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Pablo Gregorini
Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, P.O. Box 85084, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand

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Journal article
Published: 22 August 2021 in Animals
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Inefficient nitrogen (N) use from pastoral dairy production systems has resulted in environmental degradation, as a result of excessive concentrations of urinary N excretion leaching into waterways and N2O emissions from urination events into the atmosphere. The objectives of this study were to measure and evaluate the total N balance of lactating dairy cows selected for milk urea N concentration breeding values (MUNBVs) consuming either a 100% perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) or 100% plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) diet. Sixteen multiparous lactating Holstein-Friesian × Jersey cows divergent for MUNBV were housed in metabolism crates for 72 h, where intake and excretions were collected and measured. No effect of MUNBV was detected for total N excretion; however, different excretion characteristics were detected, per urination event. Low MUNBV cows had a 28% reduction in the concentration of urinary urea nitrogen (g/event) compared to high MUNBV cows when consuming a ryegrass diet. Cows consuming plantain regardless of their MUNBV value had a 62% and 48% reduction in urinary urea nitrogen (g/event) compared to high and low MUNBV cows consuming ryegrass, respectively. Cows consuming plantain also partitioned more N into faeces. These results suggest that breeding for low MUNBV cows on ryegrass diets and the use of a plantain diet will reduce urinary urea nitrogen loading rates and therefore estimated nitrate leaching values, thus reducing the environmental impact of pastoral dairy production systems.

ACS Style

Cameron J. Marshall; Matthew R. Beck; Konagh Garrett; Graham K. Barrell; Omar Al-Marashdeh; Pablo Gregorini. Nitrogen Balance of Dairy Cows Divergent for Milk Urea Nitrogen Breeding Values Consuming Either Plantain or Perennial Ryegrass. Animals 2021, 11, 2464 .

AMA Style

Cameron J. Marshall, Matthew R. Beck, Konagh Garrett, Graham K. Barrell, Omar Al-Marashdeh, Pablo Gregorini. Nitrogen Balance of Dairy Cows Divergent for Milk Urea Nitrogen Breeding Values Consuming Either Plantain or Perennial Ryegrass. Animals. 2021; 11 (8):2464.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Cameron J. Marshall; Matthew R. Beck; Konagh Garrett; Graham K. Barrell; Omar Al-Marashdeh; Pablo Gregorini. 2021. "Nitrogen Balance of Dairy Cows Divergent for Milk Urea Nitrogen Breeding Values Consuming Either Plantain or Perennial Ryegrass." Animals 11, no. 8: 2464.

Review article
Published: 28 April 2021 in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
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Pastoral livestock production systems are facing considerable societal pressure to reduce environmental impact, enhance animal welfare, and promote product integrity, while maintaining or increasing system profitability. Design theory is the conscious tailoring of a system for a specific or set of purposes. Then, animals—as biological systems nested in grazing environments—can be designed in order to achieve multi-faceted goals. We argue that phytochemical rich diets through dietary taxonomical diversity can be used as a design tool for both current animal product integrity and to develop future multipurpose animals. Through conscious choice, animals offered a diverse array of plants tailor a diet, which better meets their individual requirements for nutrients, pharmaceuticals, and prophylactics. Phytochemical rich diets with diverse arrangements of plant secondary compounds also reduce environmental impacts of grazing animals by manipulating the use of C and N, thereby reducing methane production and excretion of N. Subsequently functional dietary diversity (FDD), as opposed to dietary monotony, offers better nourishment, health benefits and hedonic value (positive reward increasing “liking” of feed), as well as the opportunity for individualism; and thereby eudaimonic well-being. Moreover, phytochemical rich diets with diverse arrangements of plant secondary compounds may translate in animal products with similar richness, enhancing consumer human health and well-being. Functional dietary diversity also allows us to design future animals. Dietary exposure begins in utero, continues through mothers' milk, and carries on in early-life experiences, influencing dietary preferences later in life. More specifically, in utero exposure to specific flavors cause epigenetic changes that alter morphological and physiological mechanisms that influence future “wanting,” “liking” and learning of particular foods and foodscapes. In this context, we argue that in utero and early life exposure to designed flavors of future multifunctional foodscapes allow us to graze future ruminants with enhanced multiple ecosystem services. Collectively, the strategic use of FDD allows us to “create” animals and their products for immediate and future food, health, and wealth. Finally, implementing design theory provides a link between our thoughtscape (i.e., the use of FDD as design) to future landscapes, which provides a beneficial foodscape to the animals, an subsequently to us.

