Financial transition and costs of sustainable agricultural intensification practices on a beef cattle and crop farm in Brazil's Amazon

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorena Machado Pedrosa ◽  
Aaron Kinyu Hoshide ◽  
Daniel Carneiro de Abreu ◽  
Luana Molossi ◽  
Eduardo Guimarães Couto
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Agricultural Intensification ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Mato Grosso ◽  
Grazed Pasture ◽  
Pasture Fertilization ◽  
Five Practices ◽  
Education Support

Abstract The intensification of Brazil's beef cattle production system can involve different strategies to increase beef production while reducing deforestation in the Amazon biome and mitigating climate change. This study economically evaluates a cooperating beef farm in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil's Amazon biome over three crop years (2015–16 to 2017–18), transitioning from an extensive grazing system to a semi-intensive system using five sustainable agricultural intensification (SAI) practices. These five practices include (1) grain supplementation for cattle, (2) pasture fertilization, (3) pasture re-seeding, (4) crop–livestock integration (CLI) and (5) irrigated and fertilized pasture that is rotationally grazed. The relative costs of these five SAI strategies used on this cooperating farm are compared. The adoption of SAI strategies increased beef productivity 5.7% (228–241 kg live-weight sold per hectare) and gradually improved net farm income by ~130% over the 3 years of transition (−US$94.79 to $29.80 ha−1). Grain supplementation (US$188 ha−1) had the cheapest cost per hectare, followed by pasture fertilization (US$477 ha−1) and pasture reseeding (US$650 ha−1). The most costly practice was in-ground irrigation of fenced rotationally grazed pasture (US$1600 ha−1) with the second most costly being CLI (US$672 ha−1). Despite adoption challenges of these SAI practices, past research confirm these five practices can increase beef productivity and profitability while reducing carbon footprint. Regardless of the cost per hectare of each practice, farmer adoption can be improved through education, support and incentives from both the public and private sectors.

scholarly journals Improve Pasture or Feed Grain? Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Profitability, and Resource Use for Nelore Beef Cattle in Brazil’s Cerrado and Amazon Biomes

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1386
Author(s):  
Luana Molossi ◽  
Aaron Kinyu Hoshide ◽  
Lorena Machado Pedrosa ◽  
André Soares de Oliveira ◽  
Daniel Carneiro de Abreu
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Resource Use ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Weather Data ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Natural Ecosystems ◽  
Mato Grosso ◽  
Livestock Feed ◽  
Extensive Grazing ◽  
Pasture Fertilization

Economic development, international food and feed demand, and government policies have converted Brazil’s natural ecosystems into agricultural land. The Integrated Farm System Model (IFSM) was evaluated using production, economic, and weather data collected on two cooperating farms in the Legal Amazon and Cerrado biomes in the Midwest state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Three sustainable agricultural intensification strategies, namely grain supplementation, pasture re-seeding, and pasture fertilization were simulated in IFSM with double the beef cattle stocking density compared to extensive grazing. Livestock dry matter consumption simulated in IFSM was similar for pasture grazing estimates and actual feed consumed by beef cattle on the two collaborating farms. Grain supplementation best balanced beef production and profitability with lower carbon footprint compared to extensive grazing, followed by pasture fertilization and pasture re-seeding. However, pasture re-seeding and fertilization had greater use of water and energy and more nitrogen losses. Human edible livestock feed use was greatest for grain supplementation compared to other modeled systems. While grain supplementation appears more favorable economically and environmentally, greater use of human edible livestock feed may compete with future human food needs. Pasture intensification had greater human edible feed conversion efficiency, but its greater natural resource use may be challenging.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FAMILY FOR GENEALOGICAL STRUCTURE OF VOLYN BEEF OF CATTLE

2016 ◽  
Vol 52 ◽  
pp. 82-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Ye. Pochukalin
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Breeding Value ◽  
Farm Families ◽  
Cattle Breeding ◽  
Reproductive Ability ◽  
The Family ◽  
Minimum Number ◽  
Related Group ◽  
Economic Use

