scholarly journals Analysis of Dairy Farming Systems in the Sahelian Zone of Burkina Faso

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hadja Sanon ◽  
NEYA Samuel ◽  
KONFE Salif ◽  
BOUGOUMA Valérie
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
The Other ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Main Activity ◽  
Sahelian Zone

Abstract The insufficiency and variability of pasture production is a determining factor in milk production, particularly in the Sahelian zone. The objective of this study was to characterize dairy production systems and their relationship with crops to meet livestock needs. It consisted of surveys of 120 farmers in four communