Digital Commons Network^™

Modelling Urine Nitrogen Production And Leaching Losses For Pasture-Based Dairying Systems, I. M. Brookes, D. J. Horne

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Urine from dairy cattle grazing pastures with high crude protein (CP) concentrations is a major source of N lost in drainage water from New Zealand farms. This paper provides predictions of urinary N leaching losses for a range of stocking rates and levels of supplementation.

Cap Reform And Nitrate Restrictions: Implications For Irish Grass Based Dairy Production Systems, Anne Marie Butler, M. Wallace, P. Dillon

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The benefit of a systems approach to analysing production situations has long been recognised in agricultural research. The development and application of production-oriented dairy models offer tremendous capabilities for both encompassing the realities faced by producers while also considering the adaptation possibilities available to them in light of internal and external forces of change. This farm level dairy model represents one such approach. The objectives of the study were: (1) to develop a comprehensive farm-level model of Irish milk production systems and (2) to apply the model to identify optimal adaptation strategies of dairy farmers within the context of European …

Sustainable Grazing On Saline Land In Western Australia - Multidisciplinary Research Linking Producers And Scientists, Hayley C. Norman, D. G. Masters, M. G. Wilmot, A. J. Rintoul, R. Silberstein, E. Lefroy, T. York

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Dryland salinity is one of the most critical environmental issues challenging Western Australian farmers. Currently 10% of the cropping zone (1.8 million ha) is salt-affected and this is predicted to increase dramatically in the next 50 years (NLWRA, 2001). Animals grazing saline pasture systems represent the most likely large-scale opportunity for economic return from saline land in the short to medium term. To date, few farmers have invested in large-scale revegetation of saline land as the economic return from grazing has not been perceived to cover costs. Furthermore other benefits of saltland pasture systems, such as biodiversity, water use and …

Factors Influencing The Adoption Of Fodder Production Techniques By Milk Producers In Dhankuta District, Eastern Nepal, C. P. Ferris, R. Nelson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Many districts are food-deficient in Nepal. Increased milk consumption could improve human health and nutrition, while milk sales can provide families with a valuable source of income. However, milk production in Nepal is low, mainly because of the poor nutritional status of livestock, which can be attributed in part to a fodder deficit. However there is potential to increase fodder production, and some innovative fodder production techniques have been tried and proven locally. These include planting of fodder trees, fodder grasses and fodder crops. As the level of adoption of these techniques is variable, a survey was undertaken to quantify …

New Zealand Pastoral Systems: A Current Perspective, F. R. Duder, R. B. Green, W. D. Catto, D. R. Woodfield, B. R. Guy

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

New Zealand's diverse grassland resource of 13.5 M ha of permanent pasture, tussock or alpine grasslands underpin an intensive pastoral industry worth NZ$13 billion in 2004. The pastoral industry involves 37,000 farmers and a service industry of about 215,000 persons. It produces 27 M prime export lambs and 180,000 t of predominantly crossbred wool from 40 M ewes; 13 B litres of milk from 5.2 M dairy cattle; 800,000 t of beef from 4.7 M beef cattle and 33,000 t of venison from 2 M deer. Pastures and forage crops, mostly non- irrigated, are grazed 'in situ' by animals through …

Forages For Horses Programmes, G. W. Wilson, R. L. Hendershot, J. Hoorman

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A survey by the American Horse Council in 1996 showed there were 6.9 million horses in the USA with 1.9 million horse owners and 7.1 million people involved in allied industries. The value of the USA horse industry to the gross national product is $25.3 billion. Nationally, 2.2 % of households own a horse but 4.9 % of households want to own a horse. Ohio's horse industry has 192,000 horses (7th nationally) and generates $776 million per year. Most of the 48,500 homes with horses in Ohio have 2-5 horses with 1-2 ha of land. Many exercise lots and high-use …

