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New Paradigms in Sustainable Forage-Livestock Production Systems

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A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Grassland and Pasture Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 December 2021) | Viewed by 33740

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Juan J. Villalba

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Guest Editor

Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University, 5230 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322-5230, USA
Interests: foraging behavior; diet selection; range ruminant nutrition and management; plant herbivore interactions

Prof. Dr. Jennifer MacAdam

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Guest Editor

Department of Plants, Soils & Climate, Utah State University, 4820 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322, USA
Interests: forage production; irrigated pasture management; forage physiology; forage management; ruminant production
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

A growing number of consumers expect transparency from retailers on the origin, nutritive value, environmental impact, and social implications of their food purchases. The production of red meat in particular has been associated with methane emissions, inefficient conversion of cereal grains to gain, negative impacts on air and water, and concerns about antibiotic and hormone use. This Special Issue of Agronomy is focused on establishing new paradigms of resilient forage–livestock systems that increase the storage of atmospheric carbon in the soil while optimizing the quality and quantity of red meat production without reliance on grain, hormones or antibiotics. Sustainable grazing systems employ legumes to supply nitrogen through biological fixation and to enhance forage nutritive value and comprise mixtures of shallow- and deep-rooted species to capture water and recycle nutrients. Holistic, perennial, regenerative, biologically diverse grazing systems include beneficial plant secondary metabolites that slow the mineralization of organic matter and nitrate leaching into groundwater and increase the storage of soil carbon that offsets enteric methane emissions. The forage plant species most appropriate for ruminant production systems will vary from region to region and will support ruminant production on agricultural land damaged by or unsuitable for annual cropping.

We welcome the submission of reviews or original research on resilient or regenerative place-specific forage–livestock systems that demonstrate efficient, profitable meat or milk production as part of a holistic system, or on elements or products of these systems, including forage plant or ruminant physiology, meat or milk quality, soil carbon sequestration, soil structure and water- and nutrient-holding capacity, microbial activity or nitrogen cycling, effects of plant secondary metabolites, beneficial plant, insect or microbial diversity, rotational stocking, and the sequestration and benefits of soil organic matter.

Prof. Dr. Juan J. Villalba
Prof. Dr. Jennifer MacAdam
Guest Editors

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Regenerative grazing
Sustainable agriculture
Sustainable beef production systems
Perennial legumes
Resilient ecosystems

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 1833 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Increased Nitrogen Retention and Reduced Methane Emissions of Beef Cattle Grazing Legume vs. Grass Irrigated Pastures in the Mountain West USA

by Jennifer W. MacAdam, Lance R. Pitcher, Andrea I. Bolletta, Raul D. Guevara Ballesteros, Karen A. Beauchemin, Xin Dai and Juan J. Villalba

Agronomy 2022, 12(2), 304; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy12020304 - 25 Jan 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2977

Abstract

Grazing studies were carried out over a 5-year period using pregnant cows, yearling calves and 2-year-old heifers to investigate the influence of diet on intake, methane (CH₄) emissions and retention of nitrogen (N). Monoculture legume (birdsfoot trefoil, BFT and cicer milkvetch, CMV) or grass (meadow bromegrass, MBG) pastures were rotationally stocked, and during year 4 and year 5, treatments were contrasted with total mixed rations (TMR) fed in confinement. The sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) method was used to continuously measure enteric CH₄ emissions. Intake was greater on legume pastures and on TMR than on grass pastures, and enteric CH₄ emissions per unit of intake were lower on legumes compared with grass pastures. Legume pastures had elevated non-fiber carbohydrate (NFC) concentrations (400 g kg⁻¹ dry matter; DM) typical of perennial legumes cultivated in the Mountain West. A N balance calculated in 2017–2018 demonstrated that N retention was greater for TMR and legume than grass pastures. Enteric CH₄ emissions of grazing cow herds account for the majority of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from beef production and can be significantly reduced by using highly digestible forage legumes. The N retention of legumes can potentially enhance the efficiency of N use, thereby increasing the sustainability of grasslands. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Paradigms in Sustainable Forage-Livestock Production Systems)

