Project number: 22.01.17.03.01

Optimisation of Pasture Management for Ecosystem Services

The project aims to investigate the potential of new management systems and technologies to optimize the role of grazing to counteract shrub-encroachment. Different robust livestock categories adapted to specific vegetation contexts will be used to enhance foraging efficiency and grazing pressure on shrub-encroached vegetation. Considering the lack of available workforce nowadays, the different systems and technologies will aim to reduce the labour-intensive livestock management operations required under mountain conditions (e.g. fencing over steep areas). Moreover, the project aims to assess the forage utilization efficiency of different cattle crossbreeds managed under contrasting management intensities, a key topic to optimize beef cattle husbandry on pasture-based systems.

Last Name, First Name Location
Bérard Joël Posieux
Dubois Sébastien Posieux
Mariotte Pierre Posieux
Probo Massimiliano Posieux
Schneider Manuel Reckenholz

Probo M., Lonati M., Ravetto Enri S., Mariotte P., Pauler C.
Influence of pastoral management on the conservation of mountain pasture biodiversity.
INRAE Productions Animales, 38, (2), 2025, Article 8436.

Mochi L., Lumineau C., Pauler C., Schneider M., Pittarello M., Probo M.
Feeding behavior of heifers and goats on alpine pastures encroached by green alder.
In: Agrosilvopastoral Futures: Bridging Tradition with Innovation in Mediterranean and Mountain Pastures. 9 April, Publ. Adnan Menderes University, Kuşadası (TR). 2025, 15-16.

Mochi L., Belaiba S., Probo M.
Medium-term impact of Highland cattle on the restoration of green alder-encroached pastures.
In: Agrosilvopastoral Futures: Bridging Tradition with Innovation in Mediterranean and Mountain Pastures. 9 April, Publ. Adnan Menderes University, Kuşadası (TR). 2025, 102-104.

Probo M., Mochi L.
Projet de lutte contre l'aulne vert.
In: Pâturages caprins sur PPS : échange d’expériences. 26 mars, Berne (CH). 2025.

Probo M., Mochi L.
Premiers résultats du projet de lutte contre l’aulne vert dans le Canton Vaud.
In: Réunione Gest'Alpe. 6 mars, Grange-Verney (CH). 2025.

Mochi L., Lumineau C., Pauler C., Mariotte P., Probo M.
Comportement alimentaire des génisses et des chèvres sur les alpages envahis par l’aulne vert.
Recherche Agronomique Suisse, 16, 2025, 8-13.

Bérard J.
Current research topics at Agroscope for sustainability in animal nutrition.
In: SVT Animal Nutrition Committee Networking Workshop. 24 January, Publ. Schweizerische Vereinigung für Tierwissenschaften (SVT), Zollikofen (CH). 2025.

Probo M., Lonati M., Ravetto Enri S., Mariotte P., Pauler C.
Influence de la gestion pastorale sur la conservation de la biodiversité des pâturages de montagne.
In: Rencontres Recherches Ruminants (27e édition). 4 - 5 décembre, Publ. IDELE / INRAE, Paris (FR). 2024, 198-206.

Mochi L. S., Morrison T. A., Stevens N., Mazia N., Anderson T. M., Holdo R. M.
Grass layer limits tree seedling survival but not tree seedling growth in African and South American savannas.
Journal of Vegetation Science, 35, (4), 2024, 1-12.

Probo M., Mochi L.
De la pâture et de la mécanique utilisées pour lutter contre l'aulne vert.
Journal Agri, 1 novembre, 2024, 18.

Mariotte P., Svensk M., Pittarello M., Nota G., Terranova M., Schneider M., Manzocchi E., Dubois S., Probo M.
Restoring Alnus viridis-encroached pastures using Highland cattle while providing good forage quality and reducing methane emissions.
In: International Congress in Ecology and Evolution. 24 October, Publ. SFE2, Lyon (FR). 2024.

Pauler C., Fuchs P., Schneider M. K., Hervault P., Umstätter C., Bruckmaier R. M., Probo M.
Implementation of virtual fencing in mountain conditions.
In: 3rd Mountain Livestock Farming Systems Meeting. 5-7 June, Publ. EAAP / VetAgro Sup / INRAE, Clermont-Ferrand (FR). 2024, 62.

