United States
£ GBP
The understanding and management of land resources used by grazing animals are of major importance to ecologists and agricultural and environmental scientists. This book fills a major gap in the market by synthesising a range of perspectives on grazing systems, drawn from plant science, animal science and ecology.
Part 1 Plants and plant populations: tissue flows in grazed plant communities, D. Chapman and G. Lemaire; survival strategies under grazing, D. Briske; plant competition and population dynamics, J. Bullock; community and ecosystem processes under grazing, S. Archer. Part 2 Animal and animal populations: foraging strategies of grazing animals, M. Demment; biochemical aspects of grazing behaviour, K. Launchbaugh; ingestive behaviour and diet selection, E.D. Ungar; nutritive value of herbage and nutrient requirements of large herbivores, H. Dove; animal populations in grazing systems - intra- and inter-specific interactions, M. Murray. Part 3 Grazing systems and their management: complexity and stability in grazing systems, N. Tainton; management of temperate pastures, G.W. Sheath and D. Clarke; management of rangelands, M. Stafford Smith; management of Mediterranean grasslands, N. Seligman; management of tropical grasslands, M.J. Fisher.
"As greater demands for food production are placed on a limited land base, it becomes increasingly urgent to improve grazing management for the efficient and sustainable production of livestock. It is important not only to maximize meat production but to conserve the forage resource. This requires a fundamental understanding of the processes of grazing and response of the plant. This collection of edited chapters addresses many of the principles affecting the interactions between plants and animals on pasture. It does this in 14 chapters partitioned into three parts focusing on plants, animals, and their integration in population dynamics and grazing systems. . . . The strengths of the book are its emphasis on basic concepts that are often generalized with the use of conceptual models or hypotheses. . . . [T]he book makes a good text for advanced courses in grassland ecology and an excellent reference for use by professionals."--Journal of Environmental Quality
