Use of supplements and variation in the stocking rate in cow - calf systems on temperate pastures in Chile: a simulation approach

2009 ◽  
Vol 49 (12) ◽  
pp. 1059 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. R. Catrileo ◽  
P. M. Toro ◽  
C. D. Aguilar ◽  
R. Vera
Keyword(s):  
Economic Effect ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Oat Straw ◽  
Cow Calf ◽  
Winter Supplementation ◽  
Mean Cost ◽  
Stocking Rates

A simulation model was developed to evaluate the productive and economic effect of the variation in feed practices and stocking rate of a cow–calf system in Chile. Winter supplementation at grazing, stocking rate and economic aspects of the system were analysed. The supplementation of straw v. pasture hay at two different stocking rates was evaluated in the temperate pasture zone in La Araucania, Chile. Data were simulated using a decision support tool to help analyse the system. Simulations with the model involved 20 replicates of a factorial combination of two stocking rates (1.0 and 1.4 cows/ha) with differences in the initial weight (‘light’ v. ‘heavy’ with weights of heifers, primiparous and multiparous cows being 340 v. 380, 400 v. 450 and 440 v. 480 kg, respectively), at the same grazing pressure (kg liveweight/ha), two winter supplements (oat straw v. pasture hay) and two levels (6 v. 8 kg straw, and 5.1 v. 6.8 pasture hay). The model was validated with data collected from an experiment conducted with permanent pastures and a beef cattle cow–calf system from 1984 to 1989. The results indicate that there was a significant (P < 0.01) effect of a cow’s weight on the calves at 180 days, and on their reproductive performance, with the heavier cows increasing their calving rate by 20% relative to the lighter group. The stocking rate and the type and amount of supplement, however, did not influence (P > 0.05) the weight of female and male calves at the time of sale. Finally, supplementation with pasture hay, as opposed to oat straw, incurred a larger (P < 0.01) mean cost at an equivalent level of provision of metabolisable energy. Although difficult to analyse under real conditions, the economic and productive benefits of various feed practices and stocking rates were successfully evaluated in the present study using simulation tools.

Performance of sheep systems grazing perennial pastures. 4. Simulated seasonal variation and long-term production

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 423
Author(s):  
Susan M. Robertson ◽  
Michael A. Friend
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Supplementary Feeding ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Gross Margin ◽  
Production Risk ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Gross Margins ◽  
Stocking Rates

Choice of sheep-management system alters both production potential and the production risk due to variability in seasonal conditions. This study quantified production and gross margins from systems based on Merino ewes and varying in stocking rate, time of lambing, and the proportion of ewes joined to terminal-breed or Merino rams. Simulation studies were conducted between 1971 and 2011 using the AusFarm decision-support tool for a grazing property in southern New South Wales. Joining between December and May resulted in higher gross margins than in other months because of higher numbers of lambs sold combined with a lower requirement for supplementary feeding. More ewes could be carried per hectare for April joining than February joining to achieve the same midwinter stocking rate and risk of feeding. Self-replacing systems could produce median gross margins similar to those with replacement ewes purchased, but gross margins were sensitive to the cost of replacement ewes. Of the systems compared, February joining to Merino rams produced the lowest gross margins at all stocking rates, but this system also had the lowest variability among years. The advantage of different systems was dependent on seasonal conditions, which altered lamb production and supplementary feeding. The median ranking of systems for gross margin generally did not alter with changes in feed, sheep or wool values. Large increases in gross margins can be achieved through use of terminal-breed rams, optimal stocking rates and time of lambing, but the superiority of any option depended on production system, price assumptions and seasonal conditions.