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13 pages, 2037 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Soil Microbial Activity and Biomass in Semiarid Agroforestry Systems Integrating Forage Cactus and Tree Legumes

by Dayanne Camelo, José Carlos Batista Dubeux, Jr., Mércia Virginia Ferreira dos Santos, Mario Andrade Lira, Jr., Giselle Gomes Monteiro Fracetto, Felipe José Cury Fracetto, Márcio Vieira da Cunha and Erinaldo Viana de Freitas

Agronomy 2021, 11(8), 1558; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy11081558 - 05 Aug 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3201

Abstract

Vegetation cover affects soil organic matter and activity of soil microorganisms. We investigated the intercropping effect of forage cactus with tree legumes on soil microbial biomass and organic matter in the semi-arid tropic, state of Pernambuco, Brazil. We assessed the following cropping systems: (i) Gliricidia sepium intercropped with cactus cv. IPA-Sertânia; (ii) Leucaena leucocephala intercropped with cactus cv. IPA-Sertânia; and (iii) Cactus cv. IPA-Sertânia in monoculture. Samples were collected during the dry and rainy seasons in the 0- to 0.10- and 0.10- to 0.20-m soil layers at 0, 1.5, 3.0, and 4.5 m in a perpendicular gradient from tree legume rows. The following responses were determined: δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N, C and N, microbial activity and biomass, and metabolic, microbial, and mineralization quotient. δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N varied with the distance from the trees. In the dry season and beginning of the rainy season, the cropping systems showed similar values for C, N, microbial activity, carbon, and nitrogen in the microbial biomass. The presence of tree legumes at the end of the rainy season favored soil microbiota, which showed a reduced loss of C-CO₂, with no indication of metabolic stress and greater microbial biomass and microbial quotient in relation to forage cactus in monoculture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Paradigms in Sustainable Forage-Livestock Production Systems)

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13 pages, 3126 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Manure Source and Cropping System Affect Nutrient Uptake by Cactus (Nopalea cochenillifera Salm Dyck)

by Felipe Martins Saraiva, José Carlos Batista Dubeux, Jr., Márcio Vieira da Cunha, Rômulo Simões Cezar Menezes, Mércia Virginia Ferreira dos Santos, Dayanne Camelo and Ivan Ferraz

Agronomy 2021, 11(8), 1512; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy11081512 - 29 Jul 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1906

Abstract

Forage cactus responds positively to organic fertilization. However, little is known about the mineralization dynamics of the various sources of existing organic fertilizers. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the release of nutrients from different manure types and the nutrient accumulation in forage cactus across different cropping systems. Different manure sources (cattle, goat, sheep, and broiler litter) were evaluated for the following cropping systems: (i) Gliricidia sepium intercropped with cactus cv. IPA-Sertânia; (ii) Leucaena leucocephala intercropped with cactus cv. IPA-Sertânia; and (iii) Cactus cv. IPA-Sertânia in monoculture, in the tropical semiarid region of Brazil. The rate of decomposition and release of N, P, and K from manure was determined by incubating a litterbag, evaluated in different periods (0, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, and 256 days). Broiler litter released the greatest amount of N and P. Sheep manure released the greatest amounts of K. The greatest accumulations of N, P, and K in cactus biomass occurred when broiler litter was applied. Cactus monoculture accumulated less N over 256 days, indicating that the presence of tree legumes favors the accumulation of N in cactus. Broiler litter promoted the best synchronism between N release and N uptake in different cropping systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Paradigms in Sustainable Forage-Livestock Production Systems)

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14 pages, 1990 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tree Canopy Management Affects Dynamics of Herbaceous Vegetation and Soil Moisture in Silvopasture Systems Using Arboreal Legumes

by Izabela A. Gomes da Silva, José C. B. Dubeux, Jr., Mércia Virginia Ferreira Santos, Alexandre Carneiro Leão de Mello, Márcio Vieira Cunha, Valéria X. O. Apolinário and Erinaldo Viana de Freitas

Agronomy 2021, 11(8), 1509; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy11081509 - 29 Jul 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2177

