Leveraging dairy cattle dietary preference for pasture diversification to optimize marginal land recruitment into agroecosystems

Abstract

A growing global population and increasing demand for food necessitate the efficient use of agricultural land. Marginal land accounts for nearly one-quarter of the total land area worldwide. Cattle can contribute to food security and environmental sustainability by grazing this otherwise underutilized land, thereby conserving arable land for crop production. However, strategic pasture management is essential to ensure that the nutritional needs of higher-yielding dairy cattle are met. While it is well documented that pasture diversification can provide valuable ecosystem services, there is a scarcity of research exploring plant biodiversity in the context of dairy cattle dietary preferences during marginal land restoration. In reviewing these topics at the interface of dairy farming and agroecology, inclusion eligibility was limited to dietary preference studies conducted on pastured dairy heifers or cows in temperate geographic regions. Thus, here we first describe the available scientific literature investigating dietary preference in pastured dairy cattle and the impact of pasture diversification. We then identify key knowledge gaps that will inform future research targeting sustainable dairy farming on marginal land with the goal of leveraging dairy cattle dietary preferences to maximize the benefits of pasture diversification.