ACS Style

Matthew R. Beck; Pablo Gregorini. Animal Design Through Functional Dietary Diversity for Future Productive Landscapes. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 2021, 5, 1 .

AMA Style

Matthew R. Beck, Pablo Gregorini. Animal Design Through Functional Dietary Diversity for Future Productive Landscapes. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 2021; 5 ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Matthew R. Beck; Pablo Gregorini. 2021. "Animal Design Through Functional Dietary Diversity for Future Productive Landscapes." Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 5, no. : 1.

Journal article
Published: 02 February 2021 in Animals
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A two-year farm system study was conducted at Canterbury, New Zealand to evaluate the effects on farm productivity, profitability, and nitrogen (N) losses of integrating plantain (Plantago lanceolate L.) and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) into a ryegrass and white clover (RGWC)-based dairy system. Three farm systems were compared: (1) a lower input RGWC-based system (LIRG) with stocking rate of 3.5 cow/ha, annual N fertiliser rate of 150 kg/ha, and imported feed level of 1.2 t DM/cow/year. Cows in the LIRG + PL system grazed a diverse mix of Italian ryegrass, perennial ryegrass, white clover, and plantain (60% of farmlet area), and a mixed sward of plantain–white clover (40% of farmlet area). The average annual herbage harvested was similar between LIRG + PL and LIRG (11.7 t DM/ha), but greater in HIRG (12.7 t DM/ha) with the increased N fertiliser rate. During the calving to dry-off period, the average imported supplement feed per ha was higher in HIRG (8.0 t DM) compared with LIRG (3.2 t DM) and LIRG + PL (3.7 t DM). Average milk solid production (MS; fat + protein) was similar in LIRG + PL (1640 kg/ha) and LIRG (1622 kg/ha), but greater in HIRG (2130 kg/ha). Estimated profitability (NZD/ha) at milk price of NZD 6.5/kg MS was 10% greater for HIRG than LIRG + PL and LIRG, and similar (<1.5% numerical difference) between LIRG + PL and LIRG. The average estimated annual N leaching loss from the LIRG and LIRG + PL was 31% and 56% less than the loss from the HIRG. These large reductions in N leaching loss were achieved without a large decrease in profitability (i.e., LIRG and LIRG + PL compared to HIRG). In addition, the estimated reduction in N losses from the LIRG + PL system compared to LIRG suggests that an Italian ryegrass + plantain-based dairy system is a viable strategy to reduce the environmental footprint while maintaining farm profitability. However, the environmental benefits of plantain and Italian ryegrass estimated in this study require further confirmation through direct measurements at full farm level.

ACS Style

Omar Al-Marashdeh; Keith Cameron; Simon Hodge; Pablo Gregorini; Grant Edwards. Integrating Plantain (Plantago lanceolate L.) and Italian Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) into New Zealand Grazing Dairy System: The Effect on Farm Productivity, Profitability, and Nitrogen Losses. Animals 2021, 11, 376 .

AMA Style

Omar Al-Marashdeh, Keith Cameron, Simon Hodge, Pablo Gregorini, Grant Edwards. Integrating Plantain (Plantago lanceolate L.) and Italian Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) into New Zealand Grazing Dairy System: The Effect on Farm Productivity, Profitability, and Nitrogen Losses. Animals. 2021; 11 (2):376.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Omar Al-Marashdeh; Keith Cameron; Simon Hodge; Pablo Gregorini; Grant Edwards. 2021. "Integrating Plantain (Plantago lanceolate L.) and Italian Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) into New Zealand Grazing Dairy System: The Effect on Farm Productivity, Profitability, and Nitrogen Losses." Animals 11, no. 2: 376.