Abstract

Understanding ecological interactions between the arboreal and the herbaceous components is key to get the full benefits from silvopastoral systems. The objective of this 2-yr research was to evaluate productivity and nutritive value of signalgrass (Urochloa decumbens (Stapf.) R. Webster) subjected to shading from the tree legumes Gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Steud) or Mimosa (Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth.) under different tree canopy management. Trees were planted in double rows and were either unharvested or harvested only one row, leaving the other row unharvested. Response variables for the herbaceous vegetation included canopy height, herbage mass (green leaf blade, green stem, senescent leaves, and senescent stem), herbage accumulation rate, canopy bulk density, and soil moisture. Total herbage mass, green herbage mass, and green leaf mass were affected by treatment × month and harvest management × month interactions. Herbage accumulation rate in Gliricidia was greater (55 kg DM ha⁻¹d⁻¹) than Mimosa (32 kg DM ha⁻¹d⁻¹). Soil moisture was lesser at the Mimosa sites (16.2%) compared with the Gliricidia ones (17.2%), and it was greater between tree rows (21.9%) compared with full sun (11.5%), varying across the season. Harvesting management had a short-term transient effect on herbage responses. Tree canopy management can affect forage quantity and quality; however, these effects are transient and vary with tree spacing. Signalgrass grew faster and had better nutritive value when growing with Gliricidia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Paradigms in Sustainable Forage-Livestock Production Systems)

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12 pages, 1105 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Determining the Effect of Planting Date and Land Preparation Method on Seedling Emergence, Forage Mass, and Forage Nutritive Value of Forage Brassica

by Tayler D. Denman, Dennis W. Hancock, S. Leanne Dillard, Nicholas T. Basinger and John D. Hale

Agronomy 2021, 11(6), 1184; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy11061184 - 10 Jun 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1878

Abstract

Forage brassicas are used as a forage in monoculture and multispecies mixtures, yet research defining best management practices is limited. Two studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of land preparation method and planting date on establishment, forage mass, and quality of two Brassica species, ‘Inspiration’ canola (Brassica napus L.) and ‘T-Raptor’ hybrid turnip (B. rapa subsp. rapa × B. rapa L.). Each experiment was a randomized complete block design evaluating four land preparation methods: (conventional till (CT), no-till after burning (NB), no-till after mowing (NM), and no-till without residue removal (NR)), and four planting dates: (1 September (S1), 15 September (S15), 1 October (O1), and 15 October (O15)). Significant differences were observed for the canola seedling emergence, but are not of biological significance. Hybrid turnip seedling emergence was the greatest for the CT treatment and consistently greater than NM and NR treatments. Forage mass in the canola study was greatest for the CT and NB. Hybrid turnip forage mass demonstrated similar trends to the canola. CT had the greatest mass and the NR and NM treatments tended to provide the lowest forage mass. Across both studies, earlier planting dates (S1 and S15) resulted in greater overall forage mass than the later planting dates (O1 and O15). Forage nutritive value overall was lower in earlier planted brassica; however, forage nutritive value was not reduced enough to negatively impact livestock. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Paradigms in Sustainable Forage-Livestock Production Systems)

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13 pages, 637 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Factors Affecting Sugar Accumulation and Fluxes in Warm- and Cool-Season Forages Grown in a Silvopastoral System

by Valens Niyigena, Amanda J. Ashworth, Christine Nieman, Mohan Acharya, Kenneth P. Coffey, Dirk Philipp, Lillian Meadors and Thomas J. Sauer

Agronomy 2021, 11(2), 354; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy11020354 - 16 Feb 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2650

Abstract

Forage management and environmental conditions affect water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) storage, and, in turn, influence ruminant forage utilization in silvopastoral systems. The objective was to determine effects of four dependent variables: forage species [(non-native, C₃ (orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.)) and native C₄ mix (8:1:1 big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium Michx. Nash) and indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans L.))]; fertility (poultry litter and an unfertilized control); forage sampling date (mid-May, late-May, early-June, mid-June, and late-June); and hour of day (0800, 1100, 1400, and 1700 h) on WSC accumulation in a silvopasture. Concentrations of WSC (g kg DM⁻¹) were greater (p ≤ 0.05) for C₃ forages, with poultry litter not impacting WSC accumulation. Overall, WSC was greatest in mid-June, with the lowest WSC concentration observed at 0800 compared to 1100, 1400, and 1700 h (p ≤ 0.05). Therefore, harvesting forages later in the day resulted in greater WSC. A stepwise regression model indicated acid detergent fiber, ash, and forage P concentration were the best predictors (R₂ = 0.85, p ≤ 0.05) of forage WSC. These results may be useful in future studies aimed at explaining diurnal cattle grazing preference and optimum forage harvest timing in silvopastoral systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Paradigms in Sustainable Forage-Livestock Production Systems)