One of the ways of increasing level of animal economically useful traits is selection work with farm families. In pedigree cattle breeding of Ukraine families are a statistical component of breed genealogy. Among the main scientific works on working with families, it should be noted minimum number of female ancestors, proposed by D. T. Vinnichuk, to determine the breeding value, different categories, classification and techniques for evaluating related groups of females. The aim of our research was to analyse importance of farm families for genealogical structure of the breed. The research was on basis of data of primary breeding records at the herd of Volyn Beef cattle of “Zorya” breeding farm, Kovel district, Volyn region. Akula 102, Galka 37 and Galka 1537 families belonging to Krasavchyk 3004 bloodline, Smorodyna 613, Korona 2382 and Visla 1016 families – Tsebryk 3888 bloodline, Kalyna 212, Verba 1536 and Garna 536 families – Yamb 3066 bloodlines, Kazka 433, Galka 421 and Bystra 1124 families – Buinyi 3042 bloodline, Rozetka 1313, Arfa 599 and Bulana 943 families – Sonnyi-Kaktus 3307-9828 bloodline, and Palma 275, Desna 870 and Veselka 444 families – Mudryi 9100 bloodline were characterized. Belonging to a bloodline was determined by the father's side of female ancestors. Structural units of families: branches, branching with identifying the best individuals on breeding traits were submitted to identify the best combinations and successful use of closely related breeding. Comparing assessment of related groups of females on the main breeding traits belonging to Krasavchyk 3004 bloodline, it was noted that the cows of Akula 102 family predominated in live weight at 5 years’ age, milk ability and economic use duration, whereas the cows of Galka 1537 family – on traits of reproductive ability. Smorodyna 613 family of Tsebryk 3888 bloodline had high duration of economic use and cows’ live weight at 5 years’ age compared with Korana 2382 and Visla 1016 families with equal values of the exterior traits (height measures) and coefficient of reproductive ability. The families of Mudryi 9100 bloodline in terms of reproduction (calving interval, coefficient of reproductive ability) had the highest figures of cows’ milk ability and live weight. The cows of Bulana 943 family had a considerable predominance over representatives of Rozetka 1313 and Arfa 599 families of Sonnyi-Kaktus 3307-9828 bloodline by main economically useful traits. High indices of reproductive ability were noted in these families. Heifers of the families of Buinyi 3042 bloodline had high live weight at 18 months’ age at average values of milk ability and cows’ live weight at 5 years’ age. More equal figures of growth rate, exterior and economic use duration were observed in the cows of Kalyna 212, Verba 1536 and Garna 536 families of Yamb 3066 bloodline. Breeding by families in beef cattle breeding is an important element of selection, because it allows to evaluate not only related group of female ancestor, but also to analyse a successful combination with lines and purposeful use of closely related breeding by the best representatives of a breed.

Assessing the economic viability of integrated crop−livestock systems in Mato Grosso, Brazil

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 631-642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Júlio César dos Reis ◽  
Mariana Y. T. Kamoi ◽  
Daniel Latorraca ◽  
Rafael F. F. Chen ◽  
Miqueias Michetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Production System ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Livestock Grazing ◽  
Economic Viability ◽  
Continuous Cropping ◽  
Cattle Production ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Mato Grosso ◽  
Livestock Systems

AbstractPopulation growth and rising incomes have led to increasing global demand for meat products. Meeting this demand without converting remaining natural ecosystems or further degrading ecosystems is one of the largest global sustainability challenges. A critical step to overcoming this challenge is to increase the productivity of livestock grazing systems, which occupy the largest land area of any type of agriculture globally. Integrated crop−livestock systems (iCL), which re-couple crop and livestock production at the farm scale, have been considered a promising strategy to tackle this challenge by restoring degraded pasturelands and providing supplemental nutrition to livestock. However, few studies have analyzed the economic viability of such systems, especially in Brazil, an important player in global food systems. This paper presents an economic analysis of iCL in Mato Grosso, Brazil, the largest grain and beef producer in the country, which spans the ecologically diverse Amazon, Cerrado and Pantanal biomes. We compare the economic performance of an integrated soybean/corn and beef cattle system to a continuous crop (soybean/corn) system and a continuous livestock (beef cattle) production system from 2005 to 2012. We use empirical case study data to characterize a ‘typical’ farm for each production system within the study region. We find that the integrated crop−livestock system has a higher annual net present value (NPV) per hectare (ha) than continuous cropping or livestock under a range of discount rates. However, under a scenario of substantially higher crop prices, the continuous cropping outperforms iCL. While iCL is not feasible in all regions of the Amazon and Cerrado, our results indicate that in places where the biophysical and market conditions are suitable for production, it could be a highly profitable way to intensify cattle production and potentially spare land for other uses, including conservation. Nevertheless, additional credit and technical support may be needed to overcome high upfront costs and informational barriers to increase iCL areas as a sustainable development strategy for agriculture in the Amazon and Cerrado regions.

