Livestock | Jotup

Planting trees in grasslands won’t save the planet – rather protect and restore forests

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Many of these tree planting projects target Africa’s rangelands (open grasslands or shrublands used by livestock and wild animals).

Key Points:

Many of these tree planting projects target Africa’s rangelands (open grasslands or shrublands used by livestock and wild animals).
Our goal is to protect and promote rangelands that combat desertification and support economic
growth, resilient livelihoods and the sustainable development of pastoralism.
In pursuit of this goal, we reviewed all the scientific studies we could find on the effects of planting trees in rangelands.

Why rangelands matter

Rangelands provide critical ecosystem services, but these are lost when open grassy vegetation is converted to forest or plantation.
Many rangelands are too dry, steep or rocky to grow crops but are suited for livestock grazing to produce meat, milk and fibres such as wool.
Read more:
When tree planting actually damages ecosystems
The ecosystem services provided by rangelands are generally overlooked while those provided by forests and trees are assumed to be far superior.

Afforestation in the wrong places often fails

This is a suitable form of land use for those environments, which would be harmed by planting trees.
Tree planting projects are commonly portrayed as reforestation, which implies that the target areas have lost their original forest cover.
In fact, planting trees in rangelands that naturally have low tree cover is afforestation.
This often fails because they don’t have enough rainfall throughout the year to support high tree cover.

Afforestation can be damaging to people, water and climate

Despite being portrayed as supporting local economic development and ecosystem restoration, afforestation projects often exclude existing land users and limit their access to land and resources.
Rangeland afforestation also reduces streamflow and lowers water tables as trees use much more water than grasses.

What is a better solution?

If these initiatives were focused on degraded forest instead, three-quarters of degraded forests could be restored.
In rangelands, the best approach is to protect and enhance their existing carbon stores rather than replacing them with forests or plantations.

Susanne Vetter does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Wild turkey numbers are falling in some parts of the US – the main reason may be habitat loss

Retrieved on:

Friday, April 19, 2024

Habitat, Meat, Burns, Raccoon, Noise, Environment, Feather, Ant, Livestock, Hunting, Cypress, Bird, Science, Mammal, Food, Poisoning, Male, Plant, Turkey (bird), Grasshopper, Breeding, Ecology, Magnolia, Tree, Opossum, Flower, Spider, Agriculture

But people killed them indiscriminately year-round – sometimes for their meat and feathers, but settlers also took turkey eggs from nests and poisoned adult turkeys to keep them from damaging crops.

Key Points:

But people killed them indiscriminately year-round – sometimes for their meat and feathers, but settlers also took turkey eggs from nests and poisoned adult turkeys to keep them from damaging crops.
Thanks to this unregulated killing and habitat loss, by 1900 wild turkeys had disappeared from much of their historical range.
Turkey populations gradually recovered over the 20th century, aided by regulation, conservation funding and state restoration programs.
We are wildlife ecologists working to determine why turkey populations are shrinking in portions of their range.

Fewer open spaces

While turkeys may appear at home in urban areas, their habitat is open forest – areas with sparse trees that allow near-full sunlight to reach herbaceous plants at ground level.
In 1792, naturalist William Bartram described the eastern U.S. as “Grande Savane,” or big savanna, a landscape with abundant wild turkeys.
The open spaces that are left often are not suitable for wild turkeys: They need a well-developed layer of vegetation at ground level that includes mainly wild flowers, native grasses and young shrubs and trees to provide cover for nesting and raising their young.
Turkeys can persist in these denser, shaded forests, but they don’t reproduce as successfully, and fewer of their young survive.
Over the past 50 years, populations of bird species that live in open forests and grasslands have fallen by more than 50%.

The roles of food, predators and hunting

For example, blame is often placed on more abundant predators that eat turkey eggs, such as raccoons and opossums.
But these predators probably are more abundant in part due to changes in turkey habitat.
This suggests that prescribed fire across the wild turkey’s range creates an environment that’s more favorable for turkeys than for their predators.
Lastly, some observers have proposed that the timing of hunting could be affecting turkey reproduction.

Creating space for turkeys

Land owners can help by managing for native grasses and wildflowers on their property, which will provide breeding habitat for turkeys.
We have produced podcast episodes that discuss which plants are valuable to turkeys and other wildlife, and how to promote and maintain plants that are turkey-friendly.

Marcus Lashley receives funding from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, the National Wild Turkey Federation, and Turkeys for Tomorrow. William Gulsby receives funding from the Alabama Wildlife Federation, Turkeys for Tomorrow and the National Wild Turkey Federation.

Climate change makes life harder: in South Africa it’s likely to bring heatwaves, water stress and gender-based violence

Retrieved on:

Thursday, April 18, 2024

Human-induced climate change made the severe 2015–2017 drought three to six times more likely.