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14 pages, 902 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Nitrogen Fertilization on Production, Chemical Composition and Morphogenesis of Guinea Grass in the Humid Tropics

by Joelma K. S. de Oliveira, Darlena C. da C. Corrêa, Antônio M. Q. Cunha, Aníbal C. do Rêgo, Cristian Faturi, Wilton L. da Silva and Felipe N. Domingues

Agronomy 2020, 10(11), 1840; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy10111840 - 23 Nov 2020

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3608

Abstract

The use of nitrogen fertilization in tropical grasslands is a strategy that may reduce the pressure of livestock production on biome areas with humid forests. The objective of this study was to assess the use of different doses of nitrogen in Guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus (Jacq.) con. Mombasa) cultivated in the humid tropics. Doses of 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 kg of N ha⁻¹ application⁻¹ were applied during two consecutive years in experimental plots. The experimental area is located in the northeast of Pará, Brazil, with a predominantly tropical climate according to the Köppen classification. The morphogenic, production, and qualitative characteristics of the forage were evaluated. The morphogenic variables, rate of leaf appearance and rate of leaf elongation, in addition to daily accumulation of forage and crude protein content, increased with increasing doses of nitrogen. The morphological structure of the pasture was not modified. The number of cuts increased, whereas the number of days of recovery decreased, in the rainy season with increasing doses of nitrogen. The use of nitrogen fertilization does not alter the structure of the pasture; however, it improves the morphogenic, production, and chemical characteristics of Guinea grass. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Paradigms in Sustainable Forage-Livestock Production Systems)

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13 pages, 631 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Performance of Grain Sorghum and Forage of the Genus Brachiaria in Integrated Agricultural Production Systems

by Stella Oliveira, Kátia Aparecida Costa, Eduardo Severiano, Alessandro da Silva, Mariana Dias, Guilherme Oliveira and João Victor Costa

Agronomy 2020, 10(11), 1714; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy10111714 - 05 Nov 2020

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2400

Abstract

Forages of the genus Brachiaria stand out among those used in integrated systems. Little is known about the potential value of new species and cultivars when intercropped with sorghum and planted in the second crop season. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance (agronomic characteristics) of grain sorghum and the production and nutritional characteristics of forage plants of the genus Brachiaria in an integrated agricultural production system in the second season. The experiment had a randomized block design with four replicates. The treatments consisted of the intercropping of sorghum with forage plants of the genus Brachiaria (Ruziziensis grass, Marandu, Xaraes, Piata, Paiaguas palisadegrass and Ipypora grass), in addition to an extra treatment with sorghum in monoculture. The results showed that sorghum intercropping with Ruziziensis grass, Paiaguas palisadegrass, Piata, and Ipypora grass did not cause a reduction in grain yield. The Xaraes, Piata, and Paiaguas palisadegrass showed higher forage production. However, the Paiaguas, Piata palisadegrass, and Ipypora grass showed better nutritional value. The sorghum intercropping with forage plants of the genus Brachiaria were promising alternatives for grain and forage production in the off-season. The right forage grass combined with sorghum in an integrated system can intensify agricultural production, optimizing the use of the area and increasing sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Paradigms in Sustainable Forage-Livestock Production Systems)

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Review

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18 pages, 864 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

The Use of Temperate Tannin Containing Forage Legumes to Improve Sustainability in Forage–Livestock Production

by Sebastian P. Lagrange, Jennifer W. MacAdam and Juan J. Villalba

Agronomy 2021, 11(11), 2264; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy11112264 - 09 Nov 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3348

