Silvopasture systems are defined as the integration of tree, forage, and livestock in the same area (Figure 1). These systems allow for income diversification through forestry and livestock production, while optimizing resource use for environmental, economic, and social benefits of operations. In the Southeast region, heat stress is a major issue to livestock, and it affects animal performance and health, especially during the summer months. Silvopasture systems provide shade through the tree component which helps to lower temperatures and create a microclimate that improves conditions to livestock grazing these systems.
Figure 1. Silvopasture system in Colleton County, SC. Credits: Janet Steele.
Management practices in silvopasture systems
Silvopasture systems offer a holistic approach to sustainable livestock production, promoting animal welfare, supporting animal and plant production, and mitigating the impacts of heat stress on livestock. Through proper establishment, integration and management, these systems can support enhanced resilience and sustainability of agricultural systems amid changing climatic conditions.
Silvopasture systems require proper management according to their tree species composition, spatial arrangement, and planting density once these factors directly impact the solar radiation intercepted. Regular management of trees is crucial as they mature and shade increases, therefore it is important to ensure there will be proper sunlight reaching the forage canopy.
The grazing management practices implemented also play a vital role in proper forage regrowth, quality, harvest and utilization. For silvopasture systems, the recommendation is to use rotational stocking once it allows for proper forage regrowth interval and better forage harvest and excreta distribution in the area. In the Southeast, during summer months, the high temperatures present a challenge for animal health, performance and welfare. The incorporation of trees into pastures allows for microclimate to be established and help animals cope with high heat indexes.
Animal welfare and productivity
Animal health and welfare are crucial for livestock production since they directly impact performance, quality, and profitability of operations. In recent years, consumers’ interest on the food production process, rastreability, and carbon footprint of activity has increased which also impacts their choice and purchase patterns.
In livestock farming, heat stress is a significant challenge during the warm season. Silvopasture systems represents a sustainable alternative for animals to cope with high heat indexes and they support productivity and animal welfare once the shading provided creates a microclimate allow for temperature reduction. Therefore, silvopasture systems are an effective strategy for adapting livestock production to challenges related to climate change while supporting ecosystem services delivery. These systems diversify feed sources by integrating trees, shrubs, and grasses to provide a varied diet for livestock mitigate thermal stress and sustain consistent levels of livestock productivity.
Impact of heat stress on livestock
Heat stress induces various physiological, behavioral and reproductive responses in animals, impacting their welfare, and health. The symptoms related to heat stress include increased panting, body temperature, respiration rate, and heart rate. Thus, heat stress reduces feed intake and immune function, thereby affecting growth rate, feed conversion efficiency, reproduction, and, in lactating animals, it impacts milk production and quality, for example. Shade is an ally for livestock to cope with heat stress. Silvopasture systems offer natural shade, which helps regulate microclimatic conditions by reducing wind speed, solar radiation levels, and thermal stress indexes during high heat periods. In these systems, animal thermal comfort improves during the warmest hours of the day due to lower air temperatures and reduced temperature-humidity index (THI) compared to conventional open pasture systems. Temperature-humidity index is a measure that combines air temperature and relative humidity to quantify the level of heat stress experienced by living organisms.
In conclusion, silvopasture systems are a valuable option for livestock farmers to address high temperatures, improve animal health, and enhance the sustainability of their operations. By implementing effective management practices that optimize resource use, silvopasture becomes a financially viable strategy for sustainable livestock production.
Written by
*Daniela Rodriguez, M.S. student, Animal and Veterinary Sciences Department
*Liliane Silva, Forages Specialist, Animal and Veterinary Sciences Department
