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Large carnivores are persecuted globally because they threaten human industries and livelihoods. How this conflict is managed has consequencesfor the conservation of large carnivores and biodiversity more broadly. Mitigating human-predator conflict should be evidence-based and accommodate people's values while protecting carnivores. Despite much research into human and large-carnivore coexistence strategies, there have been few attempts to document the success of conflict-mitigation strategies on a global scale. We conducted a meta-analysis of global research on conflict mitigation related to large carnivores and humans. We focused on conflicts that arise from the threat large carnivores pose to livestock. We first used structured and unstructured searching to identify replicated studies that used before-after or control-impact design to measure change in livestock loss as a result of implementing a management intervention. We then extracted relevant data from these studies to calculate an overall effect sizefor each intervention type. Research effort and focus varied among continents and aligned with the histories and cultures that shaped livestock production and attitudes toward carnivores. Livestock guardian animals most effectively reduced livestock losses. Lethal control was the second most effective control, although its success varied the most, and guardian animals and lethal control did not differ significantly. Financial incentives have promoted tolerance of large carnivores in some settings and reduced retaliatory killings. We suggest coexistence strategies be locationspecific, incorporate cultural values and environmental conditions, and be designed such that return on financial investment can be evaluated. Improved monitoring of mitigation measures is urgently required to promote effective evidence-based policy. Los carnívoros grandes son perseguidos en todo el mundo porque amenazan el sustento y las industrias humanas. En general, la forma en que se maneja este conflicto tiene consecuencias para la conservación de los grandes carnívoros y la biodiversidad. La mitigación del conflicto humano - fauna debería tener bases en las evidencias y debería acomodarse a los valores de las personas mientras protege a los carnívoros. A pesar de la amplia investigación sobre las estrategias de coexistencia entre humanos y carnívoros grandes, ha habido pocos intentos por documentar el éxito de las estrategias mitigantes del conflicto en una escala global. Realizamos un meta-análisis de la investigación global sobre la mitigación de conflictos relacionados con los carnívoros grandes y los humanos. Nos enfocamos en los conflictos que surgen de la amenaza que los carnívoros grandes presentan para el ganado. Primero utilizamos búsquedas estructuradas y no-estructuradas para identificar los estudios replicados que utilizaron el diseño antes - después o control - impacto para medir el cambio en la pérdida del ganado como resultado de la implementación de una intervención de manejo. Después extrajimos los datos relevantes de estos estudios para calcular un tamaño general de efecto para cada tipo de intervención. El esfuerzo y el enfoque de la investigación variaron entre los continentes y se alinearon con las historias y culturas que dieron forma a la producción ganadera y a las actitudes hacia los carnívoros. Los animales guardianes del ganado fueron los que redujeron con mayor eficiencia las pérdidas del ganado. El control letal fue el segundo control más efectivo, aunque su éxito fue el que más varió, y los animales guardianes y el control letal no difirieron significativamente. Los incentivos económicos han promovido la tolerancia de los carnívoros grandes en algunas localidades y han reducido las muertes por represalia. Sugerimos que las estrategias de coexistencia sean específicas de la localidad, incorporen los valores culturales y las condiciones ambientales, y estén diseñadas de tal forma que el retorno de una inversión financiera pueda ser evaluado. El monitoreo mejorado de las medidas de mitigación es requerido urgentemente para promover la política efectiva basada en evidencias.

Background: Two biotypes of Aberdeen Angus cattle breed, known as Old Type and New Type, that differ in their origin and beef production are formally recognized. In Colombia, this breed has been commercialized for approximately 80 years. Studies on the origin, kinship and levels of genetic diversity of this breed in Colombian herds are scarce, yet important for planning crossing and management strategies. Objective: To measure the genetic diversity and structure of two Colombian herds of Old Type and New Type biotypes of Aberdeen Angus from Huila and Cundinamarca provinces and assess mitochondrial introgression with other breeds. Methods: A set of ten microsatellites and sequences of the Mitochondrial Control Region were characterized. Estimators of genetic diversity and population differentiation along with tests of population assignment were applied. Results: Nuclear loci were highly polymorphic as shown by the Polymorphic Information Content (0.599) and the Probability of Identity (1.896 10-08). Both populations were highly diverse and clearly differentiated into two groups corresponding to the Old Type and New Type phenotypes. In contrast, mitochondrial data failed to distinguish these two groups and showed extensive admixture. Conclusions: This study optimized a set of ten highly polymorphic nuclear markers that may be used for parentage and population genetic studies of Aberdeen Angus. Genetic differentiation in these loci agreed with phenotypic differences of the Old and New Types. However, mitochondrial data indicated ancestry of multiple European breeds in the origin of Colombian Aberdeen Angus.

