@proceedings {JRN55416, title = {Assessing grazing behavior of heritage, hybrid, and conventional cattle breeds in response to climate change}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Evidence suggests that heritage and hybrid beef cattle breeds exhibit more flexible foraging behaviors compared to highly selected conventional breeds. We hypothesize that these behaviors could be capitalized upon to support sustainability outcomes, such as biodiversity or climate change adaptation. We conducted a systematic search of studies that compared beef cattle breeds for behavioral traits and found 54 studies conducted since 1966 located in 9 of the 14 major terrestrial biomes, with 60 beef or dual-purpose breeds represented. We created a typology of the studies with respect to decade, continent, breed provenance (Continental, Criollo, Hybrid, B. indicus, Mediterranean, Sanga, British Isles), breed selection intensity (heritage [limited selection pressure], conventional [high selection pressure], hybrid [moderate selection pressure]), biome, study intent, and whether breeds met desired outcomes described by the study authors. Most studies (69\%) were conducted in arid rangeland settings in developed nations where researchers sought to minimize the negative environmental impacts of beef production. In comparisons of grazing behavior of heritage versus conventional types (n=25 studies), and hybrid versus conventional types (n=18 studies), heritage and hybrid cattle displayed more adapted traits (e.g., improved foraging distribution) in 88\% and 78\% of the studies, respectively. No differences were found in grazing behaviors in most studies in which heritage breeds were compared to other heritage breeds or conventional with conventional breeds (n=6 and 15 studies, respectively). In the subset of studies coded with the intent of {\textquotedblleft}foraging behavior,{\textquotedblright} heritage types traveled faster across a range of pasture sizes, which could indicate a capacity to seek high-quality nutrients while reducing trampling or overgrazing. Overall, our review suggests that breeds that have undergone moderate {\textendash} low selection pressure display grazing behaviors that demonstrate adaptation to their respective native environments and may help producers meet production goals in similar environments in the face of a changing climate.}, keywords = {behavior, cattle breeds, climate change, grazing, Heritage cattle, hybrid cattle}, author = {Matthew M. McIntosh and S. Spiegal and McIntosh, S. and Castano Sanchez, Jose and Richard E. Estell and Caitriana Steele and Emile H. Elias and C. Donovan Bailey and Joel R. Brown and Andr{\'e}s F. Cibils} } @conference {50527, title = {Using animal behavior and electronics to controll free-ranging animal groups directional virtual fencing (DVM) - Proof-of-concept}, booktitle = {2005 Horizons in Livestock Sciences Conference}, year = {2005}, month = {2005}, abstract = {Improved animal distribution promotes ecologically sound landscape utilization. Diverse utilization patterns require active management of timing and duration of foraging. After 30 years of research, a patented methodology to reintroduce the art of low-stress herding husbandry using 21st century science awaits commercialization. Directional Virtual Fencing (DVF\™) melds cutting edge electronics with innate animal behaviors to control free-ranging animals without visible fences. The system compares an animal\’s location using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to a Virtual Center Line (VCL\™) after the VCL\™ location has been programmed into the device\’s Geographic Information System (GIS). A magnetometer in the DVF\™ device determines the animal\’s angle of approach to the nearest VCL\™. Bilateral ramped audio and electric stimulation cues increase in irritation intensity as an animal approaches the VCL\™ within a Virtual Boundary (VB\™). Cuing stops immediately once the animal turns away from the VCL\™. The type of cue, length of cuing and the side of the animal to which the cue is applied are all programmable. This flexibility offers the DVF\™ user many options to implement Prescription Stocking (RxS\™). The first autonomous field test of DVF\™ occurred on April 2, 2001. Since then, our team has determined that DVF\™ can control animal groups behind static as well as moving VBs\™. Current research is focused on developing power efficient hardware with a small footprint coupled to wireless data transmission capabilities in a potentially patentable solar powered head mounted device. With DVF\™ the art of animal husbandry is integrated with cutting edge technology.}, keywords = {behavior, Directional, electronics, fencing, free-ranging, virtual}, author = {D.M. Anderson and C.S. Hale and B. Nolen and Kris Havstad} } @article {51165, title = {Preliminary results from reseeding degraded Dera Ghazi Khan rangeland to improve small ruminant production in Pakistan}, journal = {Small Ruminants Research}, volume = {32}, number = {1}, year = {1999}, month = {March 1, 1999}, pages = {43-49}, abstract = {

