Climate change is a global challenge to ecosystem services, altering crop yields and food security worldwide. In the context of climate change, Onobrychis viciifolia Scop. (sainfoin) can offer a multitude of ecosystem services conferred by its multifaceted beneficial properties. We reviewed the morphological, biochemical and physiological responses to environmental stressors of O. viciifolia, summarized its ecological, agronomic, nutritional and biological interests, and we discussed its use under climate change. Onobrychis viciifolia is a hemicryptophyte forage legume adapted to arid and semiarid regions by evolving a diverse array of protective mechanisms against abiotic stressors at morphological, biochemical and physiological levels. In the present scenario of climate change, O. viciifolia has desirable forage characteristics such as high nutritive value, high voluntary intake and palatability to grazing animals, leading to satisfying animal performance for milk, meat, honey and wool production. Recent studies suggest that O. viciifolia has several highly beneficial phytochemical properties including condensed tannins and polyphenol content, which have been demonstrated to have anthelmintic activities, enhance protein utilization, and prevent bloating. In addition, O. viciifolia also has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequestrate atmospheric carbon and nitrogen into the soil. Ethnobotanical investigations show that O. viciifolia possesses antimicrobial, antiseptic and vulnerary activities. This review could be helpful for understanding of O. viciifolia characteristics, interests and uses, thus promoting its reasonable cultivation under a changing climate.

The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effects of breed and genomic inbreeding on 305-day lactation yields of milk, fat and protein; and fertility traits of pasture-based dairy cows in Argentina. The genomic inbreeding and heterozygosity of 890 first-lactation cows and 27 bulls were calculated through methods based on the genomic relationship matrix and run of homozygosity using 44 174 single-nucleotide polymorphisms. Cows were classified into four breed groups: Holstein, Holstein crossbred, Holstein–Jersey crossbred and Jersey crossbred. The effect of genomic inbreeding was not significant on production traits, but inbred cows increased 3.0 days calving to conception interval (CCI) per 1% genomic inbreeding. On average, purebred Holstein cows produced 1119 kg milk, 22 kg fat and 30 kg protein more than Jersey crossbred cows. In the case of the fertility traits, Jersey crossbred cows had 45 days shorter CCI than purebred Holstein cows. A possible reason for the non-significant effects of genomic inbreeding of production and fertility traits is that these effects were evaluated in a crossbred population in which rates of heterozygosity would operate to some extent in the opposite direction to rates of genomic inbreeding.

This research aimed to examine the impact of varying levels of dietary copper (Cu) hydroxychloride on the performance, egg quality, yolk antioxidant capacity, tibia traits, and mineral excretion in laying quails. 125 female 10-week-old quails were randomly distributed into five experimental groups with five replicates, each consisting of five quails. Five experimental isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were designed to contain different Cu hydroxychloride (54% Cu) levels at 7.20 (basal diet), 15, 30, 45 and 60 mg/kg respectively. Quails were fed with trial diets for 12 weeks. Performance, egg production, eggshell quality, and biomechanical traits of the tibia were not impacted (P > 0.005) by variations in dietary Cu levels. Yolk antioxidant capacity, measured as yolk DPPH value, exhibited an increase (P < 0.01) in the high-dose group (60 mg/kg). Regarding tibia mineral concentration, Cu concentration decreased linearly (P < 0.001) with increasing Cu level, manganese and zinc content recorded the highest values in quails that had received 60 mg/kg Cu in the diet (P < 0.01), while the lowest phosphorus content was described for 45 and 60 mg/kg. Contrarily, increases (P < 0.01) in dietary Cu resulted in raised faecal Cu content, while phosphorus, manganese, and zinc, were reduced when Cu was added. It can be inferred that adding Cu to the diet of laying quails would not be necessary, which in turn decreases Cu excretion and prevents substantial environmental harm.

Two 10-day in vitro experiments were conducted to investigate the relationship between nitrogen (N) isotope discrimination (δ15N) and ammonia (NH3) emissions from sheep manure. In Exp. 1, three different manure mixtures were set up: control (C); C mixed with lignite (C + L); and grape marc (GM), with 5, 4 and 5 replications, respectively. For C, urine and faeces were collected from sheep fed a diet of 550 g lucerne hay/kg, 400 g barley grain/kg and 50 g faba bean/kg; for C + L, urine and faeces were collected from sheep fed the C diet and 100 g ground lignite added to each incubation system at the start of the experiment; for GM, urine and faeces were collected from sheep fed a diet consisting of C diet with 200 g/kg of the diet replaced with GM. In Exp. 2, three different urine-faeces mixtures were set up: 2U:1F, 1.4U:1F and 1U:1F with urine to faeces ratios of 2:1, 1.4:1 and 1:1, respectively, each with 5 replications. Lignite in C + L led to significantly lower cumulative manure-N loss by 81 and 68% in comparison with C and GM groups, respectively (P = 0.001). Cumulative emitted manure NH3-N was lower in C + L than C and GM groups by 35 and 36%, respectively (P = 0.020). Emitted manure NH3-N was higher in 2U:1F compared to 1.4U:1F and 1U:1F by 18 and 26%, respectively (P < 0.001). This confirms the relationship between manure δ15N and cumulative NH3-N loss reported by earlier studies, which may be useful for estimating NH3 losses.

