11th INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON THE NUTRITION OF HERBIVORES

June 4-8, 2023 • Florianópolis, Brazil

EFFECT OF COIRÓN FUEGUINO'S SIZE ON LEAF REGROWTH FOR SHEEP

FARMING

J.P.D.S. Pereira¹*, J.J. Gysling R.¹, L.C.P. Machado Filho¹

¹ Laboratory of Applied Ethology and Animal Welfare, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Rd. Admar Gonzaga Road, Florianópolis, 88034-000, BR
* Corresponding author: jp.donadio@gmail.com

INTRODUCTION RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Coironales dominate a large part of the Patagonian grass steppes and play a The coirón's cut height and the growth rate presented a significant correlation.
crucial role in regional sheep farming. These coironales are composed majorly The results showed that the higher the cut height, the greater the regrowth
by the native tussock grass Festuca gracillima, known as “coirón fueguino”, plus a rate of the coirón. For every additional 1 cm at the cut height, the regrowth
diverse composition of plant species found among the tussock grasses in the rate increased by 2.40 mm/day (p<0.01). There was also a significant correlation
region, called the inter-coirón. between the coirón basal area and regrowth rate. For every additional 100 cm²
As these plants face the region's constant winds and low relative humidity, the at the basal area, there was an increase of 4.72 mm/day (p<0.01).
coirón plays a fundamental role by protecting the intercoirón since the latter is
the food the herbivores eat during summer. The rigorous Patagonian winter
conditions affect intercoirón plants' survival, and the canopy and resistance of
coirón allow it to survive and feed the herbivores during the season.
However, continuous overgrazing degrades the coironales and reduces forage
availability, biodiversity, and soil stability. We hypothesized that the smaller the
coirón is, resulting from overgrazing, the greater is its difficulty to regrow.

OBJECTIVE(S)
This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the coirón's size (height
and surface) with the regrowth of the coirón's leaves.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two exclusion cages (1,5 m² each) were placed in the Estancia Santa Bárbara,
located on the Island of Tierra del Fuego, Magallanes, Chile. In each exclusion
cage, there were 15 formations of coiróns. On the first day, all coiróns were cut
at different heights (14,6 ± 3,6 cm; range: 6 - 19,5 cm) to simulate different
grazing intensities. The height of each coirón was measured with a ruler every
three days up to the 30th day during the growing season (November to Figure 2. Illustrative representation of the association between basal area and
December). The basal area of each coiron was calculated by analysis of cutting height of Coiróns in its regrowth.
photographs taken on the first day with ImageJ software, resulting in an average
of 231,1 ± 214,5 cm² (range: 16,5 to 855,1 cm²). Data were analyzed by CONCLUSIONS / IMPLICATIONS
regression test at Rstudio software.
The results seem to indicate that the size of the coirón is related to its
regrowth. Thus, we recommend avoiding overgrazing of the coirón, and to give it
periodic resting time to allow regrowth. This management will result in greater
availability of good quality intercorion forage, avoiding degradation and allowing
ecosystem sustainability.

REFERENCES
GYSLING RIU, J. J. Patagonia agredida: Itinerario de la Desertificación. Punta
Arenas: La Prensa Austral Impresos, 252 p., 2020.
GONZALEZ, S.L.; GHERMANDI, L. Overgrazing causes a reduction in the
vegetation cover and seed bank of Patagonian grasslands. Plant Soil, 464:75-87,
2021.
OLIVA, G.; COLLANTES, M.; HUMANO, G. Demography of grazed tussock
grass populations in Patagonia. Rangeland Ecology & Management,
58(5):466-473, 2005.
Covacevich C., N.J. Guía de manejo de coironales. Bases para el planeamiento
de la estancia. Punta Arenas, Chile: Boletín INIA - Instituto de Investigaciones
Agropecuarias. no. 47, 2001.
Figure 1. Exclusion cage in the Coironal area of Estância Santa Bárbara, Island of
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Tierra del Fuego, Magallanes, Chile.
We thank Julie Gysling and the workers at Estância Santa Bárbara for their
support in the preparation and execution of the study.

#ISNH2023 https://symposium-isnh2023.com.br • contact@symposium-isnh2023.com.br

 Effect of coirón fueguino’s size on leaf regrowth for sheep farming

J.P.D.S. Pereira a, J.J. Gysling Riu b, L.C. Pinheiro Machado Filho a

a Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Brazil; b Santa Bárbara, Chile

Corresponding author: J.P.D.S. Pereira. jp.donadio@gmail.com

Keywords: Ecosystem sustainability; Pasture; Plant resilience; Preservation.

Coironales dominate a large part of the Patagonian grass steppes and play a crucial role in
regional sheep farming. These coironales are composed majorly by the native tussock grass
Festuca gracillima, known as ‘‘coirón fueguino”, plus a diverse composition of plant species found
among the tussock grasses in the region, called the inter-coirón. As these plants face the region’s
constant winds and low relative humidity, the coirón plays a fundamental role by protecting the
intercoirón since the latter is the food the herbivores eat during summer. The rigorous
Patagonian winter conditions affect intercoirón plants’ survival, and the canopy and resistance
of coirón allow it to survive and feed the herbivores during the season. However, continuous
overgrazing degrades the coironales and reduces forage availability, biodiversity, and soil
stability. We hypothesized that the smaller the coirón is, resulting from intensive grazing, the
greater is its difficulty to regrow. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the
coirón’s size (height and surface) with the regrowth of the coirón’s leaves. Two exclusion cages
(1.5 m2 each) were placed in the Estancia Santa Bárbara, located on the Island of Tierra del
Fuego, Magallanes, Chile. In each exclusion cage, there were 15 formations of coiróns. On the
first day, all coiróns were cut at different heights (14.6 ± 3.6 cm; range: 6–19.5 cm) to simulate
different grazing intensities. The height of each coirón was measured with a ruler every three
days up to the 30th day during the growing season (November to December). The basal area of
each coiron was calculated by analysis of photographs taken on the first day with ImageJ
software, resulting in an average of 231.1 ± 214.5 cm2 (range: 16.5–855.1 cm2). Data were
analyzed by regression test at Rstudio software. The coirón’s cut height and the growth rate
presented a significant correlation. The results showed that the higher the cut height, the greater
the regrowth rate of the coirón. For every additional 1 cm at the cut height, the regrowth rate
increased by 2.40 mm/day (P < 0.01). There was also a significant correlation between the coirón
basal area and regrowth rate. For every additional 100 cm2 at the basal area, there was an
increase of 4.72 mm/day (P < 0.01). The results seem to indicate that the size of the coirón is
related to its regrowth. Thus, we recommend avoiding overgrazing of the coirón, and to give it
periodic resting time to allow regrowth. This management will result in greater availability of
good quality intercorion forage, avoiding degradation and allowing ecosystem sustainability.