Grazing behavior traits of cattle and sheep on mixed pasture in desert steppe

doi:10.11686/cyxb2024070

Abstract

Abstract:

Understanding of the behavioral traits of mixed-grazed livestock in desert steppe is important when planning the sustainable use of grassland resources. This study was carried out in a desert pasture with mixed-grazing by cattle and sheep in Boarder Yellow Banner， Xilingol League， Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region， China. Four cattle and eight sheep from the herds were selected to wear GPS collars containing three-axis acceleration sensors， and their temporal dynamics of grazing time （GTIME） and grazing overall dynamic body acceleration （GODBA） were analyzed. From the data， we explored the response patterns of grazing behavior traits of mixed-grazed cattle and sheep to the monthly changes in the grassland vegetation. GTIME and GODBA showed significant positive correlations in cattle and sheep grazed together on desert steppe pasture （R²>0.60）. Further， the results showed opposite patterns in the GODBA responses of cattle and sheep. Cattle were positively stimulated by above-ground biomass （P<0.05）， while negatively stimulated by Shannon index （P<0.01）. Sheep were negatively stimulated by above-ground biomass and the proportion of poisonous herbage （P<0.001）， while positively stimulated by Shannon index and forage crude protein content （P<0.001）. In addition， the 24-hour behavioral patterns of cattle and sheep on mixed pasture both exhibited “multimodal” characteristics， and tended to shrink with the month changes. Furthermore， there were significant differences between cattle and sheep in acceleration intensity during different types of activity， with the acceleration intensity of sheep being significantly higher than that of cattle （P<0.05）.

Key words: desert steppe, mixed grazing, behavioral characteristics, grassland resources, overall dynamic body acceleration （ODBA）

Zhen-hao ZHANG, Zi-yu JIA, Xin-yu LI, Yun-xiang CHENG. Grazing behavior traits of cattle and sheep on mixed pasture in desert steppe[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2025, 34(1): 226-237.

Figures/Tables 6

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物种 Species	分类类别 Classification types	模型精度Accuracy
物种 Species	分类类别 Classification types	XGBoost	SVM	CART
牛Cattle	二分类Binary classification	96.44	95.80	93.86
牛Cattle	多分类Multiple classification	77.00	73.00	74.70
羊Sheep	二分类Binary classification	94.16	96.27	93.52
羊Sheep	多分类Multiple classification	75.61	72.85	73.58

物种 Species	分类类别 Classification types	模型精度Accuracy
物种 Species	分类类别 Classification types	XGBoost	SVM	CART
牛Cattle	二分类Binary classification	96.44	95.80	93.86
牛Cattle	多分类Multiple classification	77.00	73.00	74.70
羊Sheep	二分类Binary classification	94.16	96.27	93.52
羊Sheep	多分类Multiple classification	75.61	72.85	73.58