The study evaluated forage and livestock performance in different grazing systems over two years. Treatments were three contrasting grazing systems: (I) N-fertilized bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flüggé) in the summer overseeded during the winter by N-fertilized ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) and oat (Avena sativa L.) (Grass + N); (II) unfertilized bahiagrass during the summer overseeded with ryegrass + oat and a blend of clovers (Trifolium spp.) in the winter (Grass + Clover); (III) unfertilized bahiagrass and rhizoma peanut (RP; Arachis glabrata Benth.) mixture during summer, overseeded during winter by ryegrass + oat + clovers mixture (Grass + Clover + RP). Average daily gain (ADG), gain per area (GPA), and stocking rate (SR) in the winter did not differ across treatments and averaged 0.87 kg/d (P = 0.940), 303 kg/ha, and 2.72 AU/ha. In the summer, Grass + Clover + RP had greater ADG than Grass + N (0.34 vs. 0.17 kg/d, respectively). During the summer, the GPA of Grass + Clover + RP was superior to Grass + N (257 vs. 129 kg/ha, respectively), with no difference in SR among treatments at 3.19 AU/ha. Over the entire year, ADG and GPA tended to be greater for Grass + Clover + RP. Annual SR differed between treatments, where Grass + N was greater (3.37 AU/ha) than the other treatments, which averaged 2.76 AU/ha. Integration of legumes into pasture systems in the summer and winter contributes to developing a sustainable grazing system, reducing N fertilizer use by 85% while tending to increase livestock productivity even though SR was decreased by 18%.

Australia has a diverse and unique native flora with thousands of edible plant taxa, many of which are wild relatives of important food crops. These have the potential to diversify and improve the sustainability of Australian farming systems. However, the current level of domestication and cultivation of Australian plants as food crops is extremely limited by global standards. This review examines the current status and potential for future de novo domestication and large-scale cultivation of Australian plants as food crops. This is done in the context of international new crop development and factors that impact the success or failure of such efforts. Our review finds considerable potential for native Australian plants to be developed as food crops, but the industry faces several significant challenges. The current industry focuses on niche food markets that are susceptible to oversupply. It also suffers from inconsistent quantity and quality of product, which is attributed to a reliance on wild harvesting and the cultivation of unimproved germplasm. More active cultivation is necessary for industry growth, but attempts have historically failed due to poorly adapted germplasm and a lack of agronomic information. The de novo domestication and large-scale cultivation of Australian plants as food crops will require an investment in publicly supported multidisciplinary research and development programmes. Research programmes must prioritize the exploration of plants throughout Australia and the collection and evaluation of germplasm. Programmes must also seek to engage relevant stakeholders, pursue participatory research models and provide appropriate engagement and benefit-sharing opportunities with Indigenous Australian communities.

In Mediterranean-type climates, terminal drought induces grain yield losses in wheat. Antitranspirants can reduce the impacts of terminal drought and improve yield, but the mechanisms involved are not fully understood. Among other impacts, drought elevates endogenous abscisic acid (ABA) concentration. Here, the effectiveness of a film antitranspirant (di-1-p-menthene) was studied in relation to plant water status and spike ABA. The objective was to determine whether drought amelioration with di-1-p-menthene was solely mediated through a reduction in ABA by comparing its effects to that of fluridone (an ABA inhibitor). The treatments were assessed in a randomized complete block design in two field experiments in spring and summer of 2020, with six and eight replicate blocks, respectively, at Harper Adams University, UK, to compare their effects on spike ABA, gas exchange and agronomic traits under progressive drought conditions. Di-1-p-menthene was applied at 1 l/ha; and fluridone at 10, 20 and 50 μM concentrations, at flag leaf emergence, growth stage 37 (GS37). Drought increased spike ABA and downregulated photosynthesis. Di-1-p-menthene and fluridone at some concentrations, reduced spike ABA and photosynthesis. Di-1-p-menthene suppressed transpiration and spike ABA, each by 21% but increased grain yield by 27%. In contrast, although fluridone (at 10 and 50 μM) also reduced spike ABA (by 16%), overall, it did not alter transpiration or grain yield. The results suggest that yield improvement with di-1-p-methene is mediated through mechanisms that involve conservation of plant water linked to reduced transpiration, with inhibition of spike ABA playing a secondary role.