Persistence and growth of Lotononis bainesii–Digitaria decumbens pastures: 1. Sheep stocking rate

1983 ◽  
Vol 101 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Pott ◽  
L. R. Humphreys
Keyword(s):  
Bulk Density ◽  
Soil Bulk Density ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Digitaria Decumbens ◽  
Heavy Grazing ◽  
Cotton South ◽  
Seed Reserves ◽  
Stocking Rates

SUMMARYSheep were grazed for 2 years at stocking rates of 7, 14, 21 and 28/ha on a pasture comprising Lotononis bainesii and Digitaria decumbens cv. Pangola at Mt Cotton, south–east Queensland. There were six replicates of each treatment grazed in rotation with 3 days' grazing followed by 15 days' rest.The initial dominance of lotononis was lost after 6 months of grazing and lotononis failed to persist satisfactorily at any stocking rate. Demographic studies showed that lotononis behaved as a short-lived plant, predominantly annual, with some vegetative perennation as stolon-rooted units under heavy grazing. Soil seed reserves varied from 5800 to 400 m2 at the lightest and heaviest stocking rates respectively. Lotononis failed to regenerate under Pangola shading or inopportune high grazing pressure. Soil bulk density (0–7 cm) increased from 1·2 to 1·4 g/cm3 according to stocking rate.

scholarly journals To Vaccinate or Not: Impact of Bovine Viral Diarrhoea in French Cow-Calf Herds

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1137
Author(s):  
Sandie Arnoux ◽  
Fabrice Bidan ◽  
Alix Damman ◽  
Etienne Petit ◽  
Sébastien Assié ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Economic Impact ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Virus Spread ◽  
Bovine Viral Diarrhoea ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Vaccination Strategies ◽  
Cow Calf

Bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) remains an issue despite control programs implemented worldwide. Virus introduction can occur through contacts with neighbouring herds. Vaccination can locally protect exposed herds. However, virus spread depends on herd characteristics, which may impair vaccination efficiency. Using a within-herd epidemiological model, we compared three French cow-calf farming systems named by their main breed: Charolaise, Limousine, and Blonde d’Aquitaine. We assessed vaccination strategies of breeding females assuming two possible protections: against infection or against vertical transmission. Four commercial vaccines were considered: Bovilis®, Bovela®, Rispoval®, and Mucosiffa®. We tested various virus introduction frequency in a naïve herd. We calculated BVD economic impact and vaccination reward. In Charolaise, BVD economic impact was 113€ per cow over 5 years after virus introduction. Irrespective of the vaccine and for a high enough risk of introduction, the yearly expected reward was 0.80€ per invested euro per cow. Vaccination should not be stopped before herd exposure has been decreased. In contrast, the reward was almost nil in Blonde d’Aquitaine and Limousine. This highlights the importance of accounting for herd specificities to assess BVD impact and vaccination efficiency. To guide farmers’ vaccination decisions against BVD, we transformed this model into a French decision support tool.

Evaluation of natural annual pastures at Trangie in central western New South Wales. 1. Sheep production

1973 ◽  
Vol 13 (62) ◽  
pp. 238
Author(s):  
RJ Campbell ◽  
DG Saville ◽  
GE Robards
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Sheep Production ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Sheep Wool

Natural annual pasture at Trangie, New South Wales, was set stocked from August, 1967 to December 1970 at rates of 2.5, 3.7, and 4.9 merino wethers per ha to determine an optimum stocking rate for the pasture type. All stocking rates were supported without the necessity to hand feed any sheep. Wool production per head was reduced significantly by increased stocking rate in 1968, but not in 1969 and 1970. The suppression of barley grass at the higher stocking rates appeared to benefit animal production in 1969. Substitution of portion of the natural annual pasture with areas of lucerne or natural perennial pasture was also investigated and found to be ineffective in increasing wool production per head above that of wethers at similar rates of stocking on natural annual pasture alone. Possible reasons for the apparent failure of the grazing supplements, particularly lucerne, are discussed in terms of grazing pressure and management strategies.

scholarly journals 199 Beef cattle genetic technology utilization - survey of stakeholders 2018

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 30-30
Author(s):  
Robert L Weaber ◽  
Larry A Kuehn ◽  
Warren Snelling ◽  
Mark Thallman ◽  
Bruce L Golden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Genetic Information ◽  
Selection Index ◽  
Smart Phone ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Production Performance ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Beef Industry ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Cow Calf

