S. Ates

Potential legume alternatives to fallow and wheat monoculture for Mediterranean environments

Abstract. Growing populations and intensification of land-use in West Asia and North Africa (WANA) are prompting a need for viable alternatives to fallow and cereal mono-cropping systems common in dry areas of this region. The sustainability and economic viability of such rotations can only be assessed accurately by using long-term trials. A two-course rotation experiment was established in 1986 in north-eastern Syria, comparing yields and profitability of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) when grown after wheat, fallow, a grazed mixture of medic species (Medicago spp.) and common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) cut for hay, over 10 growing seasons. Lentils (Lens culinaris Medik.) were introduced into the experiment in 1990. On average over the course of the experiment, the highest wheat grain yields were obtained following fallow (2.57 t ha–1), the lowest in continuous wheat (1.14 t ha–1), and intermediate following medic and vetch (1.90–2.01 t ha–1). Compared with wheat grown after fallow, wheat grain yields declined following vetch, medic and lentils in only three of the 10 seasons, which were drier than average. Yields of wheat after lentils were generally lower (2.22 t ha–1) than after vetch (mean 2.56 t ha–1) and after medic (2.40 t ha–1). Inclusion of grain legumes in the rotations boosted profits considerably because of their high grain prices and valuable straw. Replacing fallow with vetch for hay production increased the average gross margin by US

Effects of stocking rate and closing date on subterranean clover populations and dry matter production in dryland sheep pastures

126 ha–1 year–1, and growing vetch for hay in rotation with wheat produced greater profit than continuous wheat, by

Biophysical and economic water productivity of dual-purpose cattle farming

254 ha–1 year–1. The wheat–vetch-for-grain and wheat–lentil rotations were especially profitable, at least twice as profitable as wheat–fallow and three times continuous wheat. This experiment adds to the growing body of field data in Syria and in Australia showing that forage and grain legumes are excellent alternatives to wheat–fallow rotation and continuous wheat production in areas that experience a Mediterranean-type climate, and help support more efficient and sustainable cropping systems.

Performance of indigenous and exotic×indigenous sheep breeds fed different diets in spring and the efficiency of feeding system in crop–livestock farming

Abstract The effect of stocking rate (8.3 [low] and 13.9 [high] ewes+twin lambs/ha) and time of closing in the spring on subterranean clover morphology, phenology, seedling population and the subsequent clover and pasture dry matter production were monitored over 2 years in a cocksfoot-subterranean clover pasture. Mean subterranean clover seedling populations (per m2), measured in autumn 2007, after grazing treatments in the previous spring, were greater (P<0.05) at the low (2850±267) compared with the high (2500±217) stocking rate and with the earlier closing dates (P<0.05) (3850±398, 2950±242, 2100±126 and 1700±152 at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks after the first flower, respectively). Seedling populations measured in 2008, after grazing treatments in the second spring, were lower at both stocking rates (1290±89 at low and 1190±70 at high) and at each closing date (1470±84, 1320±84 and 940±66 at 3, 5 and 8 weeks after the first flower, respectively). The effect of stocking rate and closing dates in spring on pasture and clover production in the following autumn was proportional to seedling numbers in both years. Clover production in the following spring was unaffected by stocking rate or closing date in the previous year at the relatively high seedling populations generated by the treatments.

Forage yields and feeding value of small grain winter cereals for lambs

This study analyzes key factors influencing water productivity in cattle rearing, particularly in contexts characterized by water scarcity. This was done through year-round monitoring of on-farm practices within five smallholder farms located in the Saïss area (northern Morocco). The on-farm monitoring protocol consisted of characterizing: (i) volumes of water used for fodder production and distinguished by source (rainfall, surface irrigation and groundwater), (ii) virtual water contained in off-farm feed resources, (iii) total forage biomass production, (iv) dietary rations fed to lactating cows and their calves and (v) milk output and live weight gain. Findings reveal a mean water footprint of 1.62±0.81 and 8.44±1.09 m3/kg of milk and of live weight gain, respectively. Groundwater represented only 13.1% and 2.2% of the total water used to get milk and live weight gain, respectively, while rainfall represented 53.0% and 48.1% of the total water for milk and live weight gain, respectively. The remaining water volumes used came from surface irrigation water (7.4% for milk and 4.0% for live weight gain) and from virtual water (26.5% for milk and 44.7% for live weight gain). The results also revealed a relatively small gross margin per m3 of water used by the herd, not exceeding an average value of US

Biomass yield and feeding value of rye, triticale, and wheat straw produced under a dual-purpose management system

0.05, when considering both milk and live weight. Given the large variability in farm performances, which affect water productivity in cattle rearing throughout the production process, we highlight the potential for introducing a series of interventions that are aimed at saving water, while concurrently improving efficiency in milk production and live weight gain. These interventions should target the chain of production functions that are implemented throughout the process of water productivity in cattle rearing. Moreover, these interventions are of particular importance given our findings that livestock production depends largely upon rainfall, rather than groundwater, in an area afflicted with sustained droughts, overexploitation of groundwater resources and growing water scarcity.