Background: The Gyr breed is widely used in Colombian low tropic dairy production systems. During the last 10 years, the Asociación Colombiana de Criadores de Ganado Cebú† - ASOCEBU, has been leading a dairy milk control program which led to the creation of a dataset that permits to carry out the first analysis of milk yield in Gyr cattle in the country using records from several herds. Objectives: To study milk production dynamics of Gyr cattle in the Colombian low tropic through the estimation of lactation curves and four derived production parameters: total milk yield between 5 and 305 days (TMY305), peak milk yield (PMY), days at peak (DP) and persistency (P). Methods: 13,798 daily milk yield records from 1,510 cows performing in 103 herds were used; the total number of lactations was 2,480. Four models were considered: Wood, Wiltmink, Papajcsik & Bordero, and a second-degree polynomial. Mean square error, mean absolute error, mean square error of prediction, Akaike and Bayesian information criteria were used to select the model better describing each lactation using the majority rule, that is, the model selected by most criteria was the chosen one. The shape of each fitted lactation curve was checked using basic results from calculus which permitted the classification of the estimated curves into two groups: typical and atypical; only typical functions were used to compute the four aforementioned production parameters. Results: The second-order polynomial was the model most frequently selected, while the Papajcsik & Bordero model had the lowest frequency. Average TMY305, PMY, DP and P were 3,489.86 kg, 17.28 kg, 57.17 days, and 0.83, respectively, with coefficients of variation: 0.27, 0.21, 0.41, and 0.16. Conclusions: This study permitted to identify individuals with outstanding phenotypic performance. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of this kind involving thousands of lactations from Gyr cows performing in several regions of Colombian low tropic.

In the Paraguayan Chaco, cattle evoke images of power, prosperity, and celebration, but they also trigger one of the quickest deforestation processes in the world. The presence of cattle in the region has deep historical roots, dating back to the beginning of the colonization process, when the establishment of a double economy based on cattle ranching and the tannin industry dispossessed indigenous people of their territories. Through a historical and ethnographic analysis of the Carlos Casado tannin company, I suggest considering domestication and ferality—and their local related idioms (amansar, anestesiar, sagua’a, señuelo, carne)—as inter-species categories crucial for understanding processes of colonization from a local perspective. In particular, I claim that practices and idioms related to the (un)domestication domain have been used to make sense of ethnic, class, and power relationships, as well as of practices of resistance. En el Chaco paraguayo, el ganado bovino evoca imágenes de poder, prosperidad y abundancia. Pero, a la vez, es la causa de uno de los procesos de deforestación más rápidos del mundo. La presencia de ganado en la región tiene profundas raíces históricas y se remonta al principio del proceso de la colonización, cuando el establecimiento de una doble economía basada en la ganadería y la industria del tanino despojó a los pueblos indígenas de sus tierras. A través de un análisis histórico y etnográfico de la compañía taninera Carlos Casado S.A., propongo considerar a la domesticación y a lo asilvestrado—en sus distintas declinaciones: amansar, anestesiar, sagua’a, señuelo, carne—como categorías interespecíficas fundamentales para entender los procesos de colonización desde una perspectiva local. En particular, sostengo que las prácticas y los términos relacionados con el campo semántico de la (de)domesticación fueron utilizados para poner en escena y conceptualizar relaciones étnicas, de clase y de poder, como así también prácticas de resistencia.

