scholarly journals 145 Eco-efficiency of Northeast U.S. grass-fed beef systems

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 146-147
Author(s):  
Jasmine A Dillon ◽  
Alan Rotz ◽  
Heather Karsten
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Clay Content ◽  
Efficient Resource ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Farm System ◽  
Plant Hardiness ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Forage Management ◽  
Pasture Legume ◽  
Farm Types

Abstract Grass-fed beef systems (GFB) are one approach proposed to improve the sustainability of animal-sourced foods. Our objective was to estimate carbon (CF) and reactive nitrogen (NF) footprints and cost of production (COP) for northeastern U.S. GFB. A partial life cycle assessment was conducted using the Integrated Farm System Model (IFSM). Systems were characterized using surveys and interviews. Representative operations were simulated in IFSM by grouping farms with similar environments and forage management practices. Environments were defined using USDA Plant Hardiness Zones. Farms were categorized as feed sufficient (FS: produced all supplemental forage on-farm) or feed importing (FI; purchased all supplemental forage). Differences between zones and farm types were analyzed using Dunn’s test with a Bonferroni correction and the Kruskal-Wallis test, respectively. Warmer zones supported longer grazing seasons (P < 0.01), greater pasture legume content (P < 0.05), and denser stocking rates (P < 0.01), resulting in twice the market weight production per hectare compared with farms in cooler zones (P < 0.01). Grazing season length and pasture legume content were similar between farm types (P > 0.1). FI herds were half the size of FS herds (P < 0.01), used 37% more land per animal (P < 0.01), and had 10% lighter market weights with 52% lower market weight production per hectare (P < 0.05). CF, NF, and COP/animal were 1.1, 1.3, and 2.1-fold greater for FI farms, respectively. Zone differences in climate, soils, and pasture legume content affected footprints. In warmer zones where soils had greater clay content, N2O contributed a greater portion of CF and NF, and NO3 leaching was moderate. In the coolest zone with coarser soil, N2O contributed a small portion of CF and NF, with greater NO3 losses. Analyses suggest attention to nitrogen management, efficient resource utilization, and botanical composition might reduce CF and NF.

On-farm udder health monitoring

2011 ◽  
Vol 39 (02) ◽  
pp. 95-100
Author(s):  
J. C. van Veersen ◽  
O. Sampimon ◽  
R. G. Olde Riekerink ◽  
T. J. G. Lam
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Health Data ◽  
Control Points ◽  
Udder Health ◽  
Critical Control Points ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Clinical Problems

SummaryIn this article an on-farm monitoring approach on udder health is presented. Monitoring of udder health consists of regular collection and analysis of data and of the regular evaluation of management practices. The ultimate goal is to manage critical control points in udder health management, such as hygiene, body condition, teat ends and treatments, in such a way that results (udder health parameters) are always optimal. Mastitis, however, is a multifactorial disease, and in real life it is not possible to fully prevent all mastitis problems. Therefore udder health data are also monitored with the goal to pick up deviations before they lead to (clinical) problems. By quantifying udder health data and management, a farm is approached as a business, with much attention for efficiency, thought over processes, clear agreements and goals, and including evaluation of processes and results. The whole approach starts with setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Acceptable, Realistic, Time-bound) goals, followed by an action plan to realize these goals.

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

A steady-state N balance approach for sustainable smallholder farming

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (39) ◽  
pp. e2106576118
Author(s):  
Yulong Yin ◽  
Rongfang Zhao ◽  
Yi Yang ◽  
Qingfeng Meng ◽  
Hao Ying ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
N Balance ◽  
Smallholder Farming ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Application Range ◽  
High Yields ◽  
N Management ◽  
On Farm

Hundreds of millions of smallholders in emerging countries substantially overuse nitrogen (N) fertilizers, driving local environmental pollution and global climate change. Despite local demonstration-scale successes, widespread mobilization of smallholders to adopt precise N management practices remains a challenge, largely due to associated high costs and complicated sampling and calculations. Here, we propose a long-term steady-state N balance (SSNB) approach without these complications that is suitable for sustainable smallholder farming. The hypothesis underpinning the concept of SSNB is that an intensively cultivated soil–crop system with excessive N inputs and high N losses can be transformed into a steady-state system with minimal losses while maintaining high yields. Based on SSNB, we estimate the optimized N application range across 3,824 crop counties for the three staple crops in China. We evaluated SSNB first in ca. 18,000 researcher-managed on-farm trials followed by testing in on-farm trials with 13,760 smallholders who applied SSNB-optimized N rates under the guidance of local extension staff. Results showed that SSNB could significantly reduce N fertilizer use by 21 to 28% while maintaining or increasing yields by 6 to 7%, compared to current smallholder practices. The SSNB approach could become an effective tool contributing to the global N sustainability of smallholder agriculture.