Journal article
Published: 30 July 2020 in Animals
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In a cross-over design, eight rumen cannulated dairy cows were used to explore the industry-recommended method for dietary transition to fodder beet (FB: Beta vulgaris L.) on changes to rumen fermentation and pH, milk production, dry matter intake (DMI) and the risk of subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) during early lactation. Cows were split into two groups and individually allocated a ryegrass (Lolium Perenne L.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.) diet (HO) or the same herbage supplemented with 6 kg DM/cow of harvested fodder beet bulbs (FBH). Dietary adaptation occurred over 20 days consisting of: stage 1: gradual transition to target FB intake (days 1–12, +0.5 kg DM of FB/d); stage 2: acclimatization (days 13–17) and stage 3: post-adaption sampling (days 18–20). Response variables were analyzed as a factorial arrangement of diet and stage of adaption using a combination of ANOVA and generalized linear mixed modelling. Dietary proportion of FB represented 22, (stage 1), 32 (stage 2) and 38% (stage 3) of daily DMI. One cow during each period developed SARA from FB and the duration of low pH increased with FBH compared to the HO treatment (p < 0.01). Rumen concentrations of lactic and butyric acid increased with FBH but concentrations of acetate, propionate and total volatile fatty acids (VFA) declined by 9.3% at day 20, compared to the HO treatment (p < 0.01). Treatments did not affect milk production but total DMI with supplemented cows increased during the final stage of adaptation and feed conversion efficiency (FCE kg milk/kg DM) declined with the FBH treatment. The occurrence of SARA in 25% of animals fed FB suggest it is a high-risk supplement to animal health and further evaluation of industry-recommended methods for feeding FB at the individual- and herd-scale are needed.

ACS Style

Anita Fleming; Konagh Garrett; Kelly Froehlich; Matthew Beck; Racheal H. Bryant; Grant Edwards; Pablo Gregorini. Supplementation of Spring Pasture with Harvested Fodder Beet Bulb Alters Rumen Fermentation and Increases Risk of Subacute Ruminal Acidosis during Early Lactation. Animals 2020, 10, 1307 .

AMA Style

Anita Fleming, Konagh Garrett, Kelly Froehlich, Matthew Beck, Racheal H. Bryant, Grant Edwards, Pablo Gregorini. Supplementation of Spring Pasture with Harvested Fodder Beet Bulb Alters Rumen Fermentation and Increases Risk of Subacute Ruminal Acidosis during Early Lactation. Animals. 2020; 10 (8):1307.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Anita Fleming; Konagh Garrett; Kelly Froehlich; Matthew Beck; Racheal H. Bryant; Grant Edwards; Pablo Gregorini. 2020. "Supplementation of Spring Pasture with Harvested Fodder Beet Bulb Alters Rumen Fermentation and Increases Risk of Subacute Ruminal Acidosis during Early Lactation." Animals 10, no. 8: 1307.

Journal article
Published: 11 May 2020 in Plants
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Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) used in pastoral systems has the attributes required of a forage species to reduce animal urinary nitrogen loading to soil, increase milk production, and enhance milk fatty acid profile to improve pastoral farm systems for matching increasing global demand for dairy products and environmental standards of livestock systems. Greater adoption of chicory requires confidence in management decisions that can control risks to farm production, namely bolting after vernalisation or a decline in persistence of chicory swards, which have slowed its adoption in pastoral systems. We, therefore, measured functional traits, morphology and herbage production of chicory under irrigated field conditions before and after vernalisation in Canterbury, New Zealand. The experimental site was laid out in a complete randomized block design with four replications where two regrowth intervals and two defoliation heights were applied. Regrowth interval had a stronger influence over functional traits and herbage production than defoliation height, with more pronounced effects after vernalisation. Plants managed under shorter regrowth intervals had narrower roots with lower concentration of sugars than plants under longer intervals, which might compromise their longevity. In addition, plants managed under shorter intervals remained mostly vegetative with heavier and longer leaves, though with reduced photosynthetic capacity than those managed under longer intervals. The thermal time to initiate stem elongation in plants managed under longer intervals was ~274 growing degree-days, with a mean stem elongation rate increasing linearly at 1.4 ± 0.08 mm/growing degree-days. The key outcomes of this research quantify the growing degree-days to initiate stem elongation post vernalisation, which provides management directive for timing of defoliation of chicory in order to maintain feed quality for grazing livestock. Alternating frequent and infrequent defoliation regimes might be used to optimise vegetative growth, root reserves, and pasture persistence.