A comparison of wheat and barley as supplements to grass silage for finishing beef cattle

1993 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. J. Steen
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Spring Barley ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Ammonia Nitrogen ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Crude Fibre ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Soya Bean Meal ◽  
Finishing Beef Cattle

AbstractTwo randomized-block experiments were carried out to examine the relative value of wheat and barley as supplements to grass silage for finishing beef cattle. In each experiment unwilted, formic acid-treated silage was offered ad libitum and supplemented with 500 g soya-bean meal and 50 g minerals and vitamins to 44 12-month-old bulls for 157 and 172 days in experiments 1 and 2 respectively. Twelve of the animals also received 2·5 kg rolled spring barley (LB), 12 received 4·0 kg barley (HB) and 20 received 3·25 kg rolled wheat (W). For experiments 1 and 2 respectively the barley contained 796 and 787 g dry matter (DM) per kg; 118 and 105 g crude protein (CP) per kg DM; 47 and 57 g crude fibre per kg DM; the wheat contained 845 and 800 g DM per kg; 112 and 116 g CP per kg DM; 23 and 25 g crude fibre per kg DM; and the silages contained 190 and 177 g DM per kg; 153 and 176 g CP per kg DM; 80 and 104 g ammonia-nitrogen per kg total nitrogen. On average over the two experiments, for treatments LB, HB and W respectively, silage DM intakes were 5·4, 4·7 (s.e. 0·14) and 4·9 (s.e. 0·11) kg/day; total DM intakes 7·9, 8·3 (s.e. 0·14) and 8·1 (s.e. 0·11) kg/day; metabolizable energy intakes 91·4, 97·8 and 94·2 MJ/day; live-weight gains 1·04,1·19 (s.e. 0·029) and 1·10 (s.e. 0·023) kg/day and carcass gams 0·65, 0·77 (s.e. 0·017) and 0·70 (s.e. 0·013) kg/day. It is concluded that the feeding value of wheat was proportionately 0·98 of that of barley for finishing beef cattle when given as a supplement to grass silage, and that the type of cereal offered did not affect silage intake or carcass composition.

Monitoring the pioneer frontier and agricultural intensification in Mato Grosso using SPOT vegetation images

2014 ◽  
pp. 2-11
Author(s):  
Vincent Dubreuil ◽  
Damien Arvor ◽  
Nathan Debortoli
Keyword(s):  
Nous Avons ◽  
Agricultural Intensification ◽  
Mato Grosso

La production de soja a augmenté de manière considérable les dix dernières années au Mato Grosso, atteignant 17,9millions de tonnes en 2009 (contre 7,2 en 1998). Une telle expansion a eu de graves conséquences environnementales et socio-économiques, telles que la déforestation et l'urbanisation. L'objectif de cet article est de mettre en avant l'efficacité des techniques de télédétection et des indices qui en découlent, tels que le NDVI, pour analyser l'avancée des champs de soja au Mato Grosso ainsi que la transformation de l'agriculture dans cetÉtat. L'indice NDVI a été calculé à partir de séries mensuelles du capteur SPOT-Vegetation. Il a permis de trouver les zones cultivées et de surveiller la croissance des cultures. Il a aussi permis la détection des pratiques de gestion de double culture, qui se sont drastiquement accrues depuis quelques années. Les résultats ont montré une corrélation de 0,98 entre notre estimation des zones cultivées et les statistiques agricoles officielles de l'IBGE pour l'intégralité du Mato Grosso. Les séries temporelles de NDVI ont également confirmé l'augmentation des systèmes de double culture, représentant 30% des zones cultivées en 1999, 57% en 2006 et 67% en 2009. Cette évolution est un indicateur de la diversification de l'agriculture et de l'intensification des traitements dans cette région. En outre, la surveillance des grandes clairières récentes au niveau local (comté de Vera) a montré une réduction de l'écart entre trois états consécutifs conduisant à l'intensification des pratiques agricoles. En se fondant sur notre méthodologie, nous avons finalement proposé une classification des municipalités selon leurs modes d'usages du sol dominants.

scholarly journals Socioeconomic development and agricultural intensification in Mato Grosso