Modern intensively managed pastures that receive large external nitrogen (N) inputs account for high N losses in form of nitrate (NO3–) leaching and emissions of the potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O). The natural plant capacity to shape the soil N cycle through exudation of organic compounds can be exploited to favor N retention without affecting productivity. In this study, we estimated the relationship between biological nitrification inhibition (BNI), N2O emissions and plant productivity for 119 germplasm accessions of Guineagrass ( Megathyrsus maximus ), an important tropical forage crop for livestock production. This relation was tested in a greenhouse experiment measuring BNI as (i) rates of soil nitrification; (ii) abundance of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA); and (iii) the capacity of root tissue extracts to inhibit nitrification in vitro . We then measured N2O emissions, aboveground biomass and forage nutrition quality parameters. Reductions on nitrification activity ranging between 30 and 70% were found across the germplasm collection of M. maximus . Accessions with low nitrification rates showed a lower abundance of AOB as well as a reduction in N2O emissions compared to accessions of high nitrification rates. The BNI capacity was not correlated to N uptake of plants, suggesting that there may be intraspecific variation in the exploitation of different N sources in this grass species. A group of accessions (cluster) with the most desirable agronomic and environmental traits among the collection was identified for further field validation. These results provide evidence of the ability of M. maximus to suppress soil nitrification and N2O emissions and their relationship with productivity and forage quality, pointing a way to develop N conservative improved forage grasses for tropical livestock production.

Crop and livestock depredation by wildlife is a primary driver of human-wildlife conflict, a problem that threatens the coexistence of people and wildlife globally. Understanding mechanisms that underlie depredation patterns holds the key to mitigating conflicts across time and space. However, most studies do not consider imperfect detection and reporting of conflicts, which may lead to incorrect inference regarding its spatiotemporal drivers. We applied dynamic occupancy models to elephant crop depredation data from India between 2005 and 2011 to estimate crop depredation occurrence and model its underlying dynamics as a function of spatiotemporal covariates while accounting for imperfect detection of conflicts. The probability of detecting conflicts was consistently <1.0 and was negatively influenced by distance to roads and elevation gradient, averaging 0.08-0.56 across primary periods (distinct agricultural seasons within each year). The probability of crop depredation occurrence ranged from 0.29 (SE 0.09) to 0.96 (SE 0.04). The probability that sites raided by elephants in primary period t would not be raided in primary period t + 1 varied with elevation gradient in different seasons and was influenced negatively by mean rainfall and village density and positively by distance to forests. Negative effects of rainfall variation and distance to forests best explained variation in the probability that sites not raided by elephants in primary period t would be raided in primary period t + 1. With our novel application of occupancy models, we teased apart the spatiotemporal drivers of conflicts from factors that influence how they are observed, thereby allowing more reliable inference on mechanisms underlying observed conflict patterns. We found that factors associated with increased crop accessibility and availability (e.g., distance to forests and rainfall patterns) were key drivers of elephant crop depredation dynamics. Such an understanding is essential for rigorous prediction of future conflicts, a critical requirement for effective conflict management in the context of increasing human–wildlife interactions. La depredación de cultivos y ganado por parte de animales silvestres es un conductor principal del conflicto humano – animales silvestres, un problema que amenaza la coexistencia de la gente y la vida silvestre a nivel global. Entender los mecanismos que son la base de los patrones de depredación es la clave para mitigar los conflictos a lo largo del tiempo y el espacio. Sin embargo, la mayoría de los estudios no consideran la detección imperfecta y el reporte de conflictos, lo que puede llevar a la interferencia incorrecta con respecto a los conductores espacio-temporales. Aplicamos modelos dinámicos de ocupación a datos de depredación de cultivos por elefantes en India desde 2005 y hasta 2011 para estimar la incidencia de depredación de cultivos y modelar sus dinámicas como una función de covarianzas espacio-temporales mientras representan la detección imperfecta de los conflictos. La probabilidad de detectar conflictos fue constantemente <1.0 y estuvo influenciada negativamente por la distancia a las carreteras y el gradiente de elevación, promediando 0.08 – 0.56 en los periodos primarios (temporadas agrícolas distintas dentro de cada año). La probabilidad de la incidencia de depredación de cultivos varió desde 0.29 (SE 0.09) hasta 0.96 (SE 0.04). La probabilidad de que los sitios saqueados por elefantes en un periodo primario t no fueran saqueados en un periodo primario t + 1 varió con el gradiente de elevación en diferentes temporadas y estuvo influenciado negativamente por la precipitación promedio y la densidad de la aldea y positivamente por la distancia al los bosques. Los efectos negativos de la variación en la precipitación y la distancia a los bosques explicaron de mejor manera la variación en la probabilidad de que los sitios no saqueados por elefantes en el periodo primario t serían saqueados en el periodo primario t + 1. Con nuestra novedosa aplicación de los modelos de ocupación, separamos a los conductores espacio-temporales de los factores que influyen en cómo son observados, permitiendo así la inferencia más fiable de los mecanismos que son la base de los patrones observados de los conflictos. Encontramos que los factores asociados con el incremento en la disponibilidad y accesibilidad de los cultivos (p. ej.: la distancia a los bosques y los patrones de precipitación) fueron conductores clave en las dinámicas de depredación de cultivos de los elefantes. Tal entendimiento es esencial para una predicción rigurosa de conflictos futuros, un requerimiento crítico para el manejo efectivo de conflictos en el contexto de las crecientes interacción humano – animales silvestres.