Grasslands in 'Old World' and 'New World' Mediterranean-climate zones: Past trends, current status and future research priorities

(Received 31 December 2013; revised 9 April 2014; accepted 27 May 2014)SUMMARYGeneticvariationinfeedefficiencymayhaveasignificantimpactonsheepproductioninintegratedcroplivestockfarming systems in dry areas, where the shortage and poor quality of feed is widespread. Thus, the present studywas carried out to investigate the effects of sheep genotype and feed source on liveweight gain, feed conversionefficiency and dry matter (DM) intake in feedlot lambs finished on diets based on low-cost forages or a high-costconcentrated feed as a means of assessing the efficiency of this feeding system. Early weaned lambs of thepurebred fat-tailed Akkaraman breed were compared with synthetic Anatolian Merino (0·80 German MuttonMerino×0·20 Native Akkaraman) breed. The lambs were kept in individual pens for 8 weeks and fed four diets:daily harvested forages of triticale (T), Hungarian vetch (HV), a triticale-Hungarian vetch mixture (T+HV), and aconcentrate-based feed(CF). Lamb liveweightgain (LWG) wasmonitoredduring the early (18 April–16May)andlate (17 May–13 June) spring periods. Diet×period and diet×breed interactions were detected in LWG of thelambs. Lambs from both genotypes on the concentrate-based diet had higher liveweight gains, DM intakes andbetter feed conversion ratios compared with lambs finished on the forage-based diets. The LWG of lambs offeredtriticale forage decreased from 177g/head/day in the early spring to 95g/head/day in the late spring period, asplantmaturityincreased.Liveweightgainsdidnotchangefortheotherforagerationsduringthesameperiod. TheLWG of Akkaraman lambs were similar for both the early (189g/head/day) and the late (183g/head/day) springperiods, whereasAnatolian Merino lambs gained 41g/head/dayless LWand had 3·8 higher feed conversion ratefor the late spring period compared with the early spring period. The present study showed that fat-tailedAkkaraman lambs were better able to utilize forages with low nutritive value compared to Anatolian Merinolambs, and may be better suited to semi-arid areas, where crop and livestock are highly integrated in the farmingsystem.INTRODUCTIONAnimal products are in great demand in the West AsiaNorth Africa (WANA) region due to increases in percapita real income, urbanization and populationgrowth (Delgado et al. 1999; Aw-Hassan et al.2010). However, undue pressure on natural resourcesand deteriorating feed availability for livestock arechallenging the growing opportunities for livestockproduction (Ates & Louhaichi 2012). Pessimisticpredictions on the impact of population growth,climate change and unsustainable resource manage-ment indicate that the constraints on land and foodsupply will become increasingly evident in mixedcrop–livestock and grazing systems in the region(World Bank 2008). There is a general consensus thatcompetition for grains between humans and live-stock, diminishing feed supplies from overexploited

Annual forage legumes in dryland agricultural systems of the West Asia and North Africa Regions: research achievements and future perspective

BACKGROUND An understanding of the dynamics that affect the nutrient content of forages with advancing growth stages is critical for designing equally dynamic feeding programmes. This study compared the agronomic characteristic and feeding values of forages from barley, rye, wheat, oats and triticale weekly from tillering (Z 24-25) to dough stages of maturity (Z 83-87). RESULT Digestible dry matter yield of cereal species increased rapidly (P < 0.05) from 1.9 t ha(-1) at tillering to 7.8 t ha(-1) at ear emergence (Z 50-55) and remained stable (P > 0.05) until the dough stage when it increased to 10.4 t ha(-1) . The nutritive quality of cereal species decreased with advancing growth stages, and this was more pronounced in barley and rye with rapid reductions in their energy and digestibility values. Changes in the nutritive value of cereal forages indicated a strong relationship (P < 0.05) with the leaf-stem ratio of the plants. The animal response reflected the changes in feeding value of cereal species with advancing growth stages. The average live weight gain of lambs decreased (P < 0.05) from an average of 203 g d(-1) on 2 May to 142 g d(-1) on the 13 June. CONCLUSION Wheat and oats, and to a lesser extent triticale, provided higher quality forages than barley and rye. All cereal species had poor feeding qualities between ear emergence and milk stages (Z 71-75).

Evaluation of deficit irrigation for efficient sheep production from permanent sown pastures in a dry continental climate

Dual-purpose management of winter cereals for grazing and grain production provides highly nutritive forage for ruminants in the spring and may positively affect straw feeding value. A 2-yr study investigated the effect of spring defoliation of triticale, wheat, and rye at the tillering and stem elongation stages on total biomass, grain yields, and straw quality. Furthermore, straws of spring-defoliated and undefoliated (control) cereal crops were evaluated for nutritional value and voluntary intake as a means of assessing the efficiency of dual-purpose management systems from the winter feeding context as well. The feeding study consisted of 9 total mixed rations (TMR), each containing 35% triticale, rye, or wheat straw obtained under 3 spring-defoliation regimens. The TMR were individually fed to fifty-four 1-yr-old Anatolian Merino ewes for 28 d. Defoliation of the crops at tillering did not affect the total biomass production or grain yields. However, biomass and grain yields were reduced ( < 0.01) by 55 and 52%, respectively, in crops defoliated at stem elongation. Straw of spring-defoliated cereals had less NDF and ADF concentrations ( < 0.01) but greater CP ( < 0.01), nonfiber carbohydrates ( < 0.01), and ME concentrations ( < 0.01) compared with straw from undefoliated crops. The increase in the nutritive value of straw led to greater nutrient digestion ( < 0.01) and intake of DM and OM of ewes ( < 0.01). However, sheep live weight gain did not differ among treatments ( > 0.77). This study indicated that straw feeding value and digestibility can be increased through spring defoliation.