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Animal : an international journal of animal bioscience2022; 16(12); 100671; doi: 10.1016/j.animal.2022.100671

Animal board invited review: Grassland-based livestock farming and biodiversity.

Abstract: Grasslands dominate land cover nationally and globally, and their composition, structure and habitat value are strongly influenced by the actions of domestic and wild grazing animals that feed on them. Different pastures are characterised by varying opportunities for selective feeding by livestock; agronomically improved, sown swards generally consist of a limited range of plant species whereas longer-term leys and semi-natural grasslands are characterised by a more diverse mixture of plants. In the case of botanically diverse permanent pastures/grazing lands, the dietary preferences of different grazers have a more pronounced effect on the botanical composition of the sward in the longer term. Selection of a dominant species within the sward can give less abundant components a chance to compete, increasing community evenness and species richness. Conversely, the selection of minor components reduces sward compositional heterogeneity and hence plant species richness and evenness. Body size, gut type (foregut vs hindgut fermentation), physiological status (growing, pregnant, lactating), metabolic status (extent of body reserves) and environmental conditions all influence the nutrient requirements of a given animal and related foraging priorities. The diet selected is also strongly influenced by the availability of preferred food items, and their vertical and horizontal distribution within the sward. In general, larger animals, such as cattle and horses, are less selective grazers than smaller animals, such as sheep and goats. They are quicker to switch to consuming less-preferred sward components as the availability of preferred resources declines due to their greater forage demands, and as a result can be very effective in controlling competitive plant species consistently avoided by more selective grazers. As a result, low-intensity mixed grazing of cattle and sheep has been shown to improve the diversity and abundance of a range of taxa within grazed ecosystems. Mixed/co-species grazing with different animals exploiting different grassland resources is also associated with increased pasture use efficiency in terms of the use of different sward components and related improvements in nutritional value. In situations where cattle are not available, for example if they are not considered commercially viable, alternative species such as goats, ponies or South American camelids may offer an opportunity to diversify income streams and maintain productive and biodiverse pastures/grazing lands. Stocking rate and timing of grazing also have a considerable role in determining the impact of grazing. Regardless of the species grazing or the pasture grazed, grazing systems are dynamic since selective grazing impacts the future availability of sward components and subsequently dietary choices. New technologies under development provide opportunities to monitor plant/animal interactions more closely and in real time, which will in future support active management to deliver targeted biodiversity gains from specific sites.
Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2022-10-21 PubMed ID: 36436479PubMed Central: PMC9763128DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2022.100671Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article discusses how grassland-based livestock farming affects biodiversity. The study reveals that the dietary preferences of different grazers can greatly influence the botanical composition of grasslands, with potential impacts on species richness and evenness. Grazing systems are dynamic, with animal choices being influenced by numerous factors. New technologies could help monitor plant-animal interactions to actively manage biodiversity.

Grasslands and Grazing Animals

  • Grasslands make up a large portion of land globally and nationally. Their composition, structure, and habitat are greatly influenced by wild and domestic animals that feed on them.
  • Pastures can vary widely, from agronomically improved, sown swards made up of a limited variety of plant species to semi-natural grasslands and long-term leys containing diverse plant mixtures.
  • The dietary choices of grazers, particularly on diverse permanent pastures, can have long-term effects on the botanical composition of these areas.

Selective Grazing and its Impacts

  • Grazers’ selection of dominant plant species allows less abundant varieties to compete, increasing community evenness and species richness. On the other hand, choosing less common components reduces sward compositional heterogeneity, leading to a decrease in plant species richness and evenness.
  • Grazer’s selections are influenced by their nutrient requirements, body size, gut type, metabolic and physiological status, as well as the availability and distribution of preferred food items.
  • Large animals like cattle and horses, due to their higher forage demands, quickly switch to consuming less preferred sward components when resources decline, thus controlling the spread of competitive plant species.

Biodiversity Benefits of Mixed Grazing

  • Low-intensity mixed grazing involving cattle and sheep has proven beneficial for improving the diversity and abundance of various taxa in grazed ecosystems.
  • Mixed species grazing results in increased pasture use efficiency through the utilization of different sward components, enhancing the nutritional value of the pasture.
  • In situations where cattle are not available due to commercial reasons, alternative species like goats, ponies, or South American camelids could serve as income diversifiers while maintaining productive and diverse pastures.

Monitoring Grazing Systems

  • The stocking rate and timing of grazing play a significant role in determining the impact of grazing on grasslands.
  • Grazing systems are dynamic – selective grazing impacts future availability of sward components, which in turn influences dietary choices.
  • New technologies are being developed to monitor plant-animal interactions in real-time, promising a future of active management tailored to achieve specific biodiversity gains.

Cite This Article

APA
Fraser MD, Vallin HE, Roberts BP. (2022). Animal board invited review: Grassland-based livestock farming and biodiversity. Animal, 16(12), 100671. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2022.100671

Publication

Animal : an international journal of animal bioscience
ISSN: 1751-732X
NlmUniqueID: 101303270
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 16
Issue: 12
Pages: 100671
PII: S1751-7311(22)00228-2

Researcher Affiliations

Fraser, M D
  • IBERS, Aberystwyth University, Pwllpeiran Upland Research Centre, Cwmystwyth, Aberystwyth SY23 4AB, United Kingdom. Electronic address: mdf@aber.ac.uk.
Vallin, H E
  • IBERS, Aberystwyth University, Pwllpeiran Upland Research Centre, Cwmystwyth, Aberystwyth SY23 4AB, United Kingdom.
Roberts, B P
  • IBERS, Aberystwyth University, Pwllpeiran Upland Research Centre, Cwmystwyth, Aberystwyth SY23 4AB, United Kingdom.

MeSH Terms

  • Female
  • Cattle
  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Sheep
  • Ecosystem
  • Grassland
  • Livestock
  • Lactation
  • Biodiversity
  • Goats / physiology
  • Animal Husbandry

Conflict of Interest Statement

None to declare.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Staahltoft SK, Aaser MF, Jensen JNS, Zadran I, Sørensen EB, Nielsen AE, Alstrup AKO, Bruhn D, Linder AC, Sonne C, Frikke J, Pertoldi C. The Effectiveness of Virtual Fencing of Bull Calves in a Holistic Grazing System.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Mar 2;13(5).
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