Confessore A., Schneider M. K., Pauler C., Aquilani C., Fuchs P., Pugliese C., Dibari C., Argenti G., Accorsi P.A., Probo M.
A matter of age ?: How age affects the adaptation of lactating dairy cows to virtual fencing.
Journal of Animal Science, 102, (137), 2024.

Probo M., Fuchs P., Schneider M. K., Hervault P., Umstätter P., Bruckmaier R. M., Pauler C.
Are virtual fences applicable in mountain pastures?
Grassland Science in Europe, 29, 2024, 505-507.

Probo M., Svensk M., Pittarello M., Nota G., Terranova M., Schneider M. K., Manzocchi E., Dubois S., Mariotte P.
Nutritive value of Alnus viridis leaves and nitrogen translocation by Highland cattle in Alnus viridis encroached pastures.
In: European Agroforestry Conference (EURAF2024). 29 May, Brno. 2024, 1-22.

Svensk M., Mariotte P., Terranova M., Pittarello M., Nota G., Frund D., Dubois S., Manzocchi E., Napoleone F., Meese S., Lombardi G., Allan E., Probo M.
Alnus viridis: An encroaching species with valuable nutritional value reducing livestock greenhouse gas emissions.
Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 364, 2024, 1-12.

Nota G., Svensk M., Barberis D., Frund D., Pagani R., Pittarello M., Probo M., Ravetto Enri S., Lonati M., Lombardi G.
Foraging behavior of Highland cattle in silvopastoral systems in the Alps.
Agroforestry Systems, 98, 2024, 491-505.

Zehnder T., Schneider M. K., Lüscher A., Giller K., Silacci P., Messadène-Chelali J., Bérard J., Kreuzer M.
The effects of Alnus viridis encroachment in mountain pastures on the growth performance, carcass and meat quality of Dexter cattle and Engadine sheep.
Animal Production Science, 63, (12), 2023, 1248-1260.

Svensk M., Pittarello M., Mariotte P., Nota G., Schneider M. K., Frund D., Dubois S., Allan E., Probo M.
Nitrogen translocation by Highland cattle grazing in Alnus viridis‑encroached pastures.
Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 126, 2023, 127-141.

Galasso G., Domina G., Andreatta S., Argenti C., Astuti G. , Bacaro G., Bacchetta G., Bagella S., Banfi E., Barberis D., Bartolucci F., Probo M.
Notulae to the Italian alien vascular flora: 14.
Italian Botanist, 14, 2022, 99-118.

Svensk M., Mariotte P., Frund D., Probo M.
Le projet ROBUSTALPS - Résultats.
In: Salon des Alpages 2022. 15. octobre, Les Diablerets. 2022.

Svensk M., Mariotte P., Frund D., Probo M.
Le projet ROBUSTALPS.
In: Salon des Alpages 2022. 15. octobre, Les Diablerets. 2022.

Svensk M., Mariotte P., Frund D., Probo M.
Pâture ciblée des vaches Highland sur les alpages embroussaillés par l'aulne vert.
In: Cours montagne 2022. 23. août, Publ. AGRIDEA. 2022, 1-17.

Napoleone F., Probo M., Mariotte P., Ravetto Enri S., Lonati M., Argenti G., Burrascano S.
Agri-environmental payments drive the conservation and forage value of semi-natural grasslands by modifying fine-scale grazing intensity.
Biological Conservation, 269, 2022, 1-10.

Svensk M., Nota G., Mariotte P., Pittarello M., Barberis D., Lonati M., Allan E., Perotti E., Probo M.
Use of molasses-based blocks to modify grazing patterns and increase Highland cattle impacts on Alnus viridis-encroached pastures.
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 10, (849809), 2022, 1-11.

Pauler C., Zehnder T., Staudinger M., Lüscher A., Kreuzer M., Bérard J., Schneider M. K.
Thinning the thickets: Foraging of hardy cattle, sheep and goats in green alder shrubs.
Journal of Applied Ecology, 59, (5), 2022, 1394-1405.

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