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Grasslands in the USA and PRC: A Comparative Analysis

This Fulbright guest lecture compares and contrasts the historical and current roles of grasslands in the USA and PRC, discussing key climatological and production regions, as well as forages from a livestock utilization perspective.

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Grasslands in the USA and PRC: A Comparative Analysis

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  1. Fulbright Guest Lecture USA and PRC Grasslands: Compare & Contrast David B. Hannaway, Kimberly Japhet, and Brianna Randow Crop & Soil Science Department Oregon State University Kimberly David Li Xianglin Director, Grassland Division Institute of Animal Sciences Chinese Academy of Sciences Xianglin Brianna Adapted from the National Forage & Grassland Curriculum and FAO Country Pasture Profiles for the USA and PRC

  2. Instructional Objectives (reminder) II. For US and then PRC Grasslands Describe the historical and current roles of grasslands. Discuss the key climatological and production regions. Discuss forages from a livestock utilization perspective.

  3. Describe historical and current roles of grasslands in the US. • Definition: • “Grassland” is all-inclusive and refers to any vegetated land that is grazed or has the potential to be grazed by domestic or wild animals; • It includes many different kinds of grazing lands, in contrast with croplands or forestlands. • It includes pasturelands, rangelands, meadows, and grazable other lands, whether temporary, permanent, natural or created by humans (Allen et al., 2011*). *Allen, V. (ed.) 1991. Terminology for Grazing Lands and Grazing Animals. Pocahontas Press, Blacksburg, VA. (see also J. Prod. Agric. 5:191-201)

  4. Describe historical and current roles of grasslands in the US (continued). • Historical importance: • The history and the heritage of US Grasslands connect us with the uniquely rich cultures that, then and now, shape these Grasslands and nearby communities (Johnson, 2006*). *http://www.fs.fed.us/outernet/r3/cibola/plan-revision/national_grasslands/backdocs/ Grasslands_History_2-3-06.pdf

  5. Describe historical and current roles of grasslands in the US (continued). • The popular impression of North America as a “wilderness” and the Great Plains as devoid of trees is not accurate, but rather reflects a lack of understanding of pre-Columbian North American conditions and practices (Mann, 2006*). • When Europeans first arrived in North America, they • found a land significantly altered by humans through • the use of fire, sophisticated agricultural techniques, • mining, and road and mound building (Gartner, 1998**). • When early settlers began building the foundation for the • US, they were directly linked to the land for food, clothing, • shelter, and protection. • Early Americans were aware of how legumes and grasses • could be utilized to build soil, add nitrogen, filter the water, • clean the air, reduce losses of nutrients, reduce erosion, • and reduce the danger of fires. Legumes were often rotated • with crops to rebuild the soil. Extent of pre-European tall-grass, mixed-grass, and short-grass prairies on the North American Great Plains. Source: USGS, 2006 *Mann, C.C. 2006. 1491: New Revelations of the Americas before Columbus. Vintage Books. **Gartner, W. 1998. Pre-Columbian North America was no Eden. USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education). http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1272/is_n2639_v127/ai_21098145/.

  6. Describe historical and current roles of grasslands in the US (continued). • The current role of grasslands in the US is much the same as it was historically: one half of the land, about 485 Million hectares (1.2 billion acres) of US soil is covered with grassland. • More than 60% of farms are producing forages. • The key difference is that grasslands today are mostly taken for granted or ignored whereas in Colonial times, even US presidents were well connected with the land. • Forages, made up of mostly grasses and legumes, • are still the most important plants on earth. • What has changed is that we do not see clear • connections between our food, clothing, shelter, • and utensils and the plants of the land. • People used to know and understand. Thomas Jefferson: Third president of the US, architect, scientist, agriculturalist, paleontologist, meteorologist, geographer, and musician. http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/biographies/MainBiographies/J/Jefferson/a55.html

  7. Discuss the key climatological and production regions for US Grasslands. • Considering all the lands in the US: • 59% is privately owned, • 6% is owned by state and local governments, • 2% is tribally owned, and • 33% is Federally owned. • The land of the US is vast and varied in topography and climate, fundamentally influencing species suitability.

  8. Discuss the key climatological and production regions for US Grasslands. • There are some species that can be grown in most states but there are many forages that grow in certain regions of the country.

  9. Discuss the key climatological and production regions for US Grasslands. • The main regions in the US are: the West, Southeast (coastal plain), Northeast (Appalachian highlands), Corn Belt (interior plains), and the Lake States.

  10. Discuss the key climatological and production regions for US Grasslands. • The West is dominated by semi-arid and arid rangelands, with irrigated hay production and improved pastures in the humid Pacific Northwest.

