scholarly journals Cow-Calf Response to Stocking Rates, Grazing Systems, and Winter Supplementation at the Texas Experimental Ranch

1982 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 204 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. K. Heitschmidt ◽  
M. M. Kothmann ◽  
W. J. Rawlins
Keyword(s):  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Cow Calf ◽  
Winter Supplementation ◽  
Stocking Rates

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.

Management of grazing systems

1989 ◽  
pp. 117-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Hodgson
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Management Control ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Pastoral Systems ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Alternative Means ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Stocking Rates

Recent assessments of the relative importance of stocking rate. stocking policy and grazing management on the output from pastoral systems are used as a starting point to argue the need for objective pasture assessments to aid control of livestock enterprises to meet production targets. Variations in stocking rates, stocking policy and other management practices all provide alternative means of control of pasture conditions which are the major determinants of pasture and animal performance. Understanding of the influence of pasture conditions on systems performance should provide a better basis for management control and for Communication between farmers, extension officers and researchers. Keywords: Stocking rate, pasture condition, pasture cover

Adaptive management of stocking rates to reduce effects of drought on cow-calf production systems in semi-arid rangelands

2009 ◽  
Vol 100 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 43-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Díaz-Solís ◽  
W.E. Grant ◽  
M.M. Kothmann ◽  
W.R. Teague ◽  
J.A. Díaz-García
Keyword(s):  
Adaptive Management ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Arid Rangelands ◽  
Cow Calf ◽  
Effects Of Drought ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Semi Arid

Productivity and intensive sheep stocking over a five-year period

1967 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. R. W. Spedding ◽  
J. E. Betts ◽  
R. V. Large ◽  
I. A. N. Wilson ◽  
P. D. Penning
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Economic Implications ◽  
Production Processes ◽  
Percentage Weight ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Sheep Production ◽  
Stocking Rates

During the last ten years or so, the management of sheep for intensive lamb production has been studied on a considerable scale, and a variety of grazing systems have been investigated (Dickson, 1959; Cooper, 1959; Spedding & Large, 1959; Boaz, 1959). It is still too soon to specify precisely the place that any of these systems should occupy in sheep-production processes, in relation to breed, lambing percentage, weight of lamb at slaughter, stocking rate, botanical composition of the pasture, size of ewe and level of her milk yield. Quite apart from these biological considerations, the full economic implications are by no means clear. What has emerged most clearly, however, is that much higher stocking rates can be tolerated than had generally been regarded as safe and that, at these stocking rates, productivity can be extremely high.

Using grazing systems modelling to assess economic, production and environmental risks to aid in selecting appropriate stocking rates

2006 ◽  
Vol 46 (7) ◽  
pp. 841 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Alcock
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Risks ◽  
Potential Outcomes ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Economic Production ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Systems Modelling ◽  
Systems Models ◽  
Farm Sustainability ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Stocking Rates

Results of contemporary farm benchmarking are often used as the grounds for recommending wholesale change in farm management while often paying little heed to the associated risks involved. The current push to increase pasture utilisation rates through increased stocking rates is an example of generalised recommendations for which there is limited supporting data. Grazing systems models provide objective tools to help put the potential outcomes of various management options into context. They provide a framework to evaluate the impact of management options before they are implemented and can provide a fuller representation of the risks involved. This may help to avoid costly mistakes in terms of time, money and farm sustainability.

Strategies to avoid parasitic gastro-enteritis in an intensive organic hill sheep system

1992 ◽  
Vol 1992 ◽  
pp. 165-165
Author(s):  
A Waterhouse ◽  
G Halliday ◽  
J T Wyllie ◽  
S Horbury
Keyword(s):  
Annual Basis ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Grazing Period ◽  
The Hill ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Summer Grazing

In hill sheep systems, a major concern for health and welfare is for lambs grazing improved land at higher stocking rates and succumbing to parasitic gastro-enteritis. With only a small amount of improved land available, there is little or no scope for ‘clean grazing’ systems as access to this better land is crucial on an annual basis to achieve better performance from the flock. Access at lambing and at ewe mating is of particular value. There may however be some scope for reduced parasitic challenge to lambs during the summer grazing period because of the differential in stocking densities between the hill and the improved grazings.

Economic impacts of extended grazing systems

1990 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 120-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. E. D'Souza ◽  
E. W. Maxwell ◽  
W. B. Bryan ◽  
E. C. Prigge
Keyword(s):  
Management System ◽  
Economic Impacts ◽  
Livestock Production ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Beef Cow ◽  
Grazing System ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Cow Calf ◽  
Conventional Systems

AbstractExtended grazing is a management system in which the usual grazing season is lengthened by utilization of hay fields for pasture. Extended grazing systems are a low-input alternative to conventional systems to the extent that they decrease the reliance on inputs such as machinery and energy to harvest forage. Substituting pasturing for harvested forage can therefore potentially decrease production costs and enhance the profitability of livestock production. However, the farm-level economic impacts of such a substitution are not well known. This analysis quantifies these impacts for beef cow/calf production. Specifying alternative meadow management systems for different grasses and using an economic-engineering approach, we have found that extended grazing can be a more profitable option for cow/calf production. Other findings suggest that, in an extended grazing system, the type of meadow, the hay baling method and the associated hay spoilage level also have important effects on production costs and profitability.

The effect of systems of grassland management and winter feeding on the productivity of an 18-month grass-cereal beef system

1978 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-107
Author(s):  
J. B. Moran ◽  
W. Holmes
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Grassland Management ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Field System ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Grazing System ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Stocking Rates

ABSTRACTExperiments in two successive years with 24 cattle compared a six-paddock grazing system with a simpler two-field system. In each system the whole area was cut for conservation once during the season. The two systems were stocked each at 3·9 or 6·5 cattle/ha. In the following winters the cattle were offered grass silage (1974) or dried lucerne pellets (1975) ad libitum with two levels of barley.Daily gains on pasture were depressed by the higher stocking rate but there was no difference between grazing systems. The yield of conserved grass was least on the high stocking rate two-field system. The estimated output of utilized metabolizable energy per hectare was highest on the high stocking rate paddock grazing system but the output from the low stocking rate two-field system was almost as high. It was concluded that the latter system was valuable in many practical situations. Cattle that had been grazed at low stocking rates finished earlier in winter. There was some evidence of winter compensation in cattle weight gain on diets with dried lucerne pellets but not on grass silage diets.

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