Pasture weed biology and management in Brazil

The livestock production model historically practiced in Brazil has a strong extractive bias, wherein the premise is to produce livestock with absolutely no concern for the preservation or renewal of environmental resources. The absence of technical criteria for the use of pastures has generated low productivity rates, making the activity unsustainable from both economic and environmental points of view. This scenario led the several sectors linked to the production chain to develop a package of strategies to solve the problems faced by livestock farmers. This package of strategies is conventionally called postmodern or corporate farming, in which the extractive process gives way to the business logic of avoiding waste and recovering profit margins mainly through pasture perpetuation. However, there is still a technical gap in corporate cattle farming related to problems caused by pasture weeds because all the concepts applied are derived or copied from concepts generated in agriculture. Furthermore, few researchers have studied or scientific articles written on elucidating the real problem of weeds in livestock production. Thus, the goal of the present review was to present some aspects related to weed ecology, their interference, and management alternatives in pasture areas, thereby collaborating with corporate livestock farming in Brazil because solutions to weed problems are crucial to increase commitment in all sectors of the production chain.

Livestock Farmer Demography and Adaptive Capacity to Climate Change and Variability in Limpopo and Mpumalanga Province of South Africa

The study investigated the demographic characteristics of smallholder livestock farmers in Limpopo and Mpumalanga Province of South Africa and their effect on the capacity of the farmers to adapt to climate change and variability. Respondents were mainly heads (58.7%) and parents (25.7%) to heads of households and were mostly male (63.4%) with good health (97.8%) associated with high adaptive capacity to climate change and variability. Regarding socio-economic status, four in five (81.5%) of the livestock farmers had only secondary education at most, and incomes were generally low, probably associated with low capacity to adapt to climate change and variability. On the contrary, the quality of housing for the livestock farmers was either top (48.5% of farmers) or medium (47.4%). Some 45.9% of farmers owned 4 to 5 rooms, 44.5% owned six or more rooms, with 88.5% of them having financed their houses. Almost all the respondents (97.3%) had access to electricity, and these suggest the high capacity to adapt to climate change and variability. With regards to aspects of livestock farming, one male (40.1% of households) and female (39.3%) member was fit to work in farming, livestock was owned by heads (52.9% of the households) and by children (29.0%), affirming the high capacity to adapt to climate change and variability. Almost all respondents (99.2%) used communal land, had fewer livestock, lacked training (99.5%), never belonged to a farmers’ union (99.7%) or a producer organization (100.0%), and had no access to financial support from the government (99.2%) associated with low adaptive capacity. The findings of the study revealed that demographic factors had different influences on the capacity of smallholder livestock farmers to adapt to adverse effects of climate change and variability on the farming enterprises. This was true for all the three types of demographic factors studied, namely: personal characteristics, economic status, and aspects of livestock farming.

Usages of Mobile Application Developed by Krishi Vigyan Kendra Banavasi

A survey was conducted to assess the impact of mobile applications developed by theKrishiVigyan Kendra Banavasi with 150 farmers in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh inthe year 2020. KVK Banavasi developed three mobile applications namely ANGRAU-ATARI CFLD, ANGRAU Pashu Poshan and Fertilizer Calculator for benefiting farmingcommunity. Majority (64.67%) of the respondents were found in medium usage of mobileapplications, in agriculture. Fertilizer Calculator mobile application was found highest usage(74.50%) among the farmers when compared with other two applications. ANGRAUATATRI CFLD application was used by an average of 46.83 per cent farmers forinformation on new improved varieties, 75 % for control measures of pest and diseasesand 29 per cent for market related information. ANGRAU Pashu Poshan application wasused by 75 per cent livestock farmers for sheep management, 56 per cent for cattlemanagement and 45 per cent for poultry related information. Fertilizer calculator applicationwas used by 80 per cent farmers for recommended dose of fertilizers and 10 per cent forsoil test based fertilizer application.

Personal features and management activities related to cattle welfare

Objective: To describe the personal features, as well as the management activities related to cattle welfare in Loma Bonita, Oaxaca, Mexico. Design/Methodology/Approach: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive, and quantitative study. The sampling was non-probabilistic for convenience. Between December 2019 and March 2020, a questionnaire was applied to 27 farmers. Results: The average age of the ranchers is 44.6 years; 55.6% have more than 20 years of experience; 25.9% herd their cattle using a stick; 48.1% do not disinfect the udders; and 25.1% do not wash their hands during milking. Study Limitations/Implications: The results and conclusions are limited to the sample used in the present study. Therefore, extending them to all livestock farmers in the municipality would require a broader study that considers statistical techniques of probabilistic sampling. Findings/Conclusions: There are management activities outside the parameters established by the appropriate sanitary and welfare practices of cattle. However, the personal features indicate the existence of conditions related to the livestock activity in Mexico, that encourage participants to propose and carry out programs, plans, and strategies aimed at promoting and applying practices on animal welfare, thereby improving the productive, reproductive and profitability parameters.