ACS Style

Mancoba C. Mangwe; Racheal H. Bryant; Cristian A. Moreno García; Thomas M.R. Maxwell; Pablo Gregorini. Functional Traits, Morphology, and Herbage Production of Vernalised and Non-Vernalised Chicory cv. Choice (Cichorium intybus L.) in Response to Defoliation Frequency and Height. Plants 2020, 9, 611 .

AMA Style

Mancoba C. Mangwe, Racheal H. Bryant, Cristian A. Moreno García, Thomas M.R. Maxwell, Pablo Gregorini. Functional Traits, Morphology, and Herbage Production of Vernalised and Non-Vernalised Chicory cv. Choice (Cichorium intybus L.) in Response to Defoliation Frequency and Height. Plants. 2020; 9 (5):611.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mancoba C. Mangwe; Racheal H. Bryant; Cristian A. Moreno García; Thomas M.R. Maxwell; Pablo Gregorini. 2020. "Functional Traits, Morphology, and Herbage Production of Vernalised and Non-Vernalised Chicory cv. Choice (Cichorium intybus L.) in Response to Defoliation Frequency and Height." Plants 9, no. 5: 611.

Review article
Published: 25 February 2020 in Frontiers in Veterinary Science
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While grazing lands can offer a diverse range of forages, individuals within herds prefer to graze some habitats and not others. They can have consistent differences in grazing patterns and occupy specific spatial domains, whilst developing tactics and strategies for foraging that are specific to their grazing personalities. In this review, we explore the development of our understanding of grazing personalities, as we move away from the search for an “optimal animal” toward designing behavior-customized herds with an arrangement of individual grazing personalities that enhance ecosystem services and productivity. We present a “grazing personality model” that accounts for the personality of individual animals and for collective behaviors of herds. We argue that grazing personalities of grazing ruminants and other large herbivores are in part genetically determined, and that they can act at the individual and collective level. The social and biophysical environments as well as the emotional state of animals regulate the expression of “grazing genes” that are observed phenotypically as distinct grazing personalities. The reproductive and sexual successes of individuals and herds filter for allele variants of grazing genes and in turn determines their relative frequency. While the selection of one grazing personality may be adequate for homogeneous pastoral systems, the design of herds with a range of grazing personalities that are matched to the habitat diversity may be a better approach to improving the distribution of grazing animals, enhancing ecosystem services, and maximizing productivity.

ACS Style

Cristian A. Moreno García; Thomas M. R. Maxwell; Jonathan Hickford; Pablo Gregorini. On the Search for Grazing Personalities: From Individual to Collective Behaviors. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2020, 7, 1 .

AMA Style

Cristian A. Moreno García, Thomas M. R. Maxwell, Jonathan Hickford, Pablo Gregorini. On the Search for Grazing Personalities: From Individual to Collective Behaviors. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 2020; 7 ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Cristian A. Moreno García; Thomas M. R. Maxwell; Jonathan Hickford; Pablo Gregorini. 2020. "On the Search for Grazing Personalities: From Individual to Collective Behaviors." Frontiers in Veterinary Science 7, no. : 1.

Journal article
Published: 19 January 2020 in Animals
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The goals of the current study were to investigate the effects of including chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) into the traditional feeding regime of ryegrass/white clover (Lolium perenne L./Trifolium repens L.), and time of its allocation on milk production, rumen fermentation, and FA composition of milk and rumen digesta of dairy cows. Nine groups of four cows were allocated one of three replicated feeding regimes: (1) ryegrass/white clover only (RGWC), (2) ryegrass/white clover + morning allocation of chicory (CHAM), and (3) ryegrass/white clover + afternoon allocation of chicory (CHPM). One cow per group had a rumen cannulae fitted. Treatment did not affect total grazing time or estimated dry matter intake, but cows ruminated more when fed RGWC than chicory. Allocating chicory in the afternoon elevated milk production compared with RGWC and CHAM. Milk from cows grazing chicory contained greater concentrations of polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) such as C18:3 c9, 12, 15 and C18:2 c9, 12 than those on RGWC. As with milk, rumen digesta concentration of PUFA increased when cows grazed on chicory rather than RGWC, which corresponded with lower concentrations of intermediate vaccenic and biohydrogenation end-product stearic acid for cows grazing on chicory. Mean ruminal pH was lower for cows offered chicory than those on RGWC, reflecting greater rumen concentrations of volatile fatty acids (VFA) for cows fed chicory. Allocating chicory during the afternoon is a useful strategy that can translate to improved milk production. The lower rumen pH, lower concentration of vaccenic and stearic acids, and elevated concentration of PUFA in the rumen of cows fed chicory suggest reduced biohydrogenation and may explain the elevated concentration of PUFA in the milk of cows fed chicory compared with those fed RGWC.