Key Points:

Human-induced climate change made the severe 2015–2017 drought three to six times more likely.
Our new report on Climate Change Impacts in South Africa has found that as Earth warms, people living in South Africa will face reduced incomes, less food and water security and a higher cost of living.
Our findings, based on a synthesis and review of existing research on climate change, are that climate change and socioeconomic risks threaten to bring about a huge change to this status.
Combating the impacts of climate change in South Africa requires adaptive measures, such as changing the way we farm, coordination by the government and international commitment to reduce emissions.

Heatwaves

Farm workers will be exposed to more extreme temperatures working outside and others will suffer from heat stress in their living and working environment.
Here's how
Extreme weather threatens the plants and animals that attract tourism, and directly damages infrastructure at nature reserves, adventure destinations and parks.
Rising temperatures are projected to reduce visitor numbers to South Africa’s national parks by 4% by 2050, affecting the Kruger National Park most.

An agricultural crisis

Smallholder farms are often located in areas with less fertile soils or limited infrastructure, leaving these farmers more vulnerable to climate change.
Arable land suitable for growing crops is concentrated in just 12% of South Africa’s land area.
Therefore, any extreme event that reduces production – such as drought – can be expected to reduce job security and income for farming households and agricultural workers.

Water

Drought and floods damage transport links, public buildings, and water and energy infrastructure, and challenge the provision of basic services.
During the water crisis that followed the 2015–2017 drought, for example, reservoirs serving 3.7 million people around Cape Town dropped to 20% of capacity, leading the government to impose water restrictions.

An increase in gender-based violence

These gender inequalities include a high incidence of gender-based violence and a higher likelihood of poverty among women.
Research in other parts of the world has also linked rising temperatures with an increase in gender-based violence.

Solutions

Much of the country’s economic future hinges on the speed with which investments in renewable energy can replace coal and provide affordable and reliable electricity. Slowing down climate change will take a huge global effort and progress has been limited. The only alternative is to be prepared and adapt to the projected changes.
Peter Johnston receives funding from United Nations, NORCE, NRF

Draft guideline on good agricultural and collection practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin - Revision 1

Retrieved on:

Thursday, April 18, 2024

Reproduction, SCOPE, Eating, Pesticide, Convention, Change control, Confusion, Alkaloid, Climate, Fungus, Directive (European Union), Ethylene oxide, Wind, Wood, Glass, European Medicines Agency, HMPS, QDG, Hygiene, Water, Marketing, Fertilizer, Legislation, Manure, Distillation, Risk, Education, Committee, Compost, Draft, Policy, Person, EMA, Seed, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, Collection, Freezing, GMP, Risk assessment, GACP, Sunlight, Fermentation, Personal protective equipment, Animal, Herbal, Herbicide, Weather, INTRODUCTION, Documentation, Regeneration, Decontamination, EudraLex, Disease, International trade, European Pharmacopoeia, Part, Livestock, Public, Inhalation, Knowledge, Seedling, Factorization of polynomials, Record, Plant, Skin, API, Irrigation, Part Two, Soil, Directive, Pharmacopoeia, Codex, Guideline, Temperature, Attention, Hydrocarbon, Pyrrolizidine alkaloid, Polychlorinated biphenyl, Growth, Rotation, Incineration, Environment, Humidity, Smell, Ventilation, Light, Bird, Mineral, Fumigation, Pyrrolizidine, SOP, Housing, Smoking, Atmosphere, Postharvest, Rain, Liver, QWP, Medicinal plants

REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................................... 14

Key Points:

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Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
EMA/HMPC/246816/2005

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

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This guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin

37

1.
Due to the inherent
complexity of medicinal plants and herbal substances the quality of these starting materials requires an
adequate quality assurance system for the collection and/or cultivation, harvest, and primary
processing.
(either outdoor, indoor or in greenhouses) should be carefully considered, since each of the mentioned
types could have several problems and advantages.
The used cultivation method may be dependent on
the final application of the herbal medicinal product.
primary processing of herbal substances that are used for the preparation of herbal medicinal products.
medicinal plants and herbal substances, ensuring that they are handled appropriately throughout all
stages of cultivation, collection, processing and storage.
their preparations are exposed to a large number of environmental contaminants of both biotic and
abiotic origin.
to existing wildlife habitats and must adhere to CITES (Convention on International Trade in
Endangered species of Wild Fauna and Flora).
https://health.ec.europa.eu/document/download/bd537ccf-9271-4230-bca1-2d...
4 https://health.ec.europa.eu/document/download/fd318dd6-2404-4e67-82b0232...
3
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Where possible, stable varieties and cultivars naturally
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resistant or tolerant to disease should preferably be used.
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The application should be carried out only by qualified staff using approved equipment.
The following should be noted:
Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
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Damaged plants or plant parts need to be excluded or limited in accordance with a specific
pharmacopoeia monograph, where relevant.
Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
EMA/HMPC/246816/2005
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directly to the sun (except in cases where there is a specific need) and must be protected from
rainfall, insect infestation, etc.
The label must be clear, permanently fixed and made from
6