Forages For Horses, J. C. Fisher, D. H. Samples, R. A. Sherman

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

According to the 1997 Census of Agriculture, Ohio had 11,668 horse farms. An OSU survey estimated nearly 250,000 horses in Ohio. The large number of horses in the state has prompted many questions from producers to Extension personnel on the topic of improving forage resources. While many horse producers are proficient at equine management, they have not had formal training in forage production and management. Often, traditional agronomic programs don't target this audience. Many horse producers do not have the land mass, and/or experience to utilise large mechanical equipment for renovation and management

Priority Tree Fodder Species In The Maasai Silvopastoral System Of Kajiado District, Kenya, Evelyne Kiptot

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In an effort to improve pastoral land management systems, donor agencies have spent millions of dollars over the last two decades on research and development programmes. However, most of these programmes have been unsuccessful. The reasons for the failure are increasingly clear. Current thinking argues that more attention needs to be given to local knowledge systems and rural people's participation in development planning and implementation. The involvement of local communities in the research process is critical and has been shown by Ego (2001) to lead to the design of appropriate interventions. The main objective of this study was to elicit …

On-Farm Participatory Research Is An Essential Step Towards Achieving Successful Adoption Of Innovation: ‘Lifetime Wool’ A Case Study, Chris Oldham, P. Barber, M. Curnow, S. Giles, D. Gordon, A. Thompson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

'Lifetime Wool' project (LTW) is a national project that is developing new nutritional guidelines for the management of ewe flocks across Australia funded by farmers through Australian Wool Innovation (AWI EC298; 2001-2008). A large replicated plot-scale experiment was used to define the dose-response of current production (wool and reproduction from the ewe) and future production (survival, growth and wool from progeny over their lifetime) to a range of levels of ewe nutrition (Thompson & Oldham, 2004). However, farmers and research workers have long realised that the difference between the results obtained on experimental plots and those obtained by farmers is …

Management Of Gastro-Intestinal Parasite Pressure, Under Grazing In Organic Farms: Development Of A Decision Support System Through The Mobilisation Of A Participative Research Process, D. Jamar, Virginie Decruyenaere, Y. Seutin, D. Stilmant, L. Perriaux, P. Stassart

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Under grazing, gastro-intestinal parasite management remains a major problem in ruminant production systems, more especially in systems respecting organic farming rules following their obligations (1) to perform grazing as soon as pedo-climatic conditions are adapted and (2) to use anti-parasitic products only in a curative way. Surprisingly, this problem has not been highlighted by the different stakeholders in the food chain from cattle meat production to consumption. This could arise from the lack of a clear and pertinent norm or infestation threshold that would allow differentiation between preventive and curative treatments. Such a norm would indicate to the breeder whether …

Farmer-Directed On-Farm Experimentation Examining The Impact Of Companion Planting Barley And Oats On Timothy-Lucerne Forage Establishment In Central Newfoundland, D. Spaner, A. G. Todd

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Growing barley or oats in the year of forage establishment is a common agronomic practice in marginal growing regions, but is often not recommended to growers in Newfoundland. Spaner & Todd (2003) reported that barley seeded at rates of 100-150 kg seed/ha and undersown with a timothy-clover mixture (harvested at mid-milk) resulted in the planting year in greater forage yield of poorer quality than pure-stand timothy-clover. A barley seeding rate of 100 kg seed/ha did not impede forage production in the subsequent year.

Diagnosing Nitrogen, Phosphorous And Potassium Status Of Natural Grassland In The Presence Of Legumes, C. Jouany, P. Cruz, J. P. Theau, M. Duru

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In most temperate areas, sustainable management of grassland ecosystems has to deal with evaluation and management of N, P and K resources. For this purpose, appropriate diagnostic systems are needed in order to manage fertilisation accordingly. The nutrient index method based on nutrient concentrations in plant tissues relative to the degree of growth has been developed; it relies on critical curves which serve for diagnostic: for N, the critical curve gives the optimum N concentration for different levels of biomass accumulation in swards, for P and K optimum concentrations are a linear function of sward N concentration (Duru & Thélier-Huché, …