指标 Indexes	2021			2022
指标 Indexes	7月July	8月August	9月September	7月July	8月August	9月September
地上生物量Above ground biomass （AGB， g·m^-2）	40.12±4.96a	50.72±9.55a	58.02±8.52a	41.07±6.35ab	50.56±5.07a	37.26±6.03b
粗脂肪Ether extract （EE， g·100 g^-1）	2.27±0.15a	2.65±0.16a	2.44±0.04a	1.81±0.07a	2.02±0.08a	1.91±0.10a
粗蛋白Crude protein （CP， g·100 g^-1）	16.46±0.98a	17.75±0.86a	17.25±1.12a	16.05±1.18b	19.52±1.15a	16.26±1.09b
中性洗涤纤维Neutral detergent fibre （NDF， g·100 g^-1）	54.74±0.40b	56.70±0.26a	57.01±0.42a	38.66±1.56ab	36.64±1.39b	41.48±1.26a
酸性洗涤纤维Acid detergent fibre （ADF， g·100 g^-1）	36.55±0.27a	37.00±0.30a	37.16±0.23a	32.91±1.72a	32.83±1.28a	34.68±1.24a
香农指数Shannon index	2.12±0.055a	2.28±0.071a	2.25±0.060a	2.00±0.046a	1.96±0.059ab	1.83±0.047b
均匀度指数Pielou index	0.89±0.005a	0.88±0.013ab	0.86±0.009b	0.85±0.009a	0.85±0.011a	0.84±0.011a
禾本科重要值Graminae important value	0.251±0.11a	0.235±0.08a	0.248±0.06a	0.180±0.08b	0.195±0.11ab	0.243±0.12a
百合科重要值Liliaceae important value	0.252±0.16a	0.280±0.15a	0.261±0.13a	0.218±0.15ab	0.261±0.18a	0.177±0.16b
豆科重要值Leguminosae important value	0.154±0.10a	0.138±0.08a	0.177±0.10a	0.130±0.11a	0.085±0.10a	0.108±0.16a
旋花科重要值Convolvulaceae important value	0.148±0.09a	0.083±0.07ab	0.062±0.09b	0.116±0.13a	0.091±0.09a	0.140±0.15a
菊科重要值Compositae important value	0.060±0.06a	0.007±0.02b	0.014±0.02b	0.022±0.03a	0.011±0.02a	0.011±0.02a
毒杂草重要值Poisonous weeds important value	0.065±0.09a	0.085±0.10a	0.077±0.10a	0.069±0.13a	0.074±0.14a	0.071±0.15a
其他杂类草重要值Other forbs important value	0.073±0.04b	0.172±0.06a	0.163±0.09a	0.202±0.14a	0.283±0.13a	0.249±0.15a

指标 Indexes	2021			2022
指标 Indexes	7月July	8月August	9月September	7月July	8月August	9月September
地上生物量Above ground biomass （AGB， g·m^-2）	40.12±4.96a	50.72±9.55a	58.02±8.52a	41.07±6.35ab	50.56±5.07a	37.26±6.03b
粗脂肪Ether extract （EE， g·100 g^-1）	2.27±0.15a	2.65±0.16a	2.44±0.04a	1.81±0.07a	2.02±0.08a	1.91±0.10a
粗蛋白Crude protein （CP， g·100 g^-1）	16.46±0.98a	17.75±0.86a	17.25±1.12a	16.05±1.18b	19.52±1.15a	16.26±1.09b
中性洗涤纤维Neutral detergent fibre （NDF， g·100 g^-1）	54.74±0.40b	56.70±0.26a	57.01±0.42a	38.66±1.56ab	36.64±1.39b	41.48±1.26a
酸性洗涤纤维Acid detergent fibre （ADF， g·100 g^-1）	36.55±0.27a	37.00±0.30a	37.16±0.23a	32.91±1.72a	32.83±1.28a	34.68±1.24a
香农指数Shannon index	2.12±0.055a	2.28±0.071a	2.25±0.060a	2.00±0.046a	1.96±0.059ab	1.83±0.047b
均匀度指数Pielou index	0.89±0.005a	0.88±0.013ab	0.86±0.009b	0.85±0.009a	0.85±0.011a	0.84±0.011a
禾本科重要值Graminae important value	0.251±0.11a	0.235±0.08a	0.248±0.06a	0.180±0.08b	0.195±0.11ab	0.243±0.12a
百合科重要值Liliaceae important value	0.252±0.16a	0.280±0.15a	0.261±0.13a	0.218±0.15ab	0.261±0.18a	0.177±0.16b
豆科重要值Leguminosae important value	0.154±0.10a	0.138±0.08a	0.177±0.10a	0.130±0.11a	0.085±0.10a	0.108±0.16a
旋花科重要值Convolvulaceae important value	0.148±0.09a	0.083±0.07ab	0.062±0.09b	0.116±0.13a	0.091±0.09a	0.140±0.15a
菊科重要值Compositae important value	0.060±0.06a	0.007±0.02b	0.014±0.02b	0.022±0.03a	0.011±0.02a	0.011±0.02a
毒杂草重要值Poisonous weeds important value	0.065±0.09a	0.085±0.10a	0.077±0.10a	0.069±0.13a	0.074±0.14a	0.071±0.15a
其他杂类草重要值Other forbs important value	0.073±0.04b	0.172±0.06a	0.163±0.09a	0.202±0.14a	0.283±0.13a	0.249±0.15a

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