valuecontrasting

confidence: 75%

“…Great productivity has been reported in intensive SPSs with Leucaena planted at high densities (10 000 plants/ha), which can be directly grazed by livestock (Murgueitio et al, 2011). In terms of productivity, the results have indicated high carrying capacity (4.3 cow/ha) and milk production (16 000 l/ha per year) (Murgueitio et al, 2011).…”

Section: Nutritive Valuementioning

confidence: 99%

“…These systems have the potential to increase soil fertility, improve forage quality and animal production, promote animal thermal comfort and provide income diversification for the producer (Rozados-Lorenzo et al, 2007;Paciullo et al, 2011). There are also environmental benefits, such as biodiversity conservation (Murgueitio et al, 2011) and increase of the potential for sequestration of carbon, compared with treeless pastures (Andrade et al, 2008;Schoeneberger, 2009;Soto-Pinto et al, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sward characteristics and performance of dairy cows in organic grass–legume pastures shaded by tropical trees

Paciullo

Pires

Aroeira

et al. 2014

Animal

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The silvopastoral system (SPS) has been suggested to ensure sustainability in animal production systems in tropical ecosystems. The objective of this study was to evaluate pasture characteristics, herbage intake, grazing activity and milk yield of Holstein × Zebu cows managed in two grazing systems (treatments): SPS dominated by a graminaceous forage (Brachiaria decumbens) intercropped with different leguminous herbaceous forages (Stylosanthes spp., Pueraria phaseoloides and Calopogonium mucunoides) and legume trees (Acacia mangium, Gliricidia sepium and Leucaena leucocephala), and open pasture (OP) of B. decumbens intercropped only with Stylosanthes spp. Pastures were managed according to the rules for organic cattle production. The study was carried out by following a switch back format with 12 cows, 6 for each treatment, over 3 experimental years. Herbage mass was similar ( P > 0.05) for both treatments, supporting an average stocking rate of 1.23 AU/ha. Daily dry matter intake did not vary ( P > 0.05) between treatments (average of 11.3 ± 1.02 kg/cow per day, corresponding to 2.23 ± 0.2% BW). Milk yield was higher ( P < 0.05; 10.4 ± 0.06 kg/cow per day) in the SPS than in the OP (9.5 ± 0.06 kg/cow per day) during the 1 st year, but did not significantly differ ( P > 0.05) in subsequent years. The highest ( P < 0.05) values for herbage mass and milk yield were observed during the 3 rd year. In the SPS, with moderate shade (19% shade relative to a full-sun condition), the grass CP was higher ( P < 0.05) than in the OP, although the NDF content and digestibility coefficient were not modified. The animals spent more time ( P < 0.05) idling in the SPS than in OP. The higher legume proportion in the SPS was associated with the higher CP level in B. decumbens relative to the OP, which could explain the better ( P < 0.05) performance of the cows in silvopastoral areas during the 1 st year. However, during the 2 nd and 3 rd years, similarities in the legume percentages of both systems resulted in similar ( P > 0.05) milk yields. Low persistence of Stylosanthes guianensis was observed over the experimental period, indicating that the persistence of forage legumes under grazing could be improved using adapted cultivars that have higher annual seed production. The SPS and a diversified botanical composition of the pasture using legume species mixed with grasses are recommended for organic milk production.

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Section: Nutritive Valuecontrasting

confidence: 75%

Section: Nutritive Valuementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sward characteristics and performance of dairy cows in organic grass–legume pastures shaded by tropical trees

Paciullo

Pires

Aroeira

et al. 2014

Animal

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“…For instance, Paciullo et al (2014) showed that milk yield could be higher by 1 kg/cow per day in agrosilvopastoral systems compared with open pastures, but discussed that the effect was not always persistent over successive years. Transition of extensive pastoralism to agroforestry may also result in a range of socioeconomic benefits (Tilman et al, 2002;Murgueitio et al, 2011), such as risk reduction due to supply of alternative market products and higher incomes. Agroforestry has been shown to enhance rural livelihoods by providing firewood and preventing soil degradation, increasing biodiversity and the provision of ecosystem services, for example by increasing carbon storage (Tilman et al, 2002;German et al, 2006;Murgueitio et al, 2011).…”