ACS Style

Mancoba Mangwe; Racheal Bryant; Pablo Gregorini. Rumen Fermentation and Fatty Acid Composition of Milk of Mid Lactating Dairy Cows Grazing Chicory and Ryegrass. Animals 2020, 10, 169 .

AMA Style

Mancoba Mangwe, Racheal Bryant, Pablo Gregorini. Rumen Fermentation and Fatty Acid Composition of Milk of Mid Lactating Dairy Cows Grazing Chicory and Ryegrass. Animals. 2020; 10 (1):169.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mancoba Mangwe; Racheal Bryant; Pablo Gregorini. 2020. "Rumen Fermentation and Fatty Acid Composition of Milk of Mid Lactating Dairy Cows Grazing Chicory and Ryegrass." Animals 10, no. 1: 169.

Journal article
Published: 13 November 2019 in Animals
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The objective of this work was to evaluate whether changes in time of herbage allocation and herbage mass (HM) (low (L) or medium (M)) modify the diurnal pattern of urinary nitrogen (N) concentration and ruminal ammonia (NH3) of lactating dairy cows. Four Holstein-Friesian cows fitted with rumen cannula were randomly allocated to one of four treatments: 1) low herbage mass in the morning (L-AM) (Access to new herbage allocation after morning milking with a herbage mass (HM) of 2000 kg DM/ha); 2) low herbage mass in the afternoon (L-PM) (Access to new herbage allocation after afternoon milking with a HM of 2000 kg DM/ha); 3) medium herbage mass in the morning (M-AM) (Access to new herbage allocation after morning milking with a HM of 3000 kg DM/ha); and 4) medium herbage mass in the afternoon (M-PM) (Access to new herbage allocation after afternoon milking with a HM of 3000 kg DM/ha). A four by four Latin Square design with four treatments, four cows, and four experimental periods was used to evaluate treatment effects. Rumen NH3 concentration was greater for L-AM compared to L-PM and M-PM at 13:00 and 16:00 h. Urine urea and N concentrations were lower for M-AM compared to L-AM. Urine N concentration was greater for L-AM than other treatments at 10:00 hours and greater for M-PM compared to M-AM at 16:00 hours. Results suggest that maintaining the cows in the holding pen at the milking parlor for two hours after morning grass silage supplementation for L-AM and for two hours after afternoon grass silage supplementation for M-PM, could allow collection of urine from cows at the holding pen and storage of urine in the slurry pit during the time of peak N concentration, returning cows to the pasture at a time of day when urinary N concentration is decreased.

ACS Style

Ignacio E. Beltran; Pablo Gregorini; José Daza; Oscar A. Balocchi; Alvaro Morales; Ruben G. Pulido. Diurnal Concentration of Urinary Nitrogen and Rumen Ammonia Are Modified by Timing and Mass of Herbage Allocation. Animals 2019, 9, 961 .

AMA Style

Ignacio E. Beltran, Pablo Gregorini, José Daza, Oscar A. Balocchi, Alvaro Morales, Ruben G. Pulido. Diurnal Concentration of Urinary Nitrogen and Rumen Ammonia Are Modified by Timing and Mass of Herbage Allocation. Animals. 2019; 9 (11):961.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ignacio E. Beltran; Pablo Gregorini; José Daza; Oscar A. Balocchi; Alvaro Morales; Ruben G. Pulido. 2019. "Diurnal Concentration of Urinary Nitrogen and Rumen Ammonia Are Modified by Timing and Mass of Herbage Allocation." Animals 9, no. 11: 961.