Reflection paper on the use of fumigants (EMEA/HMPC/125562/2006)

Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
EMA/HMPC/246816/2005

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non-toxic material.
Certain exudates that have not been subjected to a specific treatment are
Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
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also considered to be herbal substances.
European Pharmacopoeia General Monograph ?HERBAL DRUGS? 07/2017:1433
Are obtained by subjecting herbal substances to treatments such as
extraction, distillation, expression, fractionation, purification, concentration
or fermentation.

Draft guideline on good agricultural and collection practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin - Revision 1

Retrieved on:

Thursday, April 18, 2024

REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................................... 14

Key Points:

REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................................... 14
29

Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
EMA/HMPC/246816/2005

Page 3/14

30

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

31
32
33
34
35
36

This guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin

37

1.
Due to the inherent
complexity of medicinal plants and herbal substances the quality of these starting materials requires an
adequate quality assurance system for the collection and/or cultivation, harvest, and primary
processing.
(either outdoor, indoor or in greenhouses) should be carefully considered, since each of the mentioned
types could have several problems and advantages.
The used cultivation method may be dependent on
the final application of the herbal medicinal product.
primary processing of herbal substances that are used for the preparation of herbal medicinal products.
medicinal plants and herbal substances, ensuring that they are handled appropriately throughout all
stages of cultivation, collection, processing and storage.
their preparations are exposed to a large number of environmental contaminants of both biotic and
abiotic origin.
to existing wildlife habitats and must adhere to CITES (Convention on International Trade in
Endangered species of Wild Fauna and Flora).
https://health.ec.europa.eu/document/download/bd537ccf-9271-4230-bca1-2d...
4 https://health.ec.europa.eu/document/download/fd318dd6-2404-4e67-82b0232...
3
Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
EMA/HMPC/246816/2005

Page 5/14

104

4.
Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
EMA/HMPC/246816/2005
Page 6/14

147
148
149

8.
Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
EMA/HMPC/246816/2005
Page 7/14

185

7.
Where possible, stable varieties and cultivars naturally
Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
EMA/HMPC/246816/2005
Page 8/14

227
228

resistant or tolerant to disease should preferably be used.
Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
EMA/HMPC/246816/2005
Page 9/14

268
269
270
271
272
273

The application should be carried out only by qualified staff using approved equipment.
The following should be noted:
Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
EMA/HMPC/246816/2005

Page 10/14

309
310

?

311
312
313

?

314
315
316
317

?

318
319
320

?

321
322

?

323
324
325

?

326
327
328

?

Damaged plants or plant parts need to be excluded or limited in accordance with a specific
pharmacopoeia monograph, where relevant.
Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
EMA/HMPC/246816/2005
Page 11/14

347
348

directly to the sun (except in cases where there is a specific need) and must be protected from
rainfall, insect infestation, etc.
The label must be clear, permanently fixed and made from
6

Reflection paper on the use of fumigants (EMEA/HMPC/125562/2006)

Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
EMA/HMPC/246816/2005

Page 12/14

386
387

non-toxic material.
Certain exudates that have not been subjected to a specific treatment are
Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
EMA/HMPC/246816/2005

Page 13/14

425
426
427

also considered to be herbal substances.
European Pharmacopoeia General Monograph ?HERBAL DRUGS? 07/2017:1433
Are obtained by subjecting herbal substances to treatments such as
extraction, distillation, expression, fractionation, purification, concentration
or fermentation.

African wild dogs will soon have their own sperm bank – how artificial breeding will help them survive

Retrieved on:

Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Lion, Gene, Disease, Lycaon, Rabies, Livestock, Research, Female, University, Freezing, Male, Dog, Breeding, Animal, Insemination, Hunting

They’ve now decided to freeze sperm from as many genetically diverse male African wild dogs as possible and use this to artificially inseminate female African wild dogs for the first time.

Key Points:

They’ve now decided to freeze sperm from as many genetically diverse male African wild dogs as possible and use this to artificially inseminate female African wild dogs for the first time.
Reproductive and molecular biologist Damien Paris explains why artificial breeding is the best and most economical way to ensure that genetically diverse wild dogs live on.

Why is the African wild dog in danger?