Section: Agroforestrymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Transition of extensive pastoralism to agroforestry may also result in a range of socioeconomic benefits (Tilman et al, 2002;Murgueitio et al, 2011), such as risk reduction due to supply of alternative market products and higher incomes. Agroforestry has been shown to enhance rural livelihoods by providing firewood and preventing soil degradation, increasing biodiversity and the provision of ecosystem services, for example by increasing carbon storage (Tilman et al, 2002;German et al, 2006;Murgueitio et al, 2011). Trees and shrubs planted in strips surrounding pasturelands also decrease soil erosion and act as ecological corridors.…”

Section: Agroforestrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Intensification of cattle ranching production systems: socioeconomic and environmental synergies and risks in Brazil

Latawiec

Strassburg

Valentim

et al. 2014

Animal

117

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Intensification of Brazilian cattle ranching systems has attracted both national and international attention due to its direct relation with Amazon deforestation on the one hand and increasing demand of the global population for meat on the other. Since Brazilian cattle ranching is predominantly pasture-based, we particularly focus on pasture management. We summarize the most recurrent opportunities and risks associated with pasture intensification that are brought up within scientific and political dialogues, and discuss them within the Brazilian context. We argue that sustainable intensification of pasturelands in Brazil is a viable way to increase agricultural output while simultaneously sparing land for nature. Since environmental degradation is often associated with low-yield extensive systems in Brazil, it is possible to obtain higher yields, while reversing degradation, by adopting practices like rotational grazing, incorporation of legumes and integrated crop-livestock-forestry systems. Technical assistance is however essential, particularly for small-and medium-scale farmers. Sound complementary policies and good governance must accompany these measures so that a 'rebound effect' does not lead to increased deforestation and other adverse social and environmental impacts. It is also important that animal welfare is not compromised. Although the discussion is presented with respect to Brazil, some aspects are relevant to other developing countries.

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Amphibian responses to livestock use of wetlands: new empirical data and a global review

Howell

Mothes

Clements

et al. 2019

Ecological Applications

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Pastureland currently occupies 26% of Earth's ice-free land surface. As the global human population continues to increase and developing countries consume more proteinrich diets, the amount of land devoted to livestock grazing will only continue to rise. To mitigate the loss of global biodiversity as a consequence of the ever-expanding amount of land converted from native habitat into pastureland for livestock grazing, an understanding of how livestock impact wildlife is critical. While previous reviews have examined the impact of livestock on a wide variety of taxa, there have been no reviews examining how global livestock grazing affects amphibians. We conducted both an empirical study in south-central Florida examining the impact of cattle on amphibian communities and a quantitative literature review of similar studies on five continents. Our empirical study analyzed amphibian community responses to cattle as both a binary (presence/absence) variable, and as a continuous variable based on cow pie density. Across all analyses, we were unable to find any evidence that cattle affected the amphibian community at our study site. The literature review returned 46 papers that met our criteria for inclusion. Of these studies, 15 found positive effects of livestock on amphibians, 21 found neutral/mixed effects, and 10 found negative effects. Our quantitative analysis of these data indicates that amphibian species that historically occurred in closedcanopy habitats are generally negatively affected by livestock presence. In contrast, opencanopy amphibians are likely to experience positive effects from the presence of livestock, and these positive effects are most likely to occur in locations with cooler climates and/or greater precipitation seasonality. Collectively, our empirical work and literature review demonstrate that under the correct conditions well-managed rangelands are able to support diverse assemblages of amphibians. These rangeland ecosystems may play a critical role in protecting future amphibian biodiversity by serving as an "off-reserve" system to supplement the biodiversity conserved within traditional protected areas.

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Native trees and shrubs for the productive rehabilitation of tropical cattle ranching lands

Cited by 350 publications

References 47 publications

Sward characteristics and performance of dairy cows in organic grass–legume pastures shaded by tropical trees

Sward characteristics and performance of dairy cows in organic grass–legume pastures shaded by tropical trees

Intensification of cattle ranching production systems: socioeconomic and environmental synergies and risks in Brazil

Amphibian responses to livestock use of wetlands: new empirical data and a global review

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