Abstract

Greenhouse gas emissions from ruminant livestock production systems contribute significantly to the environmental footprint of agriculture. Emissions are lower for feedlot systems than for grass-based systems primarily because of the extra time required for grass-finished cattle to reach slaughter weight. In contrast, legume forages are of greater quality than grasses, which enhances intake and food conversion efficiencies, leading to improvements in production and reductions in environmental impacts compared with forage grasses. In addition, the presence of certain bioactives in legumes such as condensed tannins (CT) enhance the efficiency of energy and protein use in ruminants relative to grasses and other feeds and forages. Grazing tannin-containing legumes also reduce the incidence of bloat and improve meat quality. Synergies among nutrients and bioactives when animals graze diverse legume pastures have the potential to enhance these benefits. Thus, a diversity of legumes in feeding systems may lead to more economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable beef production than grass monocultures or feedlot rations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Paradigms in Sustainable Forage-Livestock Production Systems)

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14 pages, 327 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Enhancing the Sustainability of Temperate Pasture Systems through More Diverse Swards

by David M. Jaramillo, Helen Sheridan, Kathy Soder and Jose C. B. Dubeux, Jr.

Agronomy 2021, 11(10), 1912; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy11101912 - 24 Sep 2021

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4957

Abstract

Temperate grasslands can be highly productive. However, those that are productive are generally heavily dependent on high inputs of nitrogen (N) fertilizer. Including legumes such as white clover (Trifolium repens L.) in the sward can reduce reliance on N fertilizer. Recent investigations have evaluated the potential of multispecies swards, which are defined as agronomically improved grasslands that include multiple plant functional groups, e.g., grasses, legumes, and forage forbs. Several of the benefits and challenges of multispecies swards are summarized in this review. To date, the most prominent forb species included in multispecies swards are chicory (Cichorum intybus L.) and ribgrass/ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.). Multispecies swards grown under reduced N fertilizer input conditions can produce as much biomass as monocultures receiving large quantities of N fertilizer. The nutritive value of multispecies swards may potentially be greater than grass-only swards, especially since forbs may contribute additional micro and macro minerals to livestock diet. While challenges associated with multispecies swards may include weed management and facilitating persistence of the forb species in particular, the overall evidence suggests that well-managed multispecies swards can enhance the productivity as well as environmental sustainability of grazing systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Paradigms in Sustainable Forage-Livestock Production Systems)

20 pages, 15796 KiB

Open AccessReview

Nutraceutical Potential of the Low Deciduous Forest to Improve Small Ruminant Nutrition and Health: A Systematic Review

by Rafael Arturo Torres-Fajardo, Pedro Geraldo González-Pech, Juan Felipe de Jesús Torres-Acosta and Carlos Alfredo Sandoval-Castro

Agronomy 2021, 11(7), 1403; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy11071403 - 13 Jul 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3275

Abstract

Nutraceuticals are defined as livestock feeds that combine their nutritional value with their beneficial effects on animal health. We analyzed the outcomes from nearly 20 years of research assessing the nutraceutical properties of plants consumed by sheep and goats in low deciduous forests. A systematic review of different databases suggested 31 peer-reviewed manuscripts according to pre-established criteria. Amongst these, 16 manuscripts described in vitro evaluations investigating the bioactivity of plant secondary compounds in the extracts of 12 plant species. Most of these studies used the abomasal nematode Haemonchus contortus as the parasite model. Meanwhile, 11 manuscripts reported in vivo trials under controlled pen conditions, evaluating the relationships between the intake of leaves from different plant species and their secondary compounds and animal nutrition, performance, and gastrointestinal nematode infections. Additionally, four manuscripts described studies under natural feeding conditions. Altogether, the studies showed the inherent complexity of the relationship between small ruminants, plants, nutrients, secondary compounds, and gastrointestinal nematodes in natural feeding systems. Several plant species can be considered good candidates for nutraceutical use. Our findings warrant future work to understand the relationship between plants, ruminants, and their parasites, with the aim to improve the sustainability of production systems based on the native vegetation of tropical forests. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Paradigms in Sustainable Forage-Livestock Production Systems)

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