Thatta Leghari rangeland in the Dera Ghazi Khan district of Pakistan covers an area of 1004\ ha. Its topography is undulating, soil is calcareous and low in organic matter and supports a native standing crop of mainly unpalatable herbaceous vegetation. Due to uncontrolled grazing the range has degraded from its productive potential. Between 1992 and 1993 the native range (1004\ ha) was not grazed. Then in 1992 and 1993, a 600\ ha area was reseeded with two introduced grasses, Gorkha (Lasiurus sindicus) and Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris). Forage production on both the reseeded and native range was measured in 1992 and 1993 at the end of the growing season during October. Weather during these 2 years reflected the long term mean conditions with respect to temperature and distribution of precipitation. The reseeded area produced 10 times (4000\ kg/ha) more forage than the native range (425\ kg/ha) in 1992 and more than twice the forage (1250\ kg/ha vs 534\ kg/ha) in 1993, a year with 37\ mm less total rainfall. Proximate analysis of the forage harvested in 1993 was determined for both treatments. Buffel grass was higher in crude protein (7.8\%) than Gorkha (6.2\%) and chimber (5.9\%; Eleusine flagellifera) a native grass. The native shrub, lana (Salsola foetida) had a higher energy value, 2.7\ Mcal/kg, than all of the other species. Daily goat and sheep diets consisted of 51\% and 32\% shrub, respectively, with grasses comprising the remainder. Forbs composed 35\% of the sheep diet whereas, shrubs (51\%) dominated the goat diets on the reseeded rangeland. Liveweight gain differed (p\<0.05) between goats (34\ g/day) and sheep (14\ g/day). These preliminary results indicate that reseeding may be an important intervention for Pakistan rangeland improvement, for improving nutrition for small ruminants.

}, keywords = {behavior, forage species, Pakistan, rangeland, reseeding, Sheep and goat}, doi = {10.1016/S0921-4488(98)00157-6}, url = {/files/bibliography/668.pdf}, author = {Khan, M.F. and D.M. Anderson and Nutkani, M.I. and Butt, N.M.} } @article {51203, title = {Pro-active livestock management--Capitalizing on animal behavior}, journal = {Journal of Arid Land Studies}, volume = {7S}, year = {1998}, month = {1998}, pages = {113-116}, abstract = {This paper describes a technique for modifying sheep and or goat behavior to reduce canine predation, management time and fencing requirements under mixed-species stocking. Procedures to modify behavior of individual animals are outlined. The concept involves bonding small ruminants to cattle to produce a cohesive group termed a flerd. A flerd acts as a single interdependent cohesive livestock unit under free-ranging conditions rather than as distinct flocks and herds coexisting in the same area.}, keywords = {behavior, canine predation, herds, livestock}, url = {/files/bibliography/98-002.pdf}, author = {D.M. Anderson} } @mastersthesis {51506, title = {Diurnal diet composition and behavior of cattle and sheep on Chihuahuan Desert range}, volume = {PhD}, year = {1993}, note = {Available in JER Library}, month = {1993}, pages = {162 }, school = {New Mexico State University}, type = {Dissertation }, address = {Las Cruces}, keywords = {behavior, cattle, Chihuahuan Desert, diet composition, dissertation, diurnal, research notes, sheep}, author = {J. N. Smith} } @article {51531, title = {Effects of age and flock size on flocking behavior in Rambouillet and Rambouillet x Polypay female sheep}, journal = {Sheep Research Journal}, volume = {8}, number = {3}, year = {1992}, month = {1992}, pages = {112-115}, abstract = {

Although intraspecies cohesiveness or flocking behavior in some breeds of adult sheep is well recognized (Hunter,1960), age effects and numbers of sheep within and among ages independent of maternal attachment is not clear. Young ewe lambs from our New Mexico flock just weaned from their dams refused to stay with a group of adult ewes bonded to cattle (flerd). In contrast, a group of yearling ewes tenaciously stayed close to peer yearling ewes bonded to cattle (Anderson et al.,1988). In attempts to increase the numbers of young bonded lambs in flerds we observed that when group size approached or exceeded 12, lambs frequently became independent of cattle and formed small independent lamb groups. However, when the original small confinement groups were maintained as separate units until the lambs were 6 months or more of age, the small flerd could be combined into larger groups and would maintain close affinity quite consistently (Hulet,1989). Bonded older lambs, yearlings and mature ewes have been maintained in large groups (\>80) with cattle with consistent close affinity of the sheep to cattle over long periods of time (\>3 years). These contrasting behaviors raised the question as to the age at which the flocking instinct, independent of maternal attachment, expresses itself.