Stocking rate of extensive land-reform livestock farmers during 2018/2019 drought: Bloemfontein grassland biome case study

The study aimed to determine the average stocking rate among land reform beneficiary farmers specialising in livestock production in order to establish differences between calving percentage, fodder availability, and mortality rate of sampled farms, as well as to compare forage scarcities of Land Reform farms with their neighbouring farms during the midsummer drought of 2018/2019 in the Bloemfontein area. The average stocking rate was 5.9 ha/LSU in comparison with the Departmental grazing capacity norm of 6 ha/LSU for rangeland in good condition. However, 31% of the sampled farms were found to be severely overstocked, and the mortality rate on these farms, in relation to grazing capacity of 6 ha/LSU, was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the mortalities on the other remaining farms. Naturally available fodder was found to be heterogeneous, with 37.9% of the respondents observing their available fodder as worse than that of their neighbours. The total mortality of 176.77 LSUs was recorded for the 29 sampled farms. These findings will assist the local extension personnel prevent future rangeland condition degradation and increase land reform farmers’ productivity. The study concluded that training is paramount to farmers’ development and further recommends more research undertakings.

Bovine Visceral Schistosomosis Caused By Schistosoma Indicum in Migrant Cattle Slaughtered at Chennai City, Southern India

One hundred and eighty mesentery samples of cattle were collected during a period of October 2019- March 2020 for screening visceral schistosomosis from Perambur slaughter house, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Schistosoma indicum was identified in eleven mesenteries of Nellore breed of cattle based on morphology and worm number varied from 1-114 per mesentry. Molecular confirmation based on 16s RNA revealed it to be S. indicum. It was found that the infection of S. indicum in cattle was first report in Tamil Nadu in last two decades. The slaughtered cattle originated from neighboring states especially Andhrapradesh. The tract of infection needs to be traced accordingly for future control strategies. Awareness must be created among the livestock farmers to prevent production loss due to S. indicum infection while purchasing cattle from neighboring states within India.

INDIGENOUS LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN EGBA ZONE OF OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

This study assessed the management of indigenous livestock in Egba zone of Ogun State using one hundred and forty four farmers and twenty Village Extension Agents. Data were collected with interview schedule and questionnaire respectively. The study revealed that indigenous livestock farmers were of average age of 48 years, mostly (77.8%) native of these communities sampled and literate (63.2%), more female (58.3%) and they were not cosmopolite (83.3%). Poultry, sheep and goats are mostly kept by indigenous livestock farmers, followed by cattle and pig, snail and rabbit by a few farmers. Most (66.7%) farmers raised their livestock on free range while few provided feeding and housing for their animals. Local materials were used for feeding, housing, and ethno-veterinary care for animals. Livestock farmers earned an average of twenty one thousand seven hundred and fifty naira monthly from their animals. The materials livestock farmers used included pawpaw seeds for deworming, lime and sandpaper leaf to control lice, sulphur, lime and palm oil to control mange; Iyeye leaves [Spondia mombin] for treatment of diarrhea in ruminants. Communication methods used in the diffusion of ethno-veterinary practices were town criers, traditional songs and festivals, folk tales, use of signs and symbols, life dramas and face-to-face interpersonal media while the sources of information were extension agents, community leaders, fellow farmers, neighbours, livestock traders, and farmers` union. Most important information came from fellow farmers. Indigenous livestock farmers should be involved in research and extension planning and regular visits to farmers by village extension agents is recommended.

Constraints in Adoption of Livestock Development Interventions among Livestock Farmers in Davanagere District

Livestock sector plays a crucial role in socio-economic development of farmers in rural areas, which in turn improves the national economy. For better productivity the rural farmers need different types of information and knowledge related to different scientific managemental practices and different interventions for different problems. In this regard, the study was undertaken to assess the constraints in adoption of livestock development interventions among livestock farmers in Davanagere district. An ex-post facto research design was employed for the study. The study was conducted in ten villages of two taluks of Davanagere district and total of 100 beneficiaries were randomly selected which included 36 beneficiaries in establishment of fodder nursery, 30 beneficiaries in establishment of rural hatchery unit. Whereas, all the 100 respondents were involved in prevention and control of Sub clinical mastitis (SCM). The data was collected from the respondents through interview schedule. The collected data was coded, tabulated and analysed using suitable statistical tools. The study revealed that, majority of beneficiaries reported increased annual income and employment generation. Non-availability of fertilizers, non-availability of improved desi chicks at nearest place and high cost of veterinary medicine were the major constraints in establishment of fodder nursery, establishment of rural hatchery unit and prevention and control of SCM respectively. Thus, Sujala III project had a great scope for improving productivity; profitability and facilitated an accelerated and sustainable transformation of animal husbandry activities.