  11. Discuss the key climatological and production regions for US Grasslands. • Southeast (coastal plain) forages are dominated by warm season grass pastures (e.g. bermudagrass) and cool season species (e.g. tall fescue) in the transition zone. Images from : http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/Counprof/usa/usa.html

  12. Discuss the key climatological and production regions for US Grasslands. • Northeast (Appalachian highlands);the Great Appalachian Valley spreads from the Champlain Valley in New York and Vermont south through the Shenandoah Valley (Great Valley) in Virginia and on south to the Tennessee Valley in Tennessee and Alabama. The land is often used for pasture or forest production where they have not been included within extensive national and regional parks and preserves.

  13. Discuss the key climatological and production regions for US Grasslands. • The Corn Belt (interior plains) includes the Ozark Plateau as part of the Interior Lowlands and is an area of valuable cropland interspersed with pastureland. Native prairies are found to the west.

  14. Discuss the key climatological and production regions for US Grasslands. • The Lake States region includes western New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota with pasture, hay, and (corn) silage production utilized by dairy and beef cattle.

  15. Discuss the key climatological and production regions for PRC Grasslands. • China’s agricultural land includes cultivated land, forests, inland water, and grassland (42% of the land, with 400 M ha). Cultivated land and forests are mainly in the east and center, and grassland in the west. The east is dominated by farming and the west by grassland husbandry. Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Tibet, Qinghai, Sichuan and Gansu are the six main pastoral areas. Table and image from: http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/Counprof/PDF%20files/China.pdf

  16. Discuss the key climatological and production regions for PRC Grasslands. • China’s topography is characterized by high land in the west, lower land in the east, and hilly, varied terrain in between.

  17. Discuss the key climatological and production regions for PRC Grasslands. • China’s climate zones are greatly affected by the topography, with precipitation decreasing from east to west and from south to north. http://www.prism.oregonstate.edu/products/china_atlas/sample_maps.html

  18. Discuss the key climatological and production regions for PRC Grasslands. • China’s lowest January temperatures are in the northeast portion of the country adjacent to Siberia, with the Tibetan-Qinghai Plateau also quite cold, whereas southeastern regions are mild. http://www.nacse.org/home/news/2007/2007oct/china_p39.pdf

  19. Discuss the key climatological and production regions for PRC Grasslands. • The Yangtze River cities of Nanjing, Wuhan, and Chongqing • are known for their intense summer heat and humidity, • but the highest temperatures • are found in low lying areas • of western basins where average temperatures reach • 40 C on a summer day. http://www.nacse.org/home/news/2007/2007oct/china_p39.pdf

  20. Discuss the key climatological and production regions for PRC Grasslands. • China’s agroecological zones are based on topography, climate, soils, and vegetation; the western and southwestern areas of Xinjiang and Gansu and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau are dominated by natural grasslands and livestock herding. Extensive systems give way to intensive cropping and forage-livestock systems in central eastern and southeastern regions. The Yangtze River is often used as a dividing line for alfalfa production to its north and transition zone and warm-season species to its south. http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/Counprof/PDF%20files/China.pdf

  21. Discuss US forages from a livestock utilization perspective. • Ruminant livestock production is a major segment of US agriculture. Income from beef cattle and calves, milk products, sheep, and goats totaled about $93 700 million in 2007, compared to $77 200 million income from grain crops and $50 300 million income from horticultural crops. • This is a reflection of land use in the country. In 2007 there were 373 million ha in farms, of which 165 million ha were in permanent pasture and rangeland (44%), 14.5 million ha of cropland used only for pasture (4%), 12 million ha in pastured woodland (3%), and 164 million acres in cultivated crops (44%).

  22. Discuss US forages from a livestock utilization perspective. • Beef Production • Beef production is the major ruminant livestock enterprise on pasturelands in the US. • The highest density of beef cattle occurs in the central part of the nation from Texas to North Dakota, in the Appalachian Mountains and Plateaus, and in Florida

  23. Discuss US forages from a livestock utilization perspective. • Dairy Cattle Production • Dairy production in the US follows one of two models. • One is the confined feeding of harvested crops to lactating cows in large herds, with relatively little if any use of pasture. • The second is the greater use of pasture accompanied with supplemental feeding of harvested crops.

  24. Discuss US forages from a livestock utilization perspective. • Sheep Production • The US sheep (Ovisaries) industry is based primarily around meat production, due to the low price for wool. • In 2007 there were 83,134 farms reporting 5.8 million sheep and lambs with 3.5 million ewes 1-year old or older. The majority (>91%) of farms have less than 100 head of sheep.

  25. Discuss US forages from a livestock utilization perspective. • Other Livestock Production • Other livestock produced in the US that are fed and maintained on pasture include: • horses (Equusferuscaballus) and ponies (E. f. caballus), • goats (Capra aegagrushircus), • whitetail deer (Odocoileusvirginianusand other Odocoileus sp.), • elk (Cervuscanadensis), • alpacas (Vicugnapacos), • llamas (Lama glama, and • American bison (Bison bison).

  26. Discuss US forages from a livestock utilization perspective. • Summary • Grasslands in the US are utilized primarily by ruminant livestock for the production of meat, milk, and wool. • The value of ruminant livestock production ($93,700 million) is greater than that of all grain crops ($77,200 million) or horticultural crops ($50,300 million) and is based primarily on grazing and harvested forages from permanent pasturelands and rangelands.