Journal article
Published: 19 June 2019 in Animals
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The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the order of grass silage (GS) and maize silage (MS) supplementation on milk yield, grazing behavior and nitrogen (N) partitioning of lactating dairy cows during autumn. Thirty-six Holstein-Friesian dairy cows were randomly assigned to one of three treatments, and cows remained on these treatments for a 62 days period: (1) MIX; cows supplemented with 3 kg of dry matter (DM) of silage containing 1.5 kg DM of MS and 1.5 kg DM of GS in both the morning and afternoon; (2) GS-MS; cows supplemented with 3 kg DM of GS in the morning and 3 kg DM of MS in the afternoon; (3) MS-GS; cows supplemented with 3 kg DM of MS in the morning and 3 kg DM of GS in the afternoon. All cows received a pasture allowance of 17 kg DM/cow/d and 3 kg DM of concentrate. Grazing time and pasture intake were unaffected by treatment; however, milk production was greater for MS-GS, while milk protein was greater for GS-MS. Urinary N excretion was greater for MS-GS than MIX. In conclusion, MS-GS resulted in high milk yield but also high urinary N excretion, while MIX resulted in low urinary N excretion but also decreased milk yield.

ACS Style

Ignacio E. Beltrán; Omar Al-Marashdeh; Ana R. Burgos; Pablo Gregorini; Oscar A. Balocchi; Fernando Wittwer; Rubén G. Pulido. The Order of Grass and Maize Silage Supplementation Modifies Milk Yield, Grazing Behavior and Nitrogen Partitioning of Lactating Dairy Cows. Animals 2019, 9, 373 .

AMA Style

Ignacio E. Beltrán, Omar Al-Marashdeh, Ana R. Burgos, Pablo Gregorini, Oscar A. Balocchi, Fernando Wittwer, Rubén G. Pulido. The Order of Grass and Maize Silage Supplementation Modifies Milk Yield, Grazing Behavior and Nitrogen Partitioning of Lactating Dairy Cows. Animals. 2019; 9 (6):373.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ignacio E. Beltrán; Omar Al-Marashdeh; Ana R. Burgos; Pablo Gregorini; Oscar A. Balocchi; Fernando Wittwer; Rubén G. Pulido. 2019. "The Order of Grass and Maize Silage Supplementation Modifies Milk Yield, Grazing Behavior and Nitrogen Partitioning of Lactating Dairy Cows." Animals 9, no. 6: 373.

Journal article
Published: 13 April 2019 in Science of The Total Environment
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Greenhouse gases emissions are considered one of the most important environmental issues of dairy farming systems. Nitrous oxide (N2O) has particular importance owing to its global warming potential and stratospheric ozone depletion. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of two rotational grazing strategies characterized by two pre-grazing targets (95% and maximum canopy light interception; LI95% and LIMax, respectively) on milk production efficiency and N2O fluxes from soil in a tropical dairy farming system based on elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum. cv. Cameroon). Results indicated that LI95% pre-grazing target provided more frequent defoliations than LIMax. Water-filled pore space, soil and chamber temperatures were affected by sampling period (P1 and P2). There was a significant pre-grazing target treatment × sampling period interaction effect on soil NH4+ concentration, which was most likely associated with urinary-N discharge. During P1, there was a greater urinary-N discharge for LI95% than LIMax (26.3 vs. 20.9 kg of urinary-N/paddock) caused by higher stocking rate, which resulted in greater N2O fluxes for LI95%. Inversely, during P2, the soil NH4+ and N2O fluxes were greater for LIMax than LI95%. During this period, the greater urinary-N discharge (46.8 vs. 44.8 kg of urinary-N/paddock) was likely associated with longer stocking period for LIMax relative to LI95%, since both treatments had similar stocking rate. Converting hourly N2O fluxes to daily basis and relating to milk production efficiency, LI95% was 40% more efficient than LIMax (0.34 vs. 0.57 g N˗N2O/kg milk·ha). In addition, LI95% pre-grazing target decreased urea-N loading per milk production by 34%. Strategic grazing management represented by the LI95% pre-grazing target allows for intensification of tropical pasture-based dairy systems, enhanced milk production efficiency and decreased N-N2O emission intensity.

ACS Style

Guilhermo F.S. Congio; Marília B. Chiavegato; Camila Delveaux Araujo Batalha; Patrícia P.A. Oliveira; Thomas M.R. Maxwell; Pablo Gregorini; Sila C. Da Silva. Strategic grazing management and nitrous oxide fluxes from pasture soils in tropical dairy systems. Science of The Total Environment 2019, 676, 493 -500.