Linking on-farm dairy management practices to storm-flow fecal coliform loading for California coastal watersheds

2005 ◽  
Vol 107 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 407-425 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Lewis ◽  
E. R. Atwill ◽  
M. S. Lennox ◽  
L. Hou ◽  
B. Karle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fecal Coliform ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Dairy Management ◽  
Coastal Watersheds ◽  
Storm Flow ◽  
On Farm

Linking Land Use Capability classes and APSIM to estimate pasture growth for regional land use planning

Soil Research ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iris Vogeler ◽  
Rogerio Cichota ◽  
Josef Beautrais
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Land Use Planning ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Land Resource ◽  
Pastoral Systems ◽  
System Models ◽  
Farm System ◽  
The Impact

Investigation of land-use and management changes at regional scales require the linkage of farm-system models with land-resource information, which for pastoral systems includes forage supply. The New Zealand Land Resource Inventory (NZLRI) and associated Land Use Capability (LUC) database include estimates of the potential stock-carrying capacity across the country, which can be used to derive estimates of average annual pasture yields. Farm system models and decision support tools, however, require information on the seasonal patterns of pasture growth. To generate such pasture growth curves (PGCs), the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) was used, with generic soil profiles based on descriptions of LUC classes, to generate PGCs for three regions of New Zealand. Simulated annual pasture yields were similar to the estimates of annual potential pasture yield in the NZLRI spatial database, and they provided information on inter-annual variability. Simulated PGCs generally agreed well with measured long-term patterns of seasonal pasture growth. The approach can be used to obtain spatially discrete estimates of seasonal pasture growth patterns across New Zealand for use in farm system models and for assessing the impact of management practices and climate change on the regional sustainability.

scholarly journals A holistic sustainability assessment of organic (certified and non-certified) and non-organic smallholder farms in Kenya

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliet Wanjiku Kamau ◽  
Christian Schader ◽  
Lisa Biber-Freudenberger ◽  
Till Stellmacher ◽  
David M. Amudavi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Farm Management ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Economic Resilience ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
Smallholder Farms ◽  
Sustainability Performance ◽  
Certified Organic ◽  
Environmental Integrity ◽  
Farm Types

AbstractThe introduction of organic farm management practices in sub-Saharan Africa could act as a lever for supporting regional sustainable development. In this study, we sought to assess the sustainability performance of organic (certified and non-certified) and non-organic farms in the dry Kajiado County and the wet Murang’a County in Kenya, based on four sustainability dimensions: Good Governance, Environmental Integrity, Economic Resilience and Social Well-Being. We collected household survey data from 400 smallholder farms, which were formally characterized into five types (mixed organic and conventional, certified organic, organic, conventional, and subsistence farms). We used multivariate analysis of variance, linear fixed-effects and general linear models to examine differences in sustainability performance. Model results indicate that all farms lack reliable farm management information and that only limited knowledge, skills and social security exist for farmers and farm workers. Comparison of the five farm types indicates no significant differences in their sustainability performance. Nonetheless, certified organic farms had better sustainability performance than non-certified farms due to higher economic resilience, environmental integrity, better support and training for workers. However, except for avoiding the use of agrochemicals in certified farms, there is relatively little difference in the farm management practices across farm types. Our results also indicate that farms in Murang’a were more sustainable than those in Kajiado due to better regional land-tenure security and conflict resolution mechanisms, soil and water conservation measures, and farm commercial viability. Nonetheless, unlike Kajiado, farms in Murang’a showed a tendency toward poor animal husbandry practices which affects overall animal welfare, limited credit uptake and market involvement. The results of this study can support decision making to identify appropriate interventions for improving sustainability in smallholder farms.

RATE OF RELEASE OF NON-EXCHANGEABLE POTASSIUM BY ONTARIO SOILS IN RELATION TO NATURAL SOIL CHARACTERISTICS AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

1958 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. B. McEwen ◽  
B. C. Matthews
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Clay Content ◽  
Soil Characteristics ◽  
Soil Testing ◽  
Natural Soil ◽  
Exchangeable Potassium ◽  
Fertilizer Requirement ◽  
Predominant Factor ◽  
Intensive Cropping ◽  
Power Measurements