  27. Discuss PRC forages from a livestock utilization perspective. • Since 1949, animal husbandry has developed rapidly. The livestock population reached 833.7 M by the end of 1999 (and 954 M by 2004). • Pigs take first place with 422.6 M and account for ~50% of the total. • Among the herbivores, ~70% of sheep, all camels, 25% of cattle and goats, 44% of horses, and 39% of donkeys are raised in six provinces or regions where the pastoral industry of China is concentrated. http://www.earth-policy.org/ http://img.news.sina.com/life/

  28. Discuss PRC forages from a livestock utilization perspective. • Beef Cattle Production • Cattle are found in all areas below 3,000 m. There are 55 breeds. Based on their adaptation to ecological conditions, cattle may be sorted into three ecological-geographic groups: • Northern Cattle, Central Plains Cattle, and South China Cattle. http://www.fas.usda.gov/dlp2/circular/1998/98-03LP/beef_98.html http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/photo/2012-10/08/c_131893369.htm

  29. Discuss PRC forages from a livestock utilization perspective. • Yak (Bosgrunniens) • Yak live on the anoxic plateau at 3,000 to 5,000 m and are mainly kept on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. • Yak are raised for draught and meat; milk, hides, and hair are also important products. • As “green food” (from less polluted plateau), yak meat is very popular in cities. http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/3828-Tibet-s-disappearing http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article2562870.ece?css=print

  30. Discuss PRC forages from a livestock utilization perspective. • Dairy Cattle Production • To satisfy growing domestic demand for milk, China has become the world's most important buyer of dairy cows. China has imported nearly 250,000 live heifers since 2009. • Chinese drink about 2.5 gallons of liquid milk a year, less than a third as much as Japanese and South Koreans, and far behind the 20.8 gallons drunk in the U.S. http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/P1-BF871_COWS_G_2012042218 http://www.southedgeseeds.com.au/photosos.html

  31. Discuss PRC forages from a livestock utilization perspective. • Sheep (Ovisaries) • Sheep, the major grazing livestock in China, are kept in temperate areas within N 30º to 50º and E 75º to 135º. • There are four lineages (Mongolia, Kazakh, Tibetan and Central) with many breeds. • Inner Mongolia Fine Wool Sheep, Aohan Fine Wool Sheep and Northeast Fine Wool Sheep are breeds bred with Mongolian Sheep as the female parent. http://www.chinese-embassy.org.uk/eng/HotTopics/ http://www.traveljournals.net/pictures/13263.html

  32. Discuss PRC forages from a livestock utilization perspective. • Goat (Capra hircus) • Goats are the most widely distributed livestock in China, since they can adapt to many climates and pastures. There are 35 breeds. • Since 1999, the Government has requested farmers to switch goat management pattern from grazing to stall feeding. This is for recovering the ecological condition of grassland. http://kschlegelapwhp2.wikispaces.com/The+Last++Great+Nomadic+Challenges+,+From+Chinggis+Khan+to+Timur http://www.michaelfreemanphoto.com/media/869bf562-09d1-11e0-bb3a-e979473e4f99-litang-nomads

  33. Discuss PRC forages from a livestock utilization perspective. • Horse (Equuscaballus) • Horses are the ancient draught animals of China in areas below 4,000 m. • In pastoral areas, horses are used for riding and grazed on natural grassland. • Herders in Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang also drink mares’ milk. http://www.visualphotos.com//horseman_rounding_up_horsesinner_mongolia http://factsanddetails.com/media/2/20080306-huses%20in

  34. Discuss PRC forages from a livestock utilization perspective. • Camel (Camelusbactrianus) • Camels are important in temperate deserts. There are some single humped camels in south Xinjiang but the great majority are two-humped Bactrian camels. • The major purpose of camel raising is as pack animals and wool. • Camel are raised on natural grassland with supplementation in winter. http://c1ecolocalizercom.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/files/2009/09/ http://www.fao.org/docrep/006/Y4856E/y4856e07.htm

  35. Discuss PRC forages from a livestock utilization perspective. • Summary • Since 1949, animal husbandry has developed rapidly. Pigs account for nearly 50 percent of the total number of animals. Among the herbivores, a large portion are raised in the regions where the pastoral industry of China is concentrated. Yields of meat and milk increased greatly in 2000-2004 when milk production per cow more than doubled. Average annual growth rates of meat and dairy output from 1980 to 1998 were 8.7% and 9.9%. • National total yields of meat and sheep wool were first and second in the world in 1999. Meat availability per capita is 47.3 kg, which exceeds the average world level, but milk and woolavailability per capita is still quite low. The proportion of animal product value in total agricultural production has increased from 12.4% in 1949 to 28.5% in 1999.

  36. Summary of US and PRC Grasslands: Compare and Contrast

  37. Summary of US and PRC Grasslands: Compare and Contrast (continued)

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