Background: Curcumin has been used as an additive in the diet of animals in recent years due to the potent medicinal properties of this molecule. Objective: To evaluate whether the addition of curcumin to the diet of calves at different phases (pre- and post-weaning) has a positive effect on metabolic profile, performance, and anti-coccidian action. Methods: Thirtythree Holstein calves were selected at various phases of development: Experiment 1 (E1: n=10) 18±7 (pre-weaning), Experiment 2 (E2: n=11) 64±4 (pre-weaning) and Experiment 3 (E3: n=12) 95±8 (post-weaning) days of life. The calves were separated in three groups according to their phase of development. In each experiment, animals were divided into two sub-groups: control and curcumin. The curcumin groups received 200 mg of additive per animal/day either in milk (pre-weaning) or concentrate (post-weaning). Fecal collections were performed on days 0, 10 and 15 of the experiment to count Eimeria oocysts per gram of feces and to perform fecal score analysis. Complete blood counts, oxidant and antioxidant profiles, protein metabolism markers, lipid levels, glucose levels, and animal weights were measured. Analyses of digestibility and composition of the diet used in Experiment 3 (post-weaning) were also performed. Results: Independent of phase, animals that received curcumin had greater weight gain on days 0 to 15 (E1, E2 and E3 p=0.04, 0.001 and 0.001, respectively), probably due to the increased digestibility of hay and concentrate at 72h (p=0.03 and 0.02, respectively). The supplemented calves had lower level of oxidants (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances –TBARS- and reactive oxygen species –ROS-), indicating that free radical levels in serum and lipid peroxidation were lower. This was probably due to increased enzymatic antioxidants gluthatione S-transferase (E1, E2 and E3 p=0.001, 0.001 and 0.02, respectively), catalase (E1 p=0.001) and superoxide dismutase (E3 p=0.001) in treated animals at day 15. Furthermore, calves receiving curcumin had lower numeric number of Eimeria infection during the experimental period, and the difference was significant in day 15 (E1 and E2 p=0.02, and 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Curcumin supplementation to dairy calves has coccidiostatic potential, favoring weight gain.Keywords: animal stress; antioxidants; calves; cattle growth; curcumin; Eimeria; parasitology; supplementation.  Resumen Antecedentes: Curcumina ha sido utilizada como aditivo en la dieta de animales en los últimos años, debido a las potentes propiedades medicinales de esa molécula. Objetivo: Evaluar si la adición de curcumina en la alimentación de terneras en diferentes fases (pre y post-destete) presenta efecto positivo sobre el perfil metabólico, desempeño de los animales, y acción anti-coccidial. Métodos: Se seleccionaron 33 terneros Holstein en varias etapas de desarrollo: Experimento 1 (E1: n=10) 18±7 (pre-destete), Experimento 2 (E2: n=11) 64±4 (pre-destete) y Experimento 3 (E3: n=12) 95±8 (post-destete) días de vida. Para todos los experimentos, el período experimental fue de 15 días. Los animales se dividieron en dos grupos: control y tratados con curcumina. Los grupos con curcumina recibieron una dosis de 200 mg del aditivo por animal/día en la leche (pre-destete) o en el concentrado (post-destete). Las colectas de heces y sangre fueron realizadas en los días 0, 10 y 15 para conteo de ooquistes de Eimeria por gramo de heces y análisis de puntaje fecal. Se realizó hemograma, perfil oxidante y antioxidante, metabolismo proteico, lipídico, glucosa sanguínea y pesaje de los animales. También se realizó análisis de digestibilidad de la dieta total para los animales del Experimento 3 (post-destete). Resultados: Encontramos que, independientemente de la fase, los animales que recibieron curcumina tuvieron una mayor ganancia de peso en los días 0 a 15 (E1, E2 y E3, p=0,04, 0,001 y 0,001, respectivamente), probablemente debido al aumento de la digestibilidad del heno y concentrado a las 72 h (p=0,03 y 0,02, respectivamente). En los terneros suplementados observamos un nivel más bajo de oxidantes (oxidantes (sustancias reactivas al ácido tiobarbitúrico y especies reactivas de oxígeno); es decir, los niveles séricos de radicales libres y la peroxidación lipídica fueron más bajos. Esto se debió, probablemente, a los antioxidantes enzimáticos glutatión S-transferasa (E1, E2 y E3 p=0,001, 0,001 y 0,02 respectivamente), catalasa (E1, p=0,001) y superóxido dismutasa (E3, p=0,001) que aumentaron en los animales tratados al día 15. Además, los terneros que recibieron curcumina tuvieron niveles más bajos de infección por Eimeria durante el período experimental y fueron significativos en el día 15 (E1 y E2, p=0,02 y 0,001, respectivamente). Conclusión: La suplementación con curcumina tiene potencial coccidiostático y favorece la ganancia de peso en terneros Holstein. Palabras clave: antioxidantes; crecimiento de ganado; curcuminatiene; Eimeria; estrés animal; parasitología; suplementación; terneros.  ResumoAntecedentes: Curcumina tem sido usado como aditivo na dieta de animais nos últimos anos, devido as propriedades medicinais potente dessa molécula. Objetivo: Avaliar se a adição de curcumina na alimentação de bezerras em diferentes fases (pré e pós-desmame) apresenta efeito positivo sobre perfil metabólico, desempenho e ação anti-coccidéo. Métodos: Para isso, 33 bezerros holandeses foram selecionados em vários estágios de desenvolvimento: Experimento 1 (E1: n=10) 18±7 (prédesmame), Experimento 2 (E2: n=11) 64±4 (pré-desmame) e Experimento 3 (E3: n=12) 95±8 (pós-desmame) dias de vida. Para todos os experimentos o período experimental foi de 15 dias, assim como foram delineados com dois grupos: controle e tratados com curcumina. Os grupos de curcumina receberam 200 mg do aditivo por animal/dia no leite (pré-desmame) ou em concentrado (pós-desmame). Coletas de fezes e sangue foram realizadas nos dias 0, 10 e 15 de experimento para contagem de oocistos de Eimeria por grama de fezes e análise de escore fecal. Do sangue colhido foram realizados: hemograma, perfil oxidante e antioxidante, metabolismo proteico, lipídico, glicose, além da pesagem dos animais. Também foi realizado análise de digestibilidade da dieta total ofertada aos animais do Experimento 3 (pós-desmame). Resultados: Independentemente da fase, os animais que receberam curcumina tiveram maior ganho de peso do dia 0 a 15 (E1, E2 e E3, p=0,04, 0,001 e 0,001, respectivamente), provavelmente devido ao aumento da digestibilidade ao feno e concentrado após 72 h (p=0,03 e 0,02, respectivamente). Nos bezerros suplementados, observou-se menor nível de oxidantes (substâncias reativas ao ácido tiobarbitúrico e espécies reativas de oxigênio), ou seja, os níveis séricos de radicais livres e a peroxidação lipídica foram menores. Isto foi provavelmente devido a antioxidantes enzimáticos glutationa S-transferase (E1, E2 e E3, p=0,001, 0,001 e 0,02, respectivamente), catalase (E1, p=0,001) e superóxido dismutase (E3, p=0,001) aumentando nestes animais tratados no dia 15. Além disso, bezerros recebendo curcumina tiveram menores níveis de infecção por Eimeria durante o período experimental e significativos no dia 15 (E1 e E2, p=0,02 e 0,001, respectivamente). Conclusão: A suplementação de curcumina aumenta o potencial coccidiostático e favorece o ganho de peso.Palavras-chave: antioxidante; bezerros; crescimento do gado; curcumina; Eimeria; estresse animal; parasitologia; suplementação.