AMA Style

Guilhermo F.S. Congio, Marília B. Chiavegato, Camila Delveaux Araujo Batalha, Patrícia P.A. Oliveira, Thomas M.R. Maxwell, Pablo Gregorini, Sila C. Da Silva. Strategic grazing management and nitrous oxide fluxes from pasture soils in tropical dairy systems. Science of The Total Environment. 2019; 676 ():493-500.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Guilhermo F.S. Congio; Marília B. Chiavegato; Camila Delveaux Araujo Batalha; Patrícia P.A. Oliveira; Thomas M.R. Maxwell; Pablo Gregorini; Sila C. Da Silva. 2019. "Strategic grazing management and nitrous oxide fluxes from pasture soils in tropical dairy systems." Science of The Total Environment 676, no. : 493-500.

Journal article
Published: 01 October 2018 in The Journal of Agricultural Science
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Detailed representation of ingesta inflow to and digesta outflow from the rumen is critical for improving the modelling of rumen function and herbage intake of grazing ruminants. The objective of the current work was to extend a mechanistic model of a grazing ruminant, MINDY, to simulate the dynamic links between ingestive and digestive processes as affected by forage and sward features (e.g. sward structure, herbage chemical composition) as well as the internal state of the animal. The work integrates existing aspects of forage ingestion, oral physiology and rumen digestion that influence ingesta characteristics and digesta outflows from the rumen, respectively. The paper describes the structure and function of the new development, assessing the new model in terms of dynamic changes of oral processing of ingesta and rumen dilution rate under different grazing contexts. MINDY reproduces characteristics of ingesta inflow to and digesta outflow from the rumen of grazing ruminants, achieving temporal patterns of occurrence within and between meals, similar to those for grazing animals reported in the literature. The model realistically simulates changes in particle size distribution of the ingestive bolus, bolus weight and rumen dilution rate in response to contrasting grazing management regimes. The new concepts encoded in MINDY capture the underlying biological mechanisms that drive the dynamic link between ingestion and digestion patterns. This development advances in the understanding and modelling of grazing and digestive behaviour patterns of free-ranging ruminants.

ACS Style

P. Gregorini; F. D. Provenza; J. J. Villalba; P. C. Beukes; M. J. Forbes. Dynamics of forage ingestion, oral processing and digesta outflow from the rumen: a development in a mechanistic model of a grazing ruminant, MINDY. The Journal of Agricultural Science 2018, 156, 980 -995.

AMA Style

P. Gregorini, F. D. Provenza, J. J. Villalba, P. C. Beukes, M. J. Forbes. Dynamics of forage ingestion, oral processing and digesta outflow from the rumen: a development in a mechanistic model of a grazing ruminant, MINDY. The Journal of Agricultural Science. 2018; 156 (8):980-995.

Chicago/Turabian Style

P. Gregorini; F. D. Provenza; J. J. Villalba; P. C. Beukes; M. J. Forbes. 2018. "Dynamics of forage ingestion, oral processing and digesta outflow from the rumen: a development in a mechanistic model of a grazing ruminant, MINDY." The Journal of Agricultural Science 156, no. 8: 980-995.

Journal article
Published: 01 September 2018 in Science of The Total Environment
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Agricultural systems are responsible for environmental impacts that can be mitigated through the adoption of more sustainable principles. Our objective was to investigate the influence of two pre-grazing targets (95% and maximum canopy light interception during pasture regrowth; LI95% and LIMax, respectively) on sward structure and herbage nutritive value of elephant grass cv. Cameroon, and dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield, stocking rate, enteric methane (CH4) emissions by Holstein × Jersey dairy cows. We hypothesized that grazing strategies modifying the sward structure of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) improves nutritive value of herbage, increasing DMI and reducing intensity of enteric CH4 emissions, providing environmental and productivity benefits to tropical pasture-based dairy systems. Results indicated that pre-sward surface height was greater for LIMax (≈135 cm) than LI95% (≈100 cm) and can be used as a reliable field guide for monitoring sward structure. Grazing management based on LI95% criteria improved herbage nutritive value and grazing efficiency, allowing greater DMI, milk yield and stocking rate by dairy cows. Daily enteric CH4 emission was not affected; however, cows grazing elephant grass at LI95% were more efficient and emitted 21% less CH4/kg of milk yield and 18% less CH4/kg of DMI. The 51% increase in milk yield per hectare overcame the 29% increase in enteric CH4 emissions per hectare in LI95% grazing management. Thereby the same resource allocation resulted in a 16% mitigation of the main greenhouse gas from pasture-based dairy systems. Overall, strategic grazing management is an environmental friendly practice that improves use efficiency of allocated resources through optimization of processes evolving plant, ruminant and their interface, and enhances milk production efficiency of tropical pasture-based systems.