Variation Of Ldmc And Sla Relationship Between Growth Forms In Natural Grasslands, J. Viégas, P. Cruz, J. P. Theau, C. Jouany, P. Ansquer, R. Al Haj Khaled, O. Therond, M. Duru

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In agro-ecological studies, there is a growing interest in measuring both leaf dry matter content (LDMC) and specific leaf area (SLA). This interest lies on the fact that leaf traits are linked to gradients of environmental factors and ecosystem functions. Working with three contrasting wild species, Garnier et al. (2001) proposed a model linking these two traits. The model shows a relatively simple non linear and negative correlation between LDMC and SLA. Nevertheless, none of the species used to build the model were grasses (GRA) or forb rosettes (ROS = i.e. dicotyledonous with large entire leaves and absence of …

Leaf Dry Matter Content Of Native Grassland Species Under Contrasting N And P Supply, P. Cruz, C. Jouany, Jérome M. Enjalbert, Michael Duru

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The management of native grasslands - herbaceous vegetation with a broad diversity of flora and a large range of uses - must meet the requirements of environmental conservation and improvement of the quality of agricultural production. For this purpose we need tools for diagnosing the state of the vegetation in order to design, evaluate, and apply management practices to attain these objectives. These tools must be simple and quick to use and should not require botanical skills. Leaf dry matter content (LDMC) has been proposed as a good indicator of both fertility gradients and species preference for habitats (Cruz et …

Potentialities Of Near Infrared Spectroscopy To Assess Nitrogen, Phosphorus And Potassium Nutrient Status Of Grasslands In The Reunion Island, Philippe Lecomte, Vincent Blanfort, Michael Duru, P. Thomas, P. Grimaud

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Controlled mineral fertilisation practices are an important component for sustainable management of grasslands. The assessment of available nutrients for plants and the general recommendations on the level of phosphorus and potassium to apply to grasslands are classically based on classical soil analysis and average regional levels. For nitrogen, mid or long term recommendations cannot easily be derived solely from soil composition, because it may be rapidly leached from the soil. Recent approaches tended to show that herbage plant N (Lemaire & Gastal, 1997), P, K (Duru & Huché, 1997) mineral analyses associated with actual biomass measurement could be useful for …

Assessment Of The Nitrogen Nutrition Index (Nni) By The Nitrogen Concentration Of The Upper Part Of The Sward, B. Deprez, R. Lambert, A. Peeters

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The Nitrogen Nutrition Index (NNI) is based on the concept of a critical nitrogen concentration, defined as the minimum N concentration in the aerial biomass necessary to obtain maximum yield. Values of N_crit are high at the start of the growing period and decline during growth, in relation to dry matter accumulation (t DM/ha) according to the equation of Lemaire & Salette (1984): N_crit(%) = 4.8(DM)^-0.32. The NNI is calculated as the ratio of the actual N concentration of the sward to the N concentration required at a similar biomass to sustain non-limiting growth and biomass …

Modelling The Effect Of Breakeven Date In Spring Rotation Planner On Production And Profit Of A Pasture-Based Dairy System, P. C. Beukes, B. S. Thorrold, M. E. Wastney, C. C. Palliser, G. Levy, X. Chardon

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The breakeven date is the expected date when pasture supply exceeds cow demand. This date is used to plan the rotation rates, slow during the winter, when pasture growth is low and cows are dry, to a fast rotation in spring, when growth is accelerating and most cows lactating. This date is influenced by regional climate, mainly rainfall and soil temperature, which affects timing and rate of growth acceleration. The objective of this modeling exercise was to explore the effect of the breakeven date on milksolids (MS), grass silage, farm cover and economic farm surplus (EFS) over different climate years …

Development Of A Model Simulating The Impact Of Management Strategies On Production From Beef Cattle Farming Systems Based On Permanent Pasture, M. Jouven, R. Baumont

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grazing systems in Europe increasingly have to meet environmental objectives, which influence management strategies. A deterministic model describing farming system dynamics is being developed in order to elucidate interactions between nature-friendly management practices, as for example late (after flowering) hay harvest or moderate stocking rate, and agricultural output.