Successful conservation of large terrestrial mammals (wildlife) on private lands requires that landowners be empowered to manage wildlife so that benefits outweigh the costs. Laikipia County, Kenya, is predominantly unfenced, and the land uses in the area allow wide-ranging wildlife to move freely between different management systems on private land. We used camera traps to sample large mammals associated with 4 different management systems (rhinoceros sanctuaries, no livestock; conservancies, intermediate stocking level; fenced ranches, high stocking level; and group ranches, high stocking level, no fencing, pastoralist clan ownership) to examine whether management and stocking levels affect wildlife. We deployed cameras at 522 locations across 8 properties from January 2008 through October 2010 and used the photographs taken during this period to estimate richness, occupancy, and relative abundance of species. Species richness was highest in conservancies and sanctuaries and lowest on fenced and group ranches. Occupancy estimates were, on average, 2 and 5 times higher in sanctuaries and conservancies as on fenced and group ranches, respectively. Nineteen species on fenced ranches and 25 species on group ranches were considered uncommon (occupancy < 0.1). The relative abundance of most species was highest or second highest in sanctuaries and conservancies. Lack of rights to manage and utilize wildlife and uncertain land tenure dampen many owners' incentives to tolerate wildlife. We suggest national conservation strategies consider landscape-level approaches to land-use planning that aim to increase conserved areas by providing landowners with incentives to tolerate wildlife. Possible incentives include improving access to ecotourism benefits, forging agreements to maintain wildlife habitat and corridors, resolving land-ownership conflicts, restoring degraded rangelands, expanding opportunities for grazing leases, and allowing direct benefits to landowners through wildlife harvesting. La conservación exitosa de mamíferos terrestres mayores (vida silvestre) en tierras privadas requiere que los propietarios estén empoderados para manejar la vida silvestre para que los beneficios sean mayores que los costos. El Condado Laikipia, Kenia, predominantemente carece de cercos, y los usos de suelo en el área permiten que la vida silvestre se mueva libremente entre los diferentes sistemas de manejo de tierras privadas. Utilizamos cámaras trampa para muestrear mamíferos mayores asociados con 4 diferentes sistemas de manejo (santuarios de rinocerontes, sin ganado; zonas de conservación, nivel intermedio de ganado; ranchos cercados, nivel alto de ganado; y ranchos grupales, nivel alto de ganado, sin cercos, régimen de propiedad clan pastoril) para examinar si los niveles de manejo y de ganado afectan a la vida silvestre. Colocamos cámaras en 522 localidades en 8 propiedades de enero 2008 a octubre 2010 y utilizamos las fotografías obtenidas durante ese período para estimar la riqueza, la ocupación y la abundancia relativa de especies. La riqueza de especies fue mayor en las zonas de conservación y los santuarios y menor en los ranchos cercados y grupales. Las estimaciones de ocupación fueron, en promedio, 2 y 5 veces mayor en los santuarios y las zonas de conservación que en ranchos cercados y grupales, respectivamente. Diecinueve especies en ranchos cercados y 25 especies en ranchos grupales fueron consideradas poco comunes (ocupación < 0.1). La abundancia relativa de la mayoría de las especies fue mayor o la segunda en importancia en santuarios y zonas de protección. La carencia de derechos para manejar y utilizar la vida silvestre y la incertidumbre en la tenencia de la tierra reducen los incentivos de muchos propietarios para tolerar la vida silvestre. Sugerimos que las estrategias nacionales de conservación consideren métodos a nivel de paisaje en la planificación del uso de suelo que incrementen las zonas protegidas proporcionando incentivos a los propietarios para que toleren la vida silvestre. Posibles incentivos incluyen la mejoría del acceso a los beneficios del ecoturismo, celebración de acuerdos para mantener hábitat y corredores para vida silvestre, resolución de conflictos de tenencia de la tierra, restauración de praderas, expansión de oportunidades para arrendamientos de pastoreo y permitir beneficios directos para los propietarios mediante la cosecha de vida silvestre.