Abstract A web-based survey was conducted to understand the utilization of digital and genetic information by beef producers to inform the development of an online beef cattle selection decision support tool allowing creation of customized selection indices. Of 1,656 respondents, responses from U.S. seedstock, commercial cow-calf, stocker and feedlot sectors in 43 states formed a subset (n = 1,065) used in this analysis. Of respondents, 89% were owners, 76% and 47% identified involvement in the commercial cow-calf sector and seedstock sector, respectively (responses were permitted for multiple sectors). Respondents averaged 55 years old with 31 years beef industry experience. Percentages with 100 or fewer females for breeding, 100–500 cows, 500–1,000 cows and more than 1,000 cows were 47, 38, 8, and 6%, respectively. Bull purchases per year were 0 (21%), 1–2 (53%), 3–5 (15%), 6–10 (5%), 11–20 (2%), and &gt;20 (2%). Seedstock producers and industry meetings were most frequently cited as good sources of genetics information. Expected progeny differences were the most commonly reported/used source of genetic information. Nearly 70% (57%) reported keeping very or somewhat detailed animal production/performance (cost of production) records. The majority (90%) have a smart phone while only 45% use a tablet/iPad. Most producers (65%) used the internet as a source of agriculture data/information at least daily. Of all respondents, 44% spend 10 hours or more per week on the internet and 59% had greater than DSL speed. Two-thirds correctly identified the definition of a selection index with 80% indicating that selection indexes provide an efficient, consistent and objective method of ranking selection candidates. Nearly 64% would probably or definitely use an online tool to generate customized indexes. Willingness to pay annually for a tool varied with 36% only using it if free/sponsored, 17% would pay $50–99, 14% would pay $100–249, with 3% would pay $500 or more.

Stocking rate trials in Ankole, Uganda: I. Weight gain of Ankole steers at intermediate and heavy stocking rates under different managements

1974 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 497-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. N. Harrington ◽  
D. Pratchett
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Rotational Grazing ◽  
Brachiaria Decumbens ◽  
Continuous Grazing ◽  
Weight Gains ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Stocking Rates

SUMMARYA series of stocking rate trials running for differing periods between 1961 and 1972 are summarized. Weight gains of steers grazed at 2·4, 1·2, 0·8 and 0·6 ha/300 kg animal on Cymbopogon/Hyparrhenia/Themeda pasture are detailed. Subtreatments included continuous and rotational grazing and the removal of the unpalatable Cymbopogon afronardus.Weight gains at 0·6 ha/animal were higher than a linear relationship between stocking rate expressed as animals/ha and weight gain would predict. This was ascribed to the dominance of the high quality grass Brachiaria decumbens at this grazing pressure.Rotational grazing was less productive than continuous grazing, because C. afronardus increased more rapidly under this management, but there was less soil erosion. Removal of C. afronardus increased cattle growth rates and gains/ha by over 40% at 0·6 ha/animal. The cost of clearing this weed should be recovered in 2 years from a commercial cattle ranch. A grazing pressure of ca. 0·8 ha/animal is expected to maximize long-term profits on C. afronardus-free Ankole rangeland and in 3 years in this trial average gains of 0·29 kg/day/animal were achieved. This was an annual production level of 131 kg/ha/annum, which compared with 53 kg/ha at 2·4 ha/animal and 143 kg/ha at 0·6 ha/animal.

Changes in pH and organic carbon were minimal in a long-term field study in the Western District of Victoria

2002 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 115 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. D. Cayley ◽  
M. R. McCaskill ◽  
G. A. Kearney
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Average Rate ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Stocking Rates