They are highly efficient pack hunters but need large home ranges to survive and avoid competitors like lions.
The problem is that most of the remaining habitats are so small and fragmented that they can’t support large populations anymore.
Usually, when wild dogs are subadults (around two years old) they move far away and form their own pack.

How can genetic diversity help the African wild dog survive?

Those diseases can spread rapidly among wild dogs and decimate a pack, which is about five to 20 dogs.
In 2017, canine distemper virus completely wiped out 21 out of 22 packs of wild dogs in Laikipia County, Kenya in less than four weeks.
We plan to use sperm freezing and artificial insemination to help distribute genetic diversity between isolated populations.

What conservation methods have been used before?

To increase genetic diversity, African wild dogs have been translocated (moved) across South Africa since 1998.
Over several weeks, they form a new genetically mixed pack that is released into the wild.
A whole population of wild dogs could be lost with the next disease outbreak.

How will sperm freezing and artificial insemination help?

Our back-up plan against disease outbreaks is to create a bank of African wild dog sperm from multiple males.
Sperm frozen in liquid nitrogen tanks at very cold temperatures can last 50 or 100 years and still produce offspring.
We recently improved the freezing technique so African wild dog sperm are now able to swim and survive for eight hours after being thawed.
We plan to build a consortium so that we can have multiple sperm banks throughout South Africa as back-ups.

Will this be very expensive?

Some recent modelling in other species found that the hybrid approach was between seven and 84 times cheaper than the natural breeding approach.
This is because it needed 13-100 times fewer animals to maintain 90% genetic diversity in the population over a 100-year period.

Damien Boyd Bertrand Paul Paris receives funding from Morris Animal Foundation, Roger Willliams Park
Zoo and Fresno Chaffee Zoo. He is affiliated with James Cook University, the Institute for Breeding Rare and Endangered African Mammals, and is a Visiting Fellow of the Mammal Research Institute.

Bion Announces Voluntary Share Surrender

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Growth, Exercise, Livestock, Bassani, QB, OTC, Retirement, Bion, BNET, Security (finance)

If funding milestones are met, after the return of shares, Bion will have approximately 90M total shares (fully diluted).

Key Points:

If funding milestones are met, after the return of shares, Bion will have approximately 90M total shares (fully diluted).
Details of the surrender, including which instruments will be returned and canceled, will be determined over the next several weeks.
Linda Bassani, Mr. Bassani’s widow, said, “Dom was committed to Bion and his vision of a sustainable livestock industry.
To build projects, Bion needs to bring on successor management, an operations team, and strategic partners.

New awareness campaign asks Ontario growers to ‘Be Drift Aware’

Retrieved on:

Monday, April 1, 2024

Organization, Partnership, Risk, Livestock, Policy, Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Food, Agriculture

A partnership between multiple farm organizations has created a new awareness campaign, Be Drift Aware .

Key Points:

A partnership between multiple farm organizations has created a new awareness campaign, Be Drift Aware .
Drift is the unintentional aerial movement of plant protection products away from the intended target.
“The call to action for this campaign is simple: our partners want to reduce spray drift across Ontario by providing easy access to the information when and where growers and spray operators need it,” says Janice Janiec, farm policy analyst, Ontario Federation of Agriculture.
Be Drift Aware was created by Grain Farmers of Ontario, Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and CropLife Canada.

Dyadic Reports 2023 Full Year Results and Recent Company Progress

Retrieved on:

Thursday, March 28, 2024

“In 2023, Dyadic achieved significant milestones in unlocking the potential of its microbial platforms.

Key Points:

“In 2023, Dyadic achieved significant milestones in unlocking the potential of its microbial platforms.
We believe that we are well-positioned, both financially and scientifically, to execute our strategic plan with enhanced capabilities and resources.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company received a total of approximately $1.3 million in connection with the sale of Alphazyme LLC.
Other Income: For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company had a gain of approximately $1,018,000 from the sale of the Company’s equity interest in Alphazyme, LLC.

The Breakthrough Institute Endorses the EMIT LESS Act, A Step Toward Reducing Enteric Methane Emissions

Retrieved on:

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Health, USDA, Methane, Meat, Congress, Farmer, University, EMIT, Livestock, Research, Milk, Food, Breakthrough, Diet, Drinking, Legislation

Targeting enteric fermentation in livestock production represents an opportunity to curb nearly one-quarter of U.S. methane emissions.

Key Points:

Targeting enteric fermentation in livestock production represents an opportunity to curb nearly one-quarter of U.S. methane emissions.
Reducing enteric methane emissions can be both a climate win, and an economic imperative by reducing the cost of cattle feed.
The legislation directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to expand domestic capacity to develop and increase the adoption of enteric methane solutions.
Furthermore, the bill would make enteric methane reduction products and practices eligible for cost-share under several USDA conservation programs.