IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jlands/v14y2025i5p1081-d1657125.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Understory Forage Quality for Grazing Animals in Chilean Patagonian Forests

Author

Listed:
  • Thomas Brisard

    (Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse (ENVT), 23 Chem. des Capelles, 31300 Toulouse, France)

  • Amelie Brisard

    (Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour (UPPA), Av. de l’Université, 64000 Pau, France)

  • Mónica D. R. Toro-Manríquez

    (Centro de Investigación en Ecosistemas de la Patagonia (CIEP), Camino Baguales s/n km 4.7, Coyhaique 5951601, Chile)

  • Soraya Villagrán Chacón

    (Centro de Investigación en Ecosistemas de la Patagonia (CIEP), Camino Baguales s/n km 4.7, Coyhaique 5951601, Chile)

  • Pablo Jesús Marín-García

    (Department of Animal Production and Health, Veterinary Public Health and Food Science and Technology (PASAPTA), Universidad Cardenal Herrera (CEU), 46113 Valencia, Spain)

  • Lola Llobat

    (Department of Animal Production and Health, Veterinary Public Health and Food Science and Technology (PASAPTA), Universidad Cardenal Herrera (CEU), 46113 Valencia, Spain)

  • Guillermo Martínez Pastur

    (Laboratorio de Recursos Agroforestales, Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADIC), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bernardo Houssay 200, Ushuaia 9410, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina)

  • Sabina Miguel Maluenda

    (Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, Universidad de Zaragoza, C. de Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain)

  • Alejandro Huertas Herrera

    (Centro de Investigación en Ecosistemas de la Patagonia (CIEP), Camino Baguales s/n km 4.7, Coyhaique 5951601, Chile)