}, keywords = {behavior, flocking, management, sheep}, url = {/files/bibliography/390.pdf}, author = {Clarence V. Hulet and D.M. Anderson and Shupe, W. Larry and L. W. Murray} } @article {51533, title = {Field versus pen bonding lambs to cattle}, journal = {Sheep Research Journal}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, year = {1992}, month = {1992}, pages = {69-72}, abstract = {

Complementary grazing of cattle and sheep promotes more uniform and efficient utilization of forages, because of differences in dietary preferences (Stoddard and Smith, 1943; Baker, 1985). Therefore, it is possible to co-graze 2 or 3 sheep for each cow on many ranches without reducing cow numbers. However, coyote predation and locating sheep in shrub infested pastures conducive to coyote predation are two challenges that confront mixed-species management systems (Etchepare, 1985; Merrill, 1985).

}, keywords = {behavior, bonding, mixed-species stocking, predator, sheep}, url = {/files/bibliography/391.pdf}, author = {Clarence V. Hulet and D.M. Anderson and Shupe, W. Larry and L. W. Murray} } @conference {51571, title = {Environmental effects on behavior and production of range cows on the Chihuahuan Desert}, booktitle = {Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management}, year = {1991}, month = {1991}, pages = {No. 88}, abstract = {

Behavior of free-ranging cows was investigated as affected by season, diurnal periods, and weather parameters. Sixteen genetically diverse lactating cows were fitted with vibracorders to record active time continuously from 18 May 1989 to 3 January 1990. Total collection time was divided into three seasons: hot-dry (1 June to 12 July), warm-rain (1 August to 11 September), and cold-dry (1 November to 12 December). Days within seasons were divided into 24 1-hour periods. Differences in active time were found among seasons (P \< .05), periods (P \< .05), periods within seasons (P \< .05), and cows within periods within seasons (P \< .05). Activity was lowest during the hot-dry season during darkness. Substantial activity occurred during the hottest daytime periods. Warm-rain season activity during darkness increased (P \< .05) slightly with daytime period activity increasing substantially (P \< .05). Cold-dry season activity illustrated classical grazing periods with major post-dawn, pre-dusk, and nighttime period activity. Average total daily active times were 10.9 h, 12 h, and 9.5 h for hot-dry, warm-rain, and cold-dry seasons, respectively. Cows were very active during the hot periods of the day during the hot-dry season. Lowest total active time occurred during the cold-dry season when cows were not lactating and had low physiological requirements.

}, keywords = {behavior, Chihuahuan Desert, environmental effects, production, range cows}, author = {Horton, J. and Pieper, Rex D. and Kris Havstad and Wallace, J.D. and L. W. Murray} } @article {51666, title = {A Review: Understanding sheep behaviour, a key to more efficient and profitable lamb and wool production}, journal = {SID Research Journal}, volume = {5}, year = {1989}, month = {1989}, pages = {26-33}, abstract = {

A knowledge of sheep behavior can help to improve production efficiency. Flocking instinct and social attachments provide methods to improve the efficiency of managing sheep through bonding to cattle to reduce loss to predation and minimize stress at weaning. Characteristics of sheep movement behavior have contributed to the design of efficient sheep-working facilities and management systems. Cattle, sheep and goats are complementary in transforming the range resource into red meat and fiber. Grazing behavior and diet learning are leading to improved forage utilization and range management. Periodic exposure of rams to ewes increases testes size, fertility and libido. Exposure of ewes, previously isolated from males, to rams during the transitional period between the non breeding and breeding season can initiate early breeding and fall lambs. Ewe lambs are shy breeders and should be mated separately from mature ewes. Orphan lambs can be fostered to ewes with extra milk utilizing odor transfer techniques resulting in higher and more efficient lamb production. Stress management can improve rate of gain following weaning and in feedlot lambs.

}, keywords = {behavior, management, production, sheep}, url = {/files/bibliography/347.pdf}, author = {Clarence V. Hulet} }