Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Sheep And Beef Farming On The West Coast Of The North Island Of New Zealand, R A. Neeley, T G. Parminter

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Over 40% of New Zealand's occupied land area is devoted to hill country farming. The forms are typically owned, managed and ·worked by a single family with some help from seasonal labour. The properly owned by L.D. and R.A. Neeley is a typical example of the type of hill country farms found on the west coast of the North Island. It has an effective area of 520 ha and carries 5000 stock units, 30% of which are cattle. The sheep policy is to finish 60-100% of lambs produced from an improved Romney breed flock (with a 90-100% lambing rate). Friesian …

Policy Developments And Trade Prospects For Grassland-Based Products, Graeme H. Tie, Jayantha P. Kottege, Brian S. Fisher

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The economic outlook for grassland-based products over the next decade will be influenced by a range of factors. Important among these will be the outcome of the agricultural negotiations in the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. Failure to achieve satisfactory agricultural reform in the Uruguay Round could result in an acceleration in the trend toward the formation of regional trading arrangements. This could, in turn, lead to increased fragmentation of the international trading system. Such fragmentation reduces the global economic gains available from trade which stem from specialisation and the associated exercise of comparative advantage. …

Fermentation Aid For Alfalfa Silage, Terry L. Mader

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

In two trials, fermentation characteristics and feeding value of untreated ensiled alfalfa (control) were compared with ensiled alfalfa inoculated (treated) with either a dry (Trial I) or liquid (Trial 2) microbial additive (fermentation nid), containing homofermenlative lactic acid producing bacteria (LAB), Initial (I to 3 days post-ensiling) pH values were lower (P<0.05) for treated silage in Trial 2 only. Also, inoculated silage had lower (P<0.05) ethanol values. At the high level of silage feeding efficiency of feed conversion tended to be improved for steers fed a high level of inoculated silage although, improved fermentation characteristics were not.observed in inoculated silage fed during the feeding trials. Indigenous LAB, associated with the alfalfa, most likely influenced final fermentation.

Canada's Forage Resources, D Mccartney, P R. Horton

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Canada is the second largest country in the world and stretches 5,500 km east to west and 4,600 km north to south. About 90% of Canada is uninhabited with 90% percent of the population living within 500 km of the Canadian-American border. About 60% of Canadians live in southern Ontario and Quebec. The grazing industry is located primarily in western Canada with British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba having 84% of the national beef herd. Ontario and Quebec have 73% of the national dairy herd. The majority of harvested forage, dehydrated alfalfa and forage seed crops are grown in western …

Beef Production From Grazed Grass And Grass/Clover Swards, Edward G. O'Riordan

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

grazed grass (fertiliser nitrogen treated) and grass/clover swards, during two grazing seasons which extended from early-April until mid-November. Both permanent (Treatments A, B and C) and reseeded (Treatment D, E and F) swards were respectively stocked with 3000, 2500 and 2000 kg liveweight/ha in Spring using fifteen steers/treatment (liveweight = 570kg/head). There were small and generally non-significant treatment effects on final liveweight in both years, but heavier carcasses were observed on the reseeded swards (P<0.05). Clover based swards (Treatments B, C and E, F) produced heavier carcasses (P<0.05) than the nitrogen fertilised grass swards (Treatments A and D). Pasture production ranged from 7540 to 10,469 and from 6360 to 11,606 kg DM/ha in year 1 and 2 respectively, with highest yields being observed on the nitrogen fertilised treatment and on the reseeded swards.

