Beef cattle production on Piatã grass pastures in silvopastoral systems

Tropical beef cattle production involving animals grazing in a shaded and biologically diverse environment, surrounded by high-quality edible biomass, is achievable through silvopastoral systems (SPSs). However, it is necessary to assess the effects of the presence of trees on forage and animal performance over time. In the Brazilian Cerrado, we evaluated the effects of 2 densities of eucalyptus trees in 2 SPSs (8 years of age - SPS22: 227 trees/ha; SPS14: 357 trees/ha) on forage morphology, production and nutritive value of Urochloa brizantha cv. BRS Piatã grass plus performance of Nellore heifers, compared with a grass-only pasture, over a year from 2015 to 2016. On the one hand, SPSs improved (P<0.001) forage nutritive value as reflected in higher crude protein and digestibility and lower neutral and acid detergent fiber concentrations compared with a grass-only pasture. On the other hand, the grass-only pasture had higher (P<0.001) herbage mass and accumulation rate than the SPSs. Forage growth and animal production decreased with higher tree density. Increasing competition from trees with age could be a serious issue limiting pasture and animal production and should be monitored. The suitability of eucalyptus trees for planting in SPSs may be questionable after the 8th year of establishment and further studies are warranted.

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Forage characteristics and beef cattle production in perennial pastures of BRS Paiaguás and BRS Piatã in integrated crop livestock system

Semina Ciências Agrárias ◽

10.5433/1679-0359.2021v42n5p2979 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 42 (5) ◽

pp. 2979-2992

Author(s):

Bianca Midori Souza Sekiya ◽

◽

Gelci Carlos Lupatini ◽

Cristiana Andrighetto ◽

Franciely de Oliveira Neves ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Animal Feed ◽

Block Design ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽

Animal Performance ◽

Cattle Production ◽

Beef Cattle Production ◽

Urochloa Brizantha ◽

Livestock System

The integrated crop-livestock system is highlighted in Brazilian agriculture, in which the synergism between the components can increase productivity and animal performance. Forage is one of the most important components because it is the basis of animal feed. Thus, the objective of the study was to evaluate the beef cattle production and pastures characteristics of Urochloa brizantha ‘BRS Piatã’ and ‘BRS Paiaguás’, under continuous grazing in an integrated crop livestock system. The experiment was conducted in west of Sao Paulo State, in a randomized complete block design with two treatments and three replicates, from October 2018 to June 2019. The treatments were 3-year-old pastures of BRS Piatã and Paiaguás, in an integrated crop livestock system with perennial pasture and soybean. Nellore steers (14 ± 2 months old and 244 ± 13 kg initial weight) were used. The grazing method adopted was a continuous stocking with a variable rate to maintain a pasture height of 30 cm. Herbage mass was 5716 and 5480 kg dry matter ha-1 for Piatã and Paiaguás, respectively. The crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber were similar between the two cultivars. The leaf blade mass of BRS Piatã was greater than that of BRS Paiaguás in summer. Animal performance was similar between treatments, with average daily gain of 0.901 and 0.822 kg day-1 and weight gain per area of 888 and 865 kg ha-1 in Piatã and Paiaguás, respectively. The BRS Piatã and BRS Paiaguás grasses are indicated for use in perennial pastures in integrated crop livestock systems.

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Herbage accumulation, nutritive value and beef cattle production on marandu palisadegrass pastures in integrated systems

Agroforestry Systems ◽

10.1007/s10457-020-00508-3 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 94 (5) ◽

pp. 1891-1902 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Flabiele S. da Silva ◽

Leandro F. Domiciano ◽

Fagner J. Gomes ◽

Lynn E. Sollenberger ◽

Carlos G. S. Pedreira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Integrated Systems ◽

Cattle Production ◽

Beef Cattle Production

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Carbon Footprint of Beef Cattle in a Conventional Production System: a Case Study of a Large-Area Farming Enterprise in the Wielkopolska Region

Zeszyty Naukowe SGGW w Warszawie - Problemy Rolnictwa Światowego ◽

10.22630/prs.2018.18.3.63 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 18(33) (3) ◽

pp. 23-35

Author(s):

Jerzy Bieńkowski ◽

Radosław Dąbrowicz ◽

Małgorzata Holka ◽

Janusz Jankowiak

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Carbon Footprint ◽

Production System ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Animal Production ◽

Cattle Production ◽

Large Area ◽

Enteric Fermentation ◽

Breeding Herd ◽

Beef Cattle Production

Animal production is a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. One of the major challenges in sustainable management is to mitigate the effects of climate change by reducing GHG emissions. The diversity of animal production systems and accompanying diversification of technological processes, mean that specific production effects can be obtained at different levels of GHG emissions. The aim of the study was to determine the carbon footprint (CF) of beef cattle grown in a conventional system (i.e. indoor confinement). The research was carried out on the beef cattle farm belonging to a large-area enterprise, Długie Stare Ltd. The beef cattle production system consisted of the following subsystems: a basic breeding herd (consisting of suckler cows, replacement heifers and calves up to 6.5 months), breeding heifers, breeding bulls and fattening bulls. The method of life cycle analysis (LCA) in the stages from "cradle-to-farmgate" was used to assess the GHG emissions associated with the production of beef cattle. The average CF in the entire beef cattle production system was 25.43 kg of CO2 kg-1 of live weight of marketed cattle, while in the individual subsystems of basic breeding herd, breeding heifers, breeding bulls and fattening bulls, the CF (after GHG allocation) was: 11.0 kg CO2 eq., 34.30 kg CO2 eq., 27.32 and 25.40 kg CO2 eq., respectively. GHG emissions associated with young calves staying in the cow-calf pairs until weaning (in the period from 0-6.5 months), had a decisive influence on the final CF in each of the subsystems of beef cattle production. The second important factor directly affecting the CF was GHG emissions related to methane (CH4) enteric fermentation and manure management. Knowledge of factors affecting the CF structure allows better identification of critical areas in production processes with high GHG emission potential. Information on the CF of beef cattle and beef meat responds to a wider societal demand for the ecological characteristics of market products, which ultimately contributes to improving their market competitiveness.