2013 ◽  
Vol 368 (1619) ◽  
pp. 20120168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leah K. VanWey ◽  
Stephanie Spera ◽  
Rebecca de Sa ◽  
Dan Mahr ◽  
John F. Mustard
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Agricultural Intensification ◽  
Socioeconomic Development ◽  
Commodity Markets ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Mato Grosso ◽  
Multiple Indicators ◽  
Double Cropping ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Investments In Education

The Brazilian agro-industrial frontier in Mato Grosso rapidly expanded in total area of mechanized production and in total value of production in the last decade. This article shows the spatial pattern of that expansion from 2000 to 2010, based on novel analyses of satellite imagery. It then explores quantitatively and qualitatively the antecedents and correlates of intensification, the expansion of the area under two crops per year. Double cropping is most likely in areas with access to transportation networks, previous profitable agricultural production, and strong existing ties to national and international commodity markets. The article concludes with an exploration of the relationship between double cropping and socioeconomic development, showing that double cropping is strongly correlated with incomes of all residents of a community and with investments in education. We conclude that double cropping in Mato Grosso is very closely tied to multiple indicators of socioeconomic development.

Improved beef production from supplementation of Hereford, Brahman and crossbred cattle grazing low and medium quality pastures in the subtropics of Australia

1998 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-104
Author(s):  
D. W. Hennessy ◽  
P. J. Williamson ◽  
D. J. McLennan ◽  
R. J. Farquharson ◽  
S. G. Morris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Oilseed Meal ◽  
Mating Period ◽  
Grazed Pasture ◽  
Medium Quality ◽  
Calving Rate ◽  
Native Pastures ◽  
Kg Medium

AbstractSubtropical grasslands are low in organic matter digestibility (OMD) (0·60) and nitrogen (N) (15 g/kg) for much of the year and this limits cattle production which is characterized by low calving rates and low weaning weights. Production has been based on Bos taurus British breeds of cattle but this is changing and now many breeding herds comprise B. indicus cows and their crosses. This change has increased some aspects of production, but low calving rates persist.A 4-year study was undertaken with a view to improve calving rates and weaner output by supplementing cows grazing either native or improved pastures with a high protein oilseed meal (cottonseed meal; CSM) on four sites. These sites were subdivided into a total of 36 paddocks to allow for two replications in a 3 breeds × 3 supplementation rates × 2 pastures factorial design. Selected cows (no. = 216) from Hereford (H), Brahman (B) and Brahman × Hereford (BH) breed types were set to graze either native pastures (0·45 to 0·62 OMD, 8 to 15 gN per kg; low quality) or improved pastures (0·47 to 0·67 OMD, 10 to 22 g N per kg; medium quality). Cows were given either 0, 750 or 1500 glday of CSM for 130 days from calving until 4 weeks into a 12- to 13-week mating period. The CSM was given as two meals per week.Live weight at mating of cows on the low quality pasture was increased (P < 0·01) over those not supplemented by feeding either 750 g CSM per day (H and B cows) or 1500 g CSM per day (all cows). There was no significant effect of supplementation on the mating weights ofB cows grazing the medium quality sites. Calving rate ofB cows was not increased by their supplementation on either low (4-year mean 58·3 %) or medium quality pastures (66·8%) but did tend to be higher in H cows when supplemented at 1500 g CSM per day on the low (66·7 v. 78·0 (s.e. 6·09) %; P < 0·1) and medium quality pastures (70·5 v. 93·5 (s.e. 4·72) %). An increased calving rate (65·8 (s.e. 6·6) % to 83·2 (s.e. 5·82) % in supplemented BH cows grazing low quality pastures approached significance (P < 0·1) when given CSM at 1500 glday but there was no increased trend in calving rate when this breed type was supplemented on medium quality pastures.Weaning weights of calves from and B and BH cows were increased (P < 0·05) by supplementation of their dams at 750 glday and for calves weaned from H cows supplemented at 1500 glday of CSM. Supplementation at 1500 glday on low quality pastures increased weaner output per cow mated by 120% for H, by 65% for BH cows and by 50% for B cows. Weaner output was increased by 34 and 40%, respectively, for B and H cows when supplemented at 750 glday and grazing medium quality pastures but there was no significant effect of supplementation on output from BH cows. Responses in many parameters differed between years. These results were interpreted as a response to the protein in the oilseed meal supplement by B. taurus and B. taurus × B. indicus cross cows grazing on the subtropical pastures. The study also highlighted that responses to the meal differed between breed types, between the quality of the grazed pasture and between the years of supplementation.