ACS Style

Guilhermo F.S. Congio; Camila Delveaux Araujo Batalha; Marília B. Chiavegato; Alexandre Berndt; Patrícia P.A. Oliveira; Rosa T.S. Frighetto; Thomas M.R. Maxwell; Pablo Gregorini; Sila C. Da Silva. Strategic grazing management towards sustainable intensification at tropical pasture-based dairy systems. Science of The Total Environment 2018, 636, 872 -880.

AMA Style

Guilhermo F.S. Congio, Camila Delveaux Araujo Batalha, Marília B. Chiavegato, Alexandre Berndt, Patrícia P.A. Oliveira, Rosa T.S. Frighetto, Thomas M.R. Maxwell, Pablo Gregorini, Sila C. Da Silva. Strategic grazing management towards sustainable intensification at tropical pasture-based dairy systems. Science of The Total Environment. 2018; 636 ():872-880.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Guilhermo F.S. Congio; Camila Delveaux Araujo Batalha; Marília B. Chiavegato; Alexandre Berndt; Patrícia P.A. Oliveira; Rosa T.S. Frighetto; Thomas M.R. Maxwell; Pablo Gregorini; Sila C. Da Silva. 2018. "Strategic grazing management towards sustainable intensification at tropical pasture-based dairy systems." Science of The Total Environment 636, no. : 872-880.

Journal article
Published: 01 January 2018 in The Journal of Agricultural Science
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Measurement of water consumption and urinary nitrogen (UN) excretion of individual grazing ruminants is difficult, time-consuming and expensive. Therefore, prediction and modelling are critical for research to improve N and water use efficiency. The objective of the current work was to use a mechanistic model of a grazing ruminant, MINDY, to represent drinking and urination diurnal patterns, and the resulting pattern of UN excretion. This work is primarily an integration of existing knowledge of basic urination physiology and water dynamics in ruminants. MINDY reproduces observed patterns of urination achieving the correct temporal occurrence, relative volumes and nitrogen (N) concentration of individual urination events for a grazing dairy cow, comparable with those reported in the literature. The model simulates daily water imbibed and UN realistically, as well as ingestion rates for herbages with different protein content and contrasting grazing managements. Results of a cross-validation indicate that the root mean square prediction error and mean absolute error as % of the observed mean, respectively, were 26 and 23% for daily water imbibed, 26 and 27% for urination volume, and 25 and 19% for the frequency of urination. Although further parameterization and validation are needed, for a new development in an exploratory model like MINDY, these numbers are encouraging and reflect that the concepts encoded capture many of the underlying biological mechanisms that drive the diurnal pattern and daily UN excretion, as well as thirst, acceptable.

ACS Style

P. Gregorini; F. D. Provenza; J. J. Villalba; Pierre Beukes; M. J. Forbes. Diurnal patterns of urination and drinking by grazing ruminants: a development in a mechanistic model of a grazing ruminant, MINDY. The Journal of Agricultural Science 2018, 156, 71 -81.

AMA Style

P. Gregorini, F. D. Provenza, J. J. Villalba, Pierre Beukes, M. J. Forbes. Diurnal patterns of urination and drinking by grazing ruminants: a development in a mechanistic model of a grazing ruminant, MINDY. The Journal of Agricultural Science. 2018; 156 (1):71-81.

Chicago/Turabian Style

P. Gregorini; F. D. Provenza; J. J. Villalba; Pierre Beukes; M. J. Forbes. 2018. "Diurnal patterns of urination and drinking by grazing ruminants: a development in a mechanistic model of a grazing ruminant, MINDY." The Journal of Agricultural Science 156, no. 1: 71-81.