On-Farm Information: A Valuable Tool For The Sustainable Management Of Mountain Pastures In Protected Natural Areas, N. Mandaluniz, A. Bernués, A. Igarzabal, I. J. L. Riedel, R. Ruiz, A. Sanz, I. Casasús, L. M. Oregui

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Mountain pastures have traditionally been maintained by livestock. The analysis of data concerning farms' characteristics, productive-reproductive management and land use of commercial farms can constitute a real approach to study these systems and the changes that are occurring. This information is necessary to develop new utilisation guidelines, making compatible livestock production and conservation of natural resources. This paper describes a methodological framework to study the issues described above through some examples taken out from a wider research project (Mandaluniz et al., 2003).

The Impact Of Concentrate Price On The Utilization Of Grazed And Conserved Grass, P. Crosson, P. O'Kiely, F. P. O'Mara, M. J. Drennan, M. Wallace

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A linear programming model was designed and constructed to facilitate the identification of optimal beef production systems under varying technical and policy scenarios. The model operates at a systems level and most activities that could occur in Irish spring-calving, suckler beef production systems are included. In this paper, the components of the model are described together with a simple application of the model involving changing concentrate prices.

Pâtur’In: A User-Friendly Software Tool To Assist Dairy Cow Grazing Management, Luc Delaby, J. L. Peyraud, P. Faverdin

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The feeding of dairy cows at pasture presents many technical, economic and environmental advantages, while benefiting from a very favourable image. However, the management of grazed land is a complex game of strategy in which the farmer applies decisions in order to manage two unstable and uncertain fluxes of change: growth of grass and intake of the herd. Many tools (platemeter, etc.) and overall methods (local stocking rate references, farm cover, etc.) have been developed as aids to grazing management. Nevertheless, few decision-support systems are currently available that make it possible to anticipate and assess the consequences of a given …

Enhancing Grasslands Education With Decision Support Tools, Helen G. Daily, J. M. Scott, J. M. Reid

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

We have successfully used Decision Support Tools (DST) relevant to the management of grazing enterprises to enhance problem solving skills of undergraduates in Australia. Tools such as GrassGro^tm (Moore et al., 1997) and GrazFeed^tm (Freer et al., 1997) are accessed from a central server by authorised users at many widely dispersed Universities across Australia using remote access to thin-client technology via an Internet portal. This has been supplemented with training for lecturers. Experience in developing appropriate teaching and learning materials and the reliable delivery of simulation software to many clients has enhanced learning outcomes at tertiary …

Canasta - Crop Niche Selection For Tropical Agriculture, A Spatial Decision Support System, R. O'Brien, M. Peters, R. Corner, S. Cook

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Farmers in the developing world frequently find themselves in uncertain and risky environments, often having to make decisions based on very little information. Risks for smallholder farmers are often critical because of their poverty. In addition, in the tropics and subtropics, the natural environment is spatially and temporally variable and often harsh, thereby increasing the uncertainty faced by these farmers. This research aims to improve forage adoption decisions in the developing world, thereby increasing sustainable intensification and ultimately contributing to increased sustainable world food production and the alleviation of under-nutrition.

Artturi Assists Finnish Advisers And Farmers To Succeed In Grass-Based Dairy Production, Marketta Rinne, Pekka Huhtanen, Kaisa Kuoppala, H. Nikander, J. Nousiainen, M. Hellämäki, L. Nyholm, J. Helminen, K. Lampinen, M. Maisi, M. Korhonen

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Artturi is a collective name for a wide range of services. It is a common tool for different bodies who share an interest in strengthening grass-based dairy production in Finland: research, advisory service and industries. The Service is named after A. I. (Artturi Ilmari) Virtanen, the Finnish scientist who was awarded the Nobel prize in 1945, partly based on his work in developing the ensiling process of grass. The Artturi web site is available in Internet at: http://www.agronet.fi/artturi. Access to Artturi Services is free and no registration is required. The language used is Finnish. During summer 2003, 15,000 visits were …