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Environmental impacts of Brazilian beef cattle production in the Amazon, Cerrado, Pampa, and Pantanal biomes

Journal of Cleaner Production ◽

10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127750 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 127750

Author(s):

Milene Dick ◽

Marcelo Abreu da Silva ◽

Rickiel Rodrigues Franklin da Silva ◽

Otoniel Geter Lauz Ferreira ◽

Manoel de Souza Maia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Environmental Impacts ◽

Cattle Production ◽

Beef Cattle Production

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Identification of breeding objectives using a bioeconomic model for a beef cattle production system in Uruguay

Livestock Science ◽

10.1016/j.livsci.2013.12.006 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 160 ◽

pp. 21-28 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Maria Isabel Pravia ◽

Olga Ravagnolo ◽

Jorge Ignacio Urioste ◽

Dorian J. Garrick

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Production System ◽

Bioeconomic Model ◽

Cattle Production ◽

Breeding Objectives ◽

Beef Cattle Production

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Bioeconomic simulation of Rhipicephalus microplus infestation in different beef cattle production systems in the Brazilian Cerrado

Agricultural Systems ◽

10.1016/j.agsy.2021.103247 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 194 ◽

pp. 103247

Author(s):

Maria Paula Cavuto Abrão Calvano ◽

Ricardo Carneiro Brumatti ◽

Jacqueline Cavalcante Barros ◽

Marcos Valério Garcia ◽

Kauê Rodriguez Martins ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Production Systems ◽

Rhipicephalus Microplus ◽

Brazilian Cerrado ◽

Cattle Production ◽

Beef Cattle Production

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183 Designing Research for Beef Cattle Production in Extensive Environments

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skab235.177 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 98-99

Author(s):

Timothy DelCurto ◽

Sam Wyffels

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Statistical Inference ◽

Multiple Regression ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Cattle Production ◽

Modeling Tools ◽

Activity Monitors ◽

Multiple Observations ◽

Wide Range ◽

Beef Cattle Production

Abstract Designing research for beef cattle production in rangeland environments is an ongoing challenge for researchers worldwide. Specifically, creating study designs that mirror actual production environments yet have enough observations for statistical inference is a challenge that often hinders researchers in efforts to publish their observations. Numerous journals will accept “case study” or observational results that lack valid statistical inference. However, these journals are limited in number and often lack impact. Approaches are available to gain statistical inference by creating multiple observations within a common group of animals. Approaches to increasing statistical observations will be discussed in this presentation. Modeling animal behavior and performance on extensive rangeland landscapes is commonly practiced in wildlife ecology and, more recently, has been published in Animal Science journals. Additionally, new technology has made it possible to apply treatments (e.g., supplementation studies) to individual animals on extensive environments where large, diverse herds/flocks of cattle/sheep are managed as a single group. Use of individual animal identification (EID) and feed intake technology has opened a wide range of research possibilities for beef cattle production systems research in rangeland environments. Likewise, global positioning system (GPS) collars and activity monitors have created the opportunity to evaluate animal grazing behavior in remote and extensive landscapes. The use of multiple regression models to evaluate resource use in extensive environments will, in turn, help managers optimize beef cattle production and the sustainable use of forage/rangeland resources. Embracing new technologies such as GPS, activity monitors, EID tags, and feed intake monitors combined with multiple regression modeling tools will aid in designing and publishing beef cattle production research in extensive rangeland environments.

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PSVIII-19 Greenhouse gas emissions from beef cattle production in Brazil: how we can mitigate from animal operations?

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skab235.771 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 430-430

Author(s):

Andre Pastori D Aurea ◽

Abmael S da Silva Cardoso ◽

Lauriston Bertelli Fernandes ◽

Ricardo Andrade Reis ◽

Luis Eduardo Ferreira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carbon Dioxide ◽

Beef Cattle ◽

Agricultural Sector ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Primary Data ◽

Cattle Production ◽

Production Chain ◽

Beef Cattle Production ◽

Carbon Dioxide Equivalent

Abstract In Brazil beef cattle production is one of the most important activities in the agricultural sector and has an important impact on environmental and resources consumption. In this study assessed greenhouses gases (GHG) impacts from on farms representative productive system and the possible improvements of the production chain. Primary data from animal production index and feeding were collected from 17 farms, which covers 300.000 animals and 220.000 hectares. Emissions of methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide were made using intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) guidelines for national inventories. The GHG inventory included emissions from animals, feeds and operations for animal operation from “cradle to farm gate”. Emissions of each farm were converted to carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2eq) and divided by carcass production. Regression analysis between carbon dioxide equivalent and productive index was run to identify possible hotspot of GHG emissions. A large variation between farms were observed. The GHG yield ranged from 8.63 kg to 50.88 CO2eq kg carcass-1. The productive index age of slaughtering (P < 0.0001), average daily gain (P < 0.0001) and productivity (P = 0.058) per area were positive correlated to GHG yield. While no correlation was found with stocking rate (P = 0.21). Improvements of the production chain could be realized by accurate animal management strategies that reduce the age of slaughtering (feeding and genetic improvements) and gain individual or per area using strategic animal supplementation and pasture management, in order to obtains reduction of GHG emissions of beef cattle.

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