Milk production declines as dairy cows enter late lactation, resulting in reduced milk quality and negatively impacting milk processability, such as rennet coagulation time (RCT), milk pH and ethanol stability (ES), leading to seasonality issues for milk processors. Multispecies forages, containing grass, legume and herb species, require lower N inputs and are of interest to dairy farmers. However, little is known about the effect of grazing multispecies forages on milk processability characteristics in late lactation dairy cows. Forty-five autumn-calving dairy cows in late lactation were allocated to 1 of 3 grazing forages; perennial ryegrass (PRG; Lolium perenne), perennial ryegrass and white clover (Trifolium pratense) (PRGWC), and a 6 – species multispecies forage (MULTI) containing perennial ryegrass, timothy (Phleum pratense), white clover, red clover (Trifolium repens), chicory (Cichorium intybus) and plantain (Plantago lanceolata). Cows were allocated 12 kg DM grazed forage and supplemented with a grass – silage TMR and concentrate. Forage DMI was significantly lower for cows grazing PRG. Milk yield increased when cows grazed PRGWC (18.07 kg/d) and MULTI (17.84 kg/d) compared to PRG (16.08 kg/d). Milk RCT (mins) and ES (%) were unaffected by treatment. However, offering cows PRGWC and MULTI increased the concentration of C18:2 cis – 9, 12 and C18:3 cis – 9, 12, 15 in milk compared to PRG. Compared to PRG, grazing forages containing clover and herb species improved milk yield and beneficially altered milk fatty acid profile in late lactation dairy cows without negatively impacting milk processability.

Varietal identification plays a pivotal role in viticulture for several purposes. Nowadays, such identification is accomplished using ampelography and molecular markers, techniques requiring specific expertise and equipment. Deep learning, on the other hand, appears to be a viable and cost-effective alternative, as several recent studies claim that computer vision models can identify different vine varieties with high accuracy. Such works, however, limit their scope to a handful of selected varieties and do not provide accurate figures for external data validation. In the current study, five well-known computer vision models were applied to leaf images to verify whether the results presented in the literature can be replicated over a larger data set consisting of 27 varieties with 26 382 images. It was built over 2 years of dedicated field sampling at three geographically distinct sites, and a validation data set was collected from the Internet. Cross-validation results on the purpose-built data set confirm literature results. However, the same models, when validated against the independent data set, appear unable to generalize over the training data and retain the performances measured during cross validation. These results indicate that further enhancement have been done in filling such a gap and developing a more reliable model to discriminate among grape varieties, underlining that, to achieve this purpose, the image resolution appears to be a crucial factor in the development of such models.

Lodging is the permanent displacement of stalks due to disrupted secondary cell walls caused by external factors, plant characters and their interaction. Anatomical, morphological and compositional traits are among lodging-inducing plant traits. In comparison with morphological and anatomical features, the correlation of lodging resistance and cell wall composition is not frequently reviewed. In this review, the relation between cell wall composition and lodging resistance of cereal stalks is comprehensively reviewed based on major cell wall components (lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose) and trace minerals. From the body of literatures reviewed across all cereal crops, lignin and cellulose were found to have significant positive correlation with lodging resistance. However, the effect of structural features of cellulose and lignin on lodging resistance was not investigated in most of the studies. This review also highlights the importance of biomass recalcitrance and lodging resistance trade-offs in the spectrum of genetic cell wall modifications.

The objective of this research was to assess the adoption of circular agricultural practices as a tool to improve the recovery use efficiency of phosphorus (P) applied to tropical soils. Two Brazilian farms (1 and 2) that are under long-term no-till and cropped year-round with cover and/or cash crops were used in this study. Soybean, maize and common bean were grown during the summer season (October–February), followed by wheat, common bean and maize during the winter season (February–August). Brachiaria ruziziensis was intercropped with off-season maize. Farm 1 also grew sweet potatoes in rotation with grains. In the integrated crop–livestock system, the leftovers from the silos and crop residues were used to feed beef cattle, while the residues not used in the confinement were turned into compost and applied in the production fields. During the last 3 years, 80 (farm 1) and 71 (farm 2) kg/ha/year of P-fertilizer was applied to meet the demand of the different crops and 56% (farm 1) and 58% (farm 2) of P-fertilizer was exported through the crops and livestock. P-recovery represented more than 50% on both farms. Around 60% of the P consumed by animals was excreted in the form of faeces and urine and the animal manure was used to produce organic compost. Therefore, most of the P consumed by the livestock was returned back to the field to serve as organic fertilizer. This study showed that circular agricultural practices can enhance P-recovery.

