Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 3 — Observational / field trialPeer-reviewed

How does grazing pressure affect feed intake and behavior of livestock in a meadow steppe in northern China and their coupling relationship

Tianqi Yu, Ruirui Yan, Chu Zhang, Sisi Chen, Zhitao Zhang, Leifeng GUO, Tianci Hu, Chengxiang Jiang, Miao Wang, Keyu Bai, Wenneng Zhou, Lianhai Wu

The Science of The Total Environment · 2023

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Summary

This 2023 field study, conducted in northern China's meadow steppe, investigated how grazing pressure—likely operationalised as stocking density or intensity—influences both the feed intake and behavioural responses of grazing livestock. The research appears to have examined the coupling relationship between these variables, suggesting an integrated analysis of how animals adjust their foraging and activity patterns in response to varying grazing loads. Such work contributes to understanding sustainable grazing management in semi-arid grassland systems.

UK applicability

The findings may have limited direct applicability to UK upland or lowland grassland systems, given the distinct vegetation composition, climate and soil conditions of northern Chinese meadow steppe. However, the methodological approach to coupling grazing pressure with livestock behaviour and intake could inform UK grazing management research on extensive hill and moorland systems.

Key measures

Grazing pressure (livestock density or stocking rate); feed intake; livestock behaviour (as suggested by title); potential pasture productivity or vegetation metrics

Outcomes reported

The study examined how varying grazing pressures influence feed intake rates and behavioural patterns of livestock grazing in meadow steppe environments. It analysed the coupling or interaction between grazing intensity and livestock responses.

Theme
Farming systems, soils & land use
Subject
Grassland & pasture systems
Study type
Research
Study design
Field trial
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
China
System type
Pasture-based livestock
DOI
10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168472
Catalogue ID
SNmohi6n1e-zb42j3

Topic tags

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