scholarly journals 240 Enhancing beef production and quality using big data analytics and computer vision techniques

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 124-125
Author(s):  
Guilherme J Rosa ◽  
Vera C Aiken ◽  
Arthur Fernandes ◽  
Joao R Dorea
Keyword(s):  
Computer Vision ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Data Analytics ◽  
Big Data Analytics ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Multiple Sources ◽  
Optimal Harvest ◽  
Beef Cattle Production ◽  
Data Driven Decisions

Abstract In this presentation we will discuss our current research on computer vision techniques for optimized management of feed bunks and prediction of live weight in beef cattle. The combination of these two techniques allows not only an enhanced nutritional management in feedlots, but also the determination of economically optimal harvest time for maximized returns. In addition, we will discuss computational and data analytics strategies for integration and analysis of large datasets from multiple sources, including operational farm data, weather and economics, for aiding data-driven decisions to improve beef cattle production.

scholarly journals AVALIAÇÃO DO DESEMPENHO REPRODUTIVO DE VACAS NA REGIÃO DO PANTANAL SUL-MATO-GROSSENSE SUBMETIDAS A IATF Com Aplicação De GnRH

Nativa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 281-285
Author(s):  
Gabriel Rodrigo Hass Perucchi ◽  
Gabriela de Souza Sartori ◽  
Richarlla Aparecida Buscariol Silva ◽  
Murilo da Silva Garcia ◽  
Rodrigo José Delgado Jardim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Pregnancy Rate ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Artificial Insemination ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
The Body ◽  
Mato Grosso ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Timed Artificial Insemination ◽  
Mato Grosso Do Sul

A Inseminação artificial em tempo fixo (IATF) está se difundindo no Brasil, pois contribui para o aumento da produtividade. O objetivo neste trabalho foi avaliar o uso do GnRH em protocolos de IATF de vacas criadas no pantanal Sul-mato-grossense. Participaram da pesquisa 531 vacas paridas da raça Nelore, que foram avaliadas de acordo com o escore de condição corporal (ECC), submetidas a três tipos de protocolos de IATF (lote 1, 2 e 3). Após 40 dias da inseminação artificial foi realizado diagnóstico de gestação. As matrizes que não receberam GnRH no lote 1 (estro aparente), lote 2 (estro parcial) e lote 3 (sem apresentação de estro) apresentaram, respectivamente 55,4%, 19,2% e 25,9% de prenhez, enquanto as que receberam o fármaco apresentaram 48,6%, 37,2% e 38,8%. Relacionado ao ECC, pode-se observar que a maior taxa de prenhez ocorreu em animais com ECC 3. Primíparas apresentaram melhor taxa de prenhez quando receberam GnRH independente do ECC. Concluiu-se que o uso de GnRH mostrou-se eficiente para melhoria da taxa de prenhez principalmente em primíparas, assim como nos animais que não apresentaram estro ou apresentaram estro parcial, e que matrizes com ECC 3 apresentaram melhores taxas de prenhez que vacas com escore inferior. Palavras-chave: bovino de corte; inseminação artificial em tempo fixo; produtividade; GnRH; Nelore.   Evaluation of cow reproductive performance in the region of Mato Grosso do Sul swamp submitted to TAI with GnRH application   ABSTRACT: The technique of timed artificial insemination (TAI) is spreading in Brazil, as it contributes to the increase of productivity. The objective of this work was to evaluate the use of GnRH in TAI protocols of cows raised in the swamp of Mato Grosso do Sul. 531 Nelore breed calved cows participate in the survey, which were evaluated according to the body condition score (BCS), and then performed three types of TAI protocols (batch 1, 2 and 3). After 40 days of the insemination, a pregnancy diagnosis was made. The matrices that did not receive GnRH in batch 1 (apparent oestrus), batch 2 (partial oestrus) and batch 3 (no oestrus presentation) presented respectively 55.4%, 19.2% and 25.9% of pregnancy, while those receiving the drug showed 48.6%, 37.2% and 38.8%. Related to BCS, it can be observed that the highest pregnancy rate occurred in animals with BCS 3. Primiparous had a better pregnancy rate when receiving GnRH regardless of BCS. It was concluded that the use of GnRH was efficient to improve the pregnancy rate mainly in primiparous as well as animals that showed no oestrus or partial oestrus, and matrices with BCS 3 had better pregnancy rates than cows with lower scores. Keywords: beef cattle; timed artificial insemination; productivity; GnRH; Nelore.

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