The use of repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) options for the analysis of in vitro ruminal fermentation gas production profiles is illustrated. Because of the different variances and covariance structures among profile observations, ordinary ANOVA for more than two-time points is not recommended. To mitigate this problem, the Greenhouse–Geisser epsilon correction can be applied to reduce the degrees of freedom, inflated by violation of the sphericity assumption, for F ratio probability calculations. After this correction, the Box–Greenhouse–Geisser ANOVA (modified ANOVA) layout appears similar to the layout of a split-plot design ANOVA with whole plots divided into subplots (incubation time). Any F tests in the main plot part are valid but F tests involving the time factor from the subplot part need modification because time factor, by its very nature, cannot be allocated at random. Application of multivariate ANOVA, distance multivariate ANOVA, ante-dependence and mixed model analysis are also considered. All these options lend themselves to wide application in the applied biological sciences.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effect of level and timing of silage supplementation during early lactation on animal performance and dry matter intake (DMI). Two farm-lets were established with a high (1253 kg DM/ha) and low (862 kg DM/ha) grass availability at turnout. In spring, cows were assigned to one of two treatments as they calved over 2 years; high grass (HG) and low grass (LG). During period 1 (week 1–6), cows on the HG treatment were offered a high daily herbage allowance (DHA) with low silage and the LG treatment were offered a low DHA with high silage. In period 2 (week 7–12), half of the cows from the HG treatment in P1 switched to the LG treatment in P2 and vice versa as 20 LG cows in P1 switched to the HG treatment in P2. Cows on the HG treatment in P2 received a high DHA with no silage and the LG treatment received a low DHA with 3 kg DM/cow silage. Grass DMI was significantly higher for the HG treatment during both periods (+1.6 and +3.4 kg DM/cow/day, respectively). The HG treatment produced +0.9 kg milk/cow/day and had a higher protein concentration (+1.1 g/kg milk) compared to cows on the LG treatment during period 2. Differences in animal performance observed in period 2 were maintained throughout the 8-week carryover period.

The objective was to evaluate steer performance, meat nutritional value, land-use, food–feed competition and both economic and environmental sustainability within temperate pasture-based suckler weanling-to-beef systems with or without (forage-only) concentrates. Post-weaning, 8-month-old, late-maturing breed steers (333 kg) were assigned to one of three systems: (1) grass silage + 1.2 kg concentrate DM (148 days), followed by pasture (123 days) and finished on ad libitum concentrates (120 days) – slaughter age, 21 months (GRAIN); (2) as per (1) but pasture (196 days) and finished on grass silage ad libitum + 3.5 kg concentrate DM (124 days) – slaughter age, 24 months (SIL + GRAIN); and (3) grass silage-only (148 days), pasture (196 days), silage-only (140 days) and finished on pasture (97 days) – slaughter age, 28 months (FORAGE). The mean target carcass weight was 390 kg for each system. Data generated were used to parameterize a farm-level beef systems model. Concentrate DM intake was 1187, 606 and 0 kg/head for GRAIN, SIL + GRAIN and FORAGE, respectively. The forage-only (FORAGE) system offers several advantages, including improved farm profitability, enhanced meat fatty acid profile and only utilized inedible human feed. Consequently, associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per net human edible food produced were more favourable for FORAGE. However, compared to GRAIN, the FORAGE system had an older age at slaughter and associated increased pasture land-use and GHG emissions per animal, meat weight gain and essential amino acids gain. There are therefore inevitable trade-offs, as one beef system does not improve all sustainability and GHG emission metrics.