Cow-Calf Production Response To Pasture Forage Species, J C. Kopp, W P. Mccaughey

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

To study cow-calf production on fragile soils, 32 ‘tester’ cow-calf pairs were grazed on fertilized and unfertilized meadow brome (Bromus biebersteinii Roem & Schult.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)/meadow brome pastures, to determine the effects of forage type and fertility on pasture yield and botanical composition; and on animal productivity including cow milk production, cow and calf average daily gain and total gain (per head and per hectare). Cow fertility may be depressed on alfalfa-based pastures, therefore, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were also examined. Cow average daily gain (0.15 kg d-1) and milk production (4.82 kg d-1) …

The Effect Of Period Of Stay On The Productivity Of Pasture Beef Systems, R C. Martin, A H. Fredeen, N Boyd, Y A. Papadopoulos, E Charmley

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The objective of this study was to compare the average daily gains (ADGs) of beef cattle under management intensive grazing in paddocks with one-day and six-day periods of stay and to assess yellow fat on carcasses of cattle finished on pasture. The ADGs over the season were higher under the one-day than the six-day period of stay in 1994, but in 1995, the opposite trend was evident although the differences were not significant. In 1995, none of the 32 cattle tested were downgraded for the presence of yellow fat.

Zea Mays Grazing In Cattle Production Systems, V Mundy, B E. Anderson, T L. Gompert, T L. Mader, C A. Shapiro

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Nebraska producers have used silage maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids as a grazed forage in dairy and beef production systems. In an onfarm case study, farmers and researchers collaborated to gather information on production practices, grazing management, and plant characteristics of grazing maize within three forage-based dairy and beef systems. Production practices were generally similar to conventional grain corn production, except that in one system maize was seeded directly into a suppressed grass sod. Milk production from grazing maize was 23 kg/day/animal, compared to 24 kg/day/ animal before using maize and 22 kg/day/animal after using maize. Average gain of …

Agri-21: Sustainable Farming Demonstration, M Rasnake, W R. Burris, G D. Lacefield

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

On-farm demonstrations were established in 1993 to demonstrate the technology required to conduct a profitable and sustainable farming operation into the 21st Century. These were part of a cooperative program between the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Land Grant Universities in the seven states of the TVA region. Four demonstrations were established in Kentucky. A beef farm in west Kentucky will be used to illustrate the project. This farm improved crop and livestock management, record keeping and environmental stewardship. Their goal is to increase farm profitability while improving the soil and water resources.

Productivity Of Renovated Naturalized Pastures In Atlantic Canada, Y A. Papadopoulos, E Charmley, R C. Martin, A H. Fredeen, K B. Mcrae, D Mason, S.A E. Fillmore

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and improved productivity of reduced tillage pasture renovation methods in the establishment of triple species pasture mixtures into an existing naturalized stand. Experimental treatments, 2 (low and high stocking rates) by 2 (frost- and sod-seeding methods) factorial with an additional non-renovated pasture control treatment, were arranged in a randomized complete block design with two replications. Despite the fact that high stocking rates resulted in reduced herbage yield, animal production per hectare was substantially improved in the establishment and the first postestablishment year. Sod-seeding was the most effective establishment method …

Effects Of Different Production Systems On The Nutrient Density Of Beef, T. Statham, J. Cloward, N. Evans, S. Van Vliet

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

As concerns regarding beef production systems on human health and animal welfare become more apparent, consumer interest in pasture-raised livestock has been steadily on the rise in the US. Such interest has increasingly led to questions about potential nutritional composition differences in beef from different production systems, such as grass-fed beef and grain-fed beef. The goal of this work was to conduct untargeted metabolomics analysis on a broad range of samples from the US beef supply chain to provide insight into how different finishing systems impact the beef metabolome and nutrient density. Here, we found that 191 out of 802 …

Grazing Management For Alfalfa Persistence And Productivity In Warm-Climate Regions, D. Basigalup

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Alfalfa is the most important cultivated forage crop in Argentina, where about 3 million hectares are grown. Even though the use of direct grazing is coming down during the last 15 years, it is still important for both beef and dairy production. Alfalfa grazing can play an important role in reducing operative costs and decreasing quality loss due to forage conservation (hay or silage). In this paper, the main concepts necessary to implement adequate and practical rotational grazing systems are briefly discussed. Particular attention is given to issues such as grazing frequency, grazing period, pasture use efficiency, and alfalfa quality …

Use Of Limpograss As An Alternative Feed During The Fall Forage Gap In Beef And Dairy Systems In Central And North Florida, L. Garcia, José C. B. Dubeux Jr., Marcelo O. Wallau, J. D. Pereira-Neto, M. A. Bernardini, M. Ruiz-Moreno