The rate of release of non-exchangeable potassium, i.e. potassium-supplying power, of 41 Ontario soils was measured by a continuous percolation procedure. It was found that clay content of the soil was the predominant factor affecting potassium-supplying power (r = 0.978). Potassium fertilization or intensive cropping of the soil caused no change in the potassium-supplying power of the soil. As potassium-supplying power was found to be a constant characteristic of soil and not a function of previous management, potassium-supplying power measurements should not be necessary in routine soil testing. Knowledge of potassium-supplying power can be deduced from particle size distribution. Because soils of different texture have different potassium-supplying power, the interpretation of measured exchangeable potassium in terms of fertilizer requirement will be different for soils of different textural class.

scholarly journals Archaea and Bacteria Exposure in Danish Livestock Farmers

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (9) ◽  
pp. 965-974 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakob Hjort Bønløkke ◽  
Caroline Duchaine ◽  
Vivi Schlünssen ◽  
Torben Sigsgaard ◽  
Marc Veillette ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Methanogenic Archaea ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Farm Type ◽  
Gene Copies ◽  
Pig Farms ◽  
On Farm ◽  
First Time ◽  
Endotoxin Content ◽  
Farm Types

Abstract Objectives Methanogenic archaea have been found to make up part of the bioaerosols in pig, cattle, and poultry farms. So far no attempts have been made to determine how season, farm type, and farm characteristics may affect workers’ exposure to archaea. Methods Personal filter samples from 327 farmers working on 89 Danish farms were analysed for the number of 16S rRNA gene copies from archaea and bacteria and for their dust and endotoxin content. The farms were visited during summer and winter. Information on farm type and stable characteristics were collected using self-reported activity diaries and walk-through surveys. Differences in archaea and bacteria levels with farm type and stable characteristics and correlations with dust and endotoxin levels were examined. Results Personal archaea exposure was documented in all farm types including, for the first time, during mink farming. At 7.3*104 gene copies m−3 the archaea levels were around two orders of magnitude lower than bacteria levels at 5.7*106 gene copies m−3. At 1.7*105 gene copies m−3 among pig farmers and 1.9*104 gene copies m−3 among cattle farmers the archaea levels differed with farm type (P < 0.0005). The archaea and bacteria levels correlated weakly with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.17. Neither archaea nor bacteria levels differed by season. In pig farms the archaea levels differed by type of ventilation and by wetness of the floor. Conclusions Archaea levels were not neglible and appeared to vary greatly between farm types. In pig farms they varied with some farm characteristics. Archaea levels appeared to depend on factors that differed from those of bacteria.

scholarly journals Effects of Soil Temperature, Water Content, Species, and Fertilization on Soil Respiration in Bamboo Forest in Subtropical China

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Houxi Zhang ◽  
Zhuangzhuang Qian ◽  
Shunyao Zhuang
Keyword(s):  
Soil Respiration ◽  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Clay Content ◽  
Bamboo Forest ◽  
Subtropical China ◽  
Bivariate Model ◽  
Natural Factor ◽  
Change Pattern

Understanding the change pattern of soil respiration (SR) and its drivers under different bamboo species and land management practices is critical for predicting soil CO2 emission and evaluating the carbon budget of bamboo forest ecosystems. A 24-month field study was performed in subtropical China to monitor SR in experimental plots of local bamboo (Phyllostachys glauca) without fertilization (PG) and commercial bamboo (Phyllostachys praecox) with and without fertilization (PPF and PP, respectively). The SR rate and soil properties were measured on a monthly timescale. Results showed that the SR rate ranged from 0.38 to 8.53 µmol CO2 m−2s−1, peaking in June. The PPF treatment had higher SR rates than the PP and PG treatments for most months; however, there were no significant differences among the treatments. The soil temperature (ST) in the surface layer (0–10 cm) was found to be the predominant factor controlling the temporal change pattern of the monthly SR rate in the PG and PP treatments (i.e., those without fertilization). A bivariate model is used to show that a natural factor—comprised of ST and soil water content (SWC)—explained 44.2% of the variation in the monthly SR rate, whereas biological (i.e., bamboo type) and management (i.e., fertilization) factors had a much smaller impact (less than 0.1% of the variation). The annual mean SR showed a significant positive correlation with soil organic matter (SOM; r = 0.51, P < 0.05), total nitrogen (TN; r = 0.47, P < 0.05), total phosphorus (TP; r = 0.60, P < 0.01), clay content (0.72, P < 0.05) and below-ground biomass (r = 0.60*), which altogether explain 69.0% of the variation in the annual SR. Our results indicate that the fertilization effect was not significant in SR rate for most months among the treatments, but was significant in the annual rate. These results may help to improve policy decisions concerning carbon sequestration and the management of bamboo forests in China.

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