Changes in soil pH from a long-term experiment at Hamilton, Vic., associated with time, fertiliser application, and stocking rate were assessed. The pH was measured in a 1 :5 suspension of soil in water (pHW) from 1980 onwards and in a 1:5 suspension of soil in 0.01 M CaCl2 (pHCa) from 1984 onwards. Topsoils (0–10 cm) were sampled regularly from 1980 to 1999, and the soil profile to a depth of 80 cm in 1994. The site was sown to perennial ryegrass, phalaris, and subterranean clover in 1977. Treatments fertilised with different amounts of superphosphate were grazed by sheep at stocking rates of 7–19 dry sheep equivalents (DSE)/ha. Average applications of phosphorus (P) ranged from 0.5 to 38.7 kg P/ha.year. The pHCa of the topsoil in 1984 was 4.9. It decreased at an average rate of 0.005 pHCa or 0.008 pHW units/year, with little variation due to fertiliser or stocking rate. Measurements in 1994 revealed subtle but statistically significant (P < 0.01) trends in soil pHCa that were associated with grazing pressure, inputs of fertiliser, and whether or not areas sampled were used by the sheep for camping. The top 0–5 cm of soil was slightly less acidic (+0.07 pHCa units) in the camp areas compared with non-camp areas. Below 5 cm to a depth of 80 cm, camp areas were more acidic (–0.19 pHCa units). At the highest stocking rates, heavier applications of superphosphate were associated with greater subsoil acidity: –0.06 pHCa units per 100 kg phosphorus (P) applied. There was no relationship at medium stocking rates. At low stocking rates, higher P applications were associated with more alkaline subsoils. Net removal of product from 1979 to 1994 (wool and meat removed from plots and excreta transferred to camps) was estimated to be equivalent to 140–380 kg/ha of lime over this 15-year period. The organic carbon (OC) content of the topsoil did not change over 20 years of records from 1979, and was unaffected by inputs of P. In 1994, the OC content of the 0–5 cm layer of topsoil was greater than the 5–10 cm layer (mean values 5.5% and 3.8% respectively; P < 0.001). The OC content of camp areas was higher than that of non-camp areas, this difference being more pronounced in the 0–5 cm layer (P < 0.01). It was concluded that the rate of change of pH was slow because of the high pH buffering capacity of the soil, the small amount of alkalinity removed in product, and the generally high perennial grass content of the pastures. Soils shown to be at greatest risk of acidification from this study were those under camp areas, and where high fertiliser rates were applied to pastures with a low perennial grass content. Rotational grazing should diminish these problems by reducing the concentration of excreta in camp areas, and favouring perennials over annuals in both camp and non-camp areas. Inputs of lime may eventually be needed to compensate for the acidifying effect of product removal.

Evaluation of management options for increasing the productivity of tropical savanna pastures. 1. Fertiliser

1989 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 613 ◽  
Author(s):  
WH Winter ◽  
JJ Mott ◽  
RW McLean ◽  
D Ratcliff
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Concentration ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Themeda Triandra ◽  
Stylosanthes Humilis ◽  
Stocking Rates

Options for increasing pasture and animal production from native perennial pastures comprising predominantly Themeda triandra, Chrysopogon fallax, Sehima nervosum and Sorghum plumosum were studied over 5 years at Katherine in the semi-arid tropics of north-western Australia. The pastures were augmented with either Stylosanthes humilis, S. hamata or a mixture of S. scabra and S. viscosa, either without fertiliser or with low inputs of superphosphate (100 kg/ha at establishment and 25 kg/ha annually), and with the trees either killed or left undisturbed. At each fertiliser level there were 3 stocking rates. Five years after sowing, only half of the pastures persisted, due to the poor productivity of the legumes and the inability of the native perennial grasses to tolerate high grazing pressure which was about 10-fold that for non-augmented native pasture. This effect was greater in the unfertilised treatments, where the legume contributed less to pasture yield, so that the sustainable stocking rate was only half of that for pastures fertilised with small amounts of superphosphate. When fertilised, stable pastures of nearly pure legume were obtained after 3-4 years at the highest stocking rate of 1 steer/ha. Fertiliser also (i) increased the nitrogen and sulfur concentrations of S. humilis and the perennial stylos S. scabra and S. viscosa, but lowered their concentrations in S. hamata, particularly in the early wet season; (ii) decreased nitrogen concentration in Chrysopogon fallax; and (iii) increased phosphorus and sulfur concentrations of all the perennial grasses. In general, fertiliser promoted higher liveweight gains of cattle during the wet season and lower losses during the dry season. In the fertilised treatments growth tended to be poorer at the highest stocking rate, particularly during the late dry and early wet seasons. This effect was attributed to spoilage of dry legume by the early rainfall and lack of grass in these treatments. We conclude that S. hamata, S. scabra and S. viscosa grow reasonably well in soils of low fertility, but the productivity of the legumes and of the cattle can be improved by small inputs of superphosphate. The mediocre growth of the cattle in all the treatments may have been due to the low levels of some nutrients, particularly phosphorus and sulfur, in these pastures.

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