Grassland production based on cutting-only and an increasing frequency of prolonged periods of drought due to climate change could lead to decreased productivity in Lolium perenne. In field experiments, we tested whether Festuca arundinacea and Phleum pratense could be suitable alternatives to L. perenne on intensively managed grassland on clay, peat and sandy soil. The three grasses were sown in mixture with Poa pratensis and Trifolium repens and subjected to different frequencies of defoliation representing a cutting-only system, simulated grazing system and a mixed system. We found that in systems with at least six defoliations, F. arundinacea represented an acceptable compromise between feed quality (6.4 MJ net energy/kg dry matter (DM), 19.3% crude protein, CP), persistence (mass proportion >90%), and DM yield (12.7 Mg/ha). However, for dairy production based on intensive cutting-only systems, the quality of F. arundinacea was insufficient (5.9 MJ net energy/kg DM, 15.6% CP). Mixtures with P. pratense as the main sown species did not differ significantly in production of net energy and CP from L. perenne in cutting-only systems on sandy soil. On peat land, all sown mixtures were invaded by Holcus lanatus. We found that under frequent defoliation conditions, H. lanatus-rich swards had comparatively good DM yields (9.2 Mg/ha) and a feed quality that would be sufficient for dairy cow nutrition (net energy, 6.2–6.4 MJ/kg DM; 18.8–20.4% CP). We conclude that there is potential to adapt the choice of grasses and mixtures in different production systems to meet the challenges of climate change.

When water and nutrients are not limiting, and pests and disease are effectively controlled, crop growth and yield is determined by weather conditions such as temperature and solar radiation. To determine the relationship between weather indices and crop yield, multiple wheat varieties were sown at two sowing times, for five sowing seasons and at two locations. The following weather indices around the 50% anthesis stage were recorded and analysed: mean temperature (Tmean), maximum temperature (Tmax), number of days with temperature >30°C (T30), vapour pressure deficit (VPD), photosynthetically active radiation, photothermal quotient (PQ) and photothermal quotient corrected for vapour pressure deficit (PQvpd). Overall, for every 1°C rise in temperature, crop yield decreased by 370 kg/ha. For every 1°C rise in temperature, normal sowing window yield decreased by 360 kg/ha while late-sown wheat yield decreased by 640 kg/ha. Correlation analysis was conducted between the weather indices and grain number, grain yield and grain protein. There was a significant positive correlation between PQ and PQvpd and grain number and grain yield. There was a significant negative correlation between Tmean, Tmax, T30 and VPD and grain number and grain yield. Grain protein content showed a positive correlation with maximum air temperature and a negative correlation with the weather indices PQ and PQvpd. PQ and PQvpd can be used to predict grain number and grain yield potential. This study showed that grain number and grain yield predicted using PQ and PQvpd are more reliable than using temperature and radiation individually.

The objective of this paper was to investigate how the predicted level of body energy mobilized and the stage of lactation affects performance and energy partitioning in lactating sows kept under commercial conditions. Seventy-seven lactating sows from three consecutive batches were weaned at 28 d and all measures were taken over the first 20 d. Total feed consumption was measured and sows’ live weight was registered when entering the lactation facilities and at 21 d of lactation. Blood samples were collected at farrowing and once a week thereafter. Net energy (NE) mobilization or loss was calculated by difference using the general NRC equation for ME partitioning. Compared to low mobilizers (low NE loss values), high mobilizing sows had lower feed intake and higher loss of live weight, body fat and body protein. High mobilizers also weaned more piglets and had heavier litters than low mobilizers. Energy mobilization (NE loss) was higher from day 1 to 10 of lactation compared to day 11 to 20, and the difference in mobilized energy between high and low mobilizing sows was also higher in the first than in the second half of lactation. Body weight and back fat thickness losses were significantly correlated with NE loss. A more accurate prediction of the changes in live weight or back fat thickness over lactation should help better predict total amount of energy mobilized, and more research is needed to assess the relative contribution of lean and fat to mobilized tissue.

In pasture-based grazing systems, farm roadways are a pivotal link to connect paddocks on the grazing platform to the milking parlour. However, their effectiveness in the efficient movement of the dairy herd between the grazing paddocks and the milking parlour has yet to be fully quantified. A validation experiment was conducted on a research farm to analyse characteristics on farm roadways that may affect cow throughput, which was observed as the number of cows per minute (CPM) passing a specified location. Roadway width (R2 = 0.96) and surface condition score (SC) (R2 = 0.78, respectively) were both positively associated with CPM. Public road crossings imposed a 32.7% reduction in CPM in this study. CPM increased from 12.4 CPM on a one-metre-wide roadway with a SC of Index 1 to 107.6 CPM on a five-metre roadway with a SC of Index 5. This exercise allowed for CPM on commercial farms to be predicted. Farm roadways were examined across 55 Irish dairy farms. Greater roadway width, reduced verge width and greater water run-off were each associated with higher SC on commercial farms. Larger herd sizes had a lower CPM relative to herd size in contrast to smaller herd sizes, resulting in a significantly longer total time to move the dairy herd through any specific point on the farm roadway network. The findings from this study have quantified the parameters which affect both CPM on commercial farm roadways and parameters which may be associated with SC on commercial farm roadways.