Abstract

Native forests provide forage for grazing animals. We investigated whether native and exotic vegetation promotes the potential animal load (PAL, ind ha −1 yr −1 ) for cattle ( Bos taurus , ~700 kg) and sheep ( Ovis aries , ~60 kg) in contrasting native forest types and canopy cover (closed, semi-open, open). This study was conducted in Chilean Patagonia (−44° to −49° SL). Vegetation cover (%) and growth habit data (trees, shrubs, forbs, graminoids, ferns, lianas, lichens, and bryophytes) were collected from 374 plots (>5 ha) in different environments: coihue ( Nothofagus dombeyi , CO), lenga ( N. pumilio , LE), mixed Nothofagus forests (MI), ñirre ( N. antarctica , ÑI), evergreen forest (SV), and open land (OL). We combine this data with literature and laboratory analyses (e.g., crude protein, %) to develop PAL values for seasons. Data sampling was evaluated using descriptive analyses and uni- and multi-variate analyses (ANOVA, MCA, GLM). Results showed that closed forests had more native species (~56.6%) compared to open forests (~33.3%), while OL had higher cover of exotic species (~68.6%). LE presented the highest native species cover (~58.0%) and ÑI presented the highest exotic species cover (~53.0%). Closed forests had fewer exotic species than semi-open and open forests, which supported higher cover of native plants ( p < 0.01). Forbs were the dominant growth habit in closed forests, while graminoids were dominant in OL (~45.8%). Multivariate analyses showed that LE and CO were associated with lower PAL values, explaining 91.2% variance. GLMs showed that the PAL increased in ÑI and the spring season, with forbs and graminoids having positive effects and shrubs and trees having negative effects (r 2 = 0.57–0.67). Our analyses also showed that exotic species dominated environment types with a high PAL, particularly during spring and summer, when cover increased. This indicates a trade-off between forage production in forests with exotic plants.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas Brisard & Amelie Brisard & Mónica D. R. Toro-Manríquez & Soraya Villagrán Chacón & Pablo Jesús Marín-García & Lola Llobat & Guillermo Martínez Pastur & Sabina Miguel Maluenda & Alejandro Huerta, 2025. "Understory Forage Quality for Grazing Animals in Chilean Patagonian Forests," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-23, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:5:p:1081-:d:1657125
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/5/1081/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/5/1081/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lê, Sébastien & Josse, Julie & Husson, François, 2008. "FactoMineR: An R Package for Multivariate Analysis," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 25(i01).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Karin Kauer & Sandra Pärnpuu & Liina Talgre & Viacheslav Eremeev & Anne Luik, 2021. "Soil Particulate and Mineral-Associated Organic Matter Increases in Organic Farming under Cover Cropping and Manure Addition," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-23, September.
    2. Surun, Clément & Drechsler, Martin, 2018. "Effectiveness of Tradable Permits for the Conservation of Metacommunities With Two Competing Species," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 189-196.
    3. Jan Kluge & Sarah Lappöhn & Kerstin Plank, 2023. "Predictors of TFP growth in European countries," Empirica, Springer;Austrian Institute for Economic Research;Austrian Economic Association, vol. 50(1), pages 109-140, February.
    4. Navarro-Miró, D. & Iocola, I. & Persiani, A. & Blanco-Moreno, J.M. & Kristensen, H. Lakkenborg & Hefner, M. & Tamm, K. & Bender, I. & Védie, H. & Willekens, K. & Diacono, M. & Montemurro, F. & Sans, F, 2019. "Energy flows in European organic vegetable systems: Effects of the introduction and management of agroecological service crops," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    5. Alexander Platzer & Thomas Nussbaumer & Thomas Karonitsch & Josef S Smolen & Daniel Aletaha, 2019. "Analysis of gene expression in rheumatoid arthritis and related conditions offers insights into sex-bias, gene biotypes and co-expression patterns," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(7), pages 1-23, July.
    6. Baccar, Mariem & Raynal, Hélène & Sekhar, Muddu & Bergez, Jacques-Eric & Willaume, Magali & Casel, Pierre & Giriraj, P. & Murthy, Sanjeeva & Ruiz, Laurent, 2023. "Dynamics of crop category choices reveal strategies and tactics used by smallholder farmers in India to cope with unreliable water availability," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    7. Robin Russias & Rémy Delagarde & Katja Klumpp & Audrey Michaud, 2025. "Clarifying Grazing Management Methods: A Data-Driven Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-20, June.
    8. Aditi Sahu & Kivanc Kose & Lukas Kraehenbuehl & Candice Byers & Aliya Holland & Teguru Tembo & Anthony Santella & Anabel Alfonso & Madison Li & Miguel Cordova & Melissa Gill & Christi Fox & Salvador G, 2022. "In vivo tumor immune microenvironment phenotypes correlate with inflammation and vasculature to predict immunotherapy response," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-19, December.
    9. Joy R. Petway & Yu-Pin Lin & Rainer F. Wunderlich, 2019. "Analyzing Opinions on Sustainable Agriculture: Toward Increasing Farmer Knowledge of Organic Practices in Taiwan-Yuanli Township," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(14), pages 1-27, July.
    10. repec:plo:pone00:0224286 is not listed on IDEAS
    11. Eunice Ekaette & Emeka Nwofia & Peter Okocha & Ikenna Nnnabue & Kenneth Eluwa & Jude Obidiegwu & Paterne A Agre, 2024. "Exploring the genetic diversity and population structure of aerial yams (Dioscorea bulbifera L.) DArT-seq and agronomic traits," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(8), pages 1-19, August.
    12. Pabitra Joshi & Guriqbal Singh Dhillon & Yaotian Gao & Amandeep Kaur & Justin Wheeler & Jianli Chen, 2024. "An Optimal Model to Improve Genomic Prediction for Protein Content and Test Weight in a Diverse Spring Wheat Panel," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-16, February.
    13. Nichiforel, Liviu & Keary, Kevin & Deuffic, Philippe & Weiss, Gerhard & Thorsen, Bo Jellesmark & Winkel, Georg & Avdibegović, Mersudin & Dobšinská, Zuzana & Feliciano, Diana & Gatto, Paola & Gorriz Mi, 2018. "How private are Europe’s private forests? A comparative property rights analysis," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 535-552.
    14. Roopam Shukla & Ankit Agarwal & Kamna Sachdeva & Juergen Kurths & P. K. Joshi, 2019. "Climate change perception: an analysis of climate change and risk perceptions among farmer types of Indian Western Himalayas," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 152(1), pages 103-119, January.
    15. Cholez, Celia & Pauly, Olivier & Mahdad, Maral & Mehrabi, Sepide & Giagnocavo, Cynthia & Bijman, Jos, 2023. "Heterogeneity of inter-organizational collaborations in agrifood chain sustainability-oriented innovations," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 212(C).
    16. Munten, Pauline & Swaen, Valérie & Vanhamme, Joëlle, 2024. "Exploring rebound effects in Access-Based services (ABS)," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    17. Loc, Ho Huu & Park, Edward & Thu, Tran Ngoc & Diep, Nguyen Thi Hong & Can, Nguyen Trong, 2021. "An enhanced analytical framework of participatory GIS for ecosystem services assessment applied to a Ramsar wetland site in the Vietnam Mekong Delta," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 48(C).
    18. Piedad Urdinola & Valeria Bejarano & Oscar Espinosa & Pedro Luis Do Nascimento Silva, 2024. "Estudio de caracterización socioeconómica y demográficade los afiliados al régimen subsidiado de salud, Colombia 2019-2020," Ensayos de Economía 21227, Universidad Nacional de Colombia Sede Medellín.
    19. Florence Jacquet & A Aboul-Naga & Bernard Hubert, 2020. "The contribution of ARIMNet to address livestock systems resilience in the Mediterranean region," Post-Print hal-03625860, HAL.
    20. Juan García-Quezada & Ricardo Musule-Lagunes & José Angel Prieto-Ruíz & Daniel José Vega-Nieva & Artemio Carrillo-Parra, 2022. "Evaluation of Four Types of Kilns Used to Produce Charcoal from Several Tree Species in Mexico," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-22, December.
    21. Marika Vitali & Paolo Bosi & Elena Santacroce & Paolo Trevisi, 2021. "The multivariate approach identifies relationships between pre-slaughter factors, body lesions, ham defects and carcass traits in pigs," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(5), pages 1-14, May.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:5:p:1081-:d:1657125. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.