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

In central and North Florida, the use of limpograss [Hemarthria altissima (Poir.) Stapf & C. E. Hubb.] for beef and dairy operations is limited and its potential use is not well documented. Two on-farm projects have been conducted in Central and North Florida to explore the use of limpograss as an alternative conserved forage during late fall and winter. The potential use of this forage as baleage for dairy farmers and as stockpiling for livestock producers would offer another alternative to reduce feed costs and fill the forage gap in the area when typical warm-season forages go dormant. In …

A Systems Approach To Managing Greenhouse Gases On New Zealand Sheep And Beef Farms, M. G. Lambert, H. Clark

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Agriculture contributes more than 50% of New Zealand's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, mainly through release of methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) from pastoral farms. Decisions on implementation of mitigation strategies will be made by individual farmers, who seek also to maintain financial performance in the face of declining terms of trade for commodities, hence leading to pressure to further intensify production. New Zealand (NZ) sheep & beef farms are typically hill country properties with a mixture of steep and easier topography, and year-round grazing of mainly permanent pastures. Specific GHG mitigation technologies will be difficult …

Effect Of Feeding L-Carnitine And Sunflower Seeds On Cla Content Of Pasture-Fed Beef, S. L. Scott, W. P. Mccaughey, K. E. Buckley

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Pasture finishing enhances levels of conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) in beef lipids (Shanta et al. 1997). CLA (e.g., C18:2 c9, t11), formed during biohydrogenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the rumen, can reduce the incidence of heart disease, cancer and obesity in humans. However, pasture finishing cattle can reduce carcass grade. Feeding pasture-fed cattle a high-grain diet for a short finishing period (~60 d) improves grades but may reduce lipid CLA levels. A feeding regime is required that maintains the positive nutritional attributes of pasture-fed beef and improves the meat grade. The objective of this study was to investigate …

Lipid Oxidation And Sensory Characteristics Of Grass-Fed Beef: Effect Of Duration Of Grazing Prior To Slaughter, A. P. Moloney, F. Noci, F. J. Monahan, G. E. Nute, R. I. Richardson

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Beef from cattle produced from grass has a higher concentration of fatty acids considered to be beneficial to human health than beef produced from more intensive production systems and this increase in fatty acid concentration is dependant on the duration at pasture prior to slaughter (Noci et al., 2003). Improvements in the fatty acid composition of beef must not impair other quality characteristics of beef. Little information is available on the pattern of change of quality characteristics in grazing animals. The objective of this study was to determine the shelf-life and eating quality of beef from cattle produced from …

Growth Performance Of Crossbred Steers On Unfertilised Mountain Pastures At Low Stocking Rates, A. Chassot, J. Troxler

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

As a consequence of increasing economic pressure on Swiss agriculture, marginal areas are threatened by abandonment, especially in the mountainous regions. Using these areas for extensive beef production might preserve an open landscape and favour biodiversity. A grazing experiment was conducted with steers on an unfertilised mountain pasture to study the effects of a reduction of stocking rate on the growth of the animals and on changes in the vegetation.

Genetic Characteristics Required In Dairy And Beef Cattle For Temperate Grazing Systems, F. Buckley, C. Holmes, M. G. Keane

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Key points

1. Only about 10% of the world’s milk is produced from grazing systems. Consequently the majority of dairy cattle have not been selected under grazing, nor on seasonal systems. This is not true for beef cattle, for which the majority, especially the dams, are managed under seasonal grazing systems.

2. In grazing systems daily feed intake is limited to lower levels than are achievable on concentrate plus conserved forage rations. Consequently, cows most suited to grazing environments are likely to have a lower genetic potential for milk production than cows selected in high concentrate systems, to minimise their relative energy …

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Is Sustainable Agriculture Possible In The Arid West?: The Example Of The Ogallala Aquifer, John Opie

Sustainable Use of the West's Water (Summer Conference, June 12-14)

16 pages.

Contains 2 pages of references.