A Decision Support System For Monitoring Livestock Diet Quality And Performance: Verification Study On Cattle, Adami Tulu, Ethiopia, A. A. Jama, G. Tolleson, J. W. Stuth, Abule Ebro, K. Zander, Robert J. Kaitho

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Fecal profiling technology based on near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been widely used in the U.S. to predict the diet quality and performance of free-ranging animals (e.g. Leite & Stuth 1995, Lyons & Stuth 1992, Lyons et al., 1993, Stuth et al., 1999, Tolleson et al., 2001). This technology is linked with the Nutritional Balance Analyzer (NUTBAL-PRO) model to form the core of a nutritional advisory system for livestock producers in the United States. This model predicts changes in body weight and condition for a broad range of livestock classes for cattle, sheep and goats. To test …

Irish Grassland Association: Delivering The Benefits From Grassland, S. Flanagan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The Irish Grassland Association (IGA) is Ireland's leading forum for discussing the science of grass and animal production, the economics and finances of dairy, beef cattle and sheep farm enterprises. Membership is 800 and is a lively mix of progressive farmers (70%), research scientists, advisers and agribusiness personnel. The IGA is a member of the European Grassland Federation and has close ties with the Ulster Grassland Society, Fermanagh Grassland Club and the British Grassland Society.

Nutrient Responses To Hippuric Acid In Sheep Urine Applied To Pasture Soil Cores, Ethan Avery Collins

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Hippuric acid is a breakdown product of tannins, which bind with proteins in the animal rumen and slow down protein metabolism, thus increasing nitrogen (N) retention in the animal. Increased hippuric acid concentration in bovine and ovine urine applied to soil may decrease rates of nitrification, denitrification, and nitrous oxide fluxes in pasture soils. Additionally, condensed tannins have increased rates of carbon mineralization when incorporated in humus and leaf litter. To evaluate effects of hippuric acid concentration, treatments of urine from sheep fed a tannin-supplemented diet, synthetic urine, or urea controls were applied to intact soil cores seeded with crabgrass …

Understanding The Factors Affecting Nebraskan Farmers’ And Landowners' Decision To Adopt Precision Agricultural Technologies And Programs, Corrin C. Winter

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Advisors: Andrew Little, Christopher Chizinski

To gain insights into the challenges faced by Nebraska farmers and landowners when adopting precision agriculture technologies, I analyzed data collected from a 2022 survey involving 7,503 participants, consisting of producers and farmland owners from across the state of Nebraska. The primary objective was to provide valuable insights for agencies seeking to improve their precision agriculture and conservation outreach efforts for the benefit of conservation and Nebraskan farmers and landowners. This study aimed to understand key factors influencing adoption behaviors by evaluating the constraints to precision agriculture adoption, assessing the impact of producer and landowner …

The Role Of The New Zealand Grassland Association In Technology Interaction And Policy Evolution, M. W. Calder

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The New Zealand Grassland Association (NZGA) aims for a two-way communication between grassland researchers and pastoral farmers on research findings and farming trends and opportunities. Annual conferences, special symposia, print and electronic publications as well as the web site are used to further these aims. Policy evolution is indirect, using the relationship with agribusiness sponsors and members to promote research objectives.

Activity Of Japanese Society Of Grassland Science, K. Sugawara, S. Saiga, K. Tateno, Y. Cai, N. Yoshida, T. Takamizo, M. Goto

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The Japanese Society of Grassland Science (JSGS) was founded in 1954 for the purposes of progressing grassland and forage crop sciences and fostering grassland agriculture and better management of grassland for animal production in Japan. From the first, the members of JSGS have included interdisciplinary scientists from forage crop science, forestry, animal science, agribusiness and many related fields. In the 50 years since its foundation, JSGS has made large contributions to the progress of both science and industry in Japan. The number of JSGS members is now declining slightly, but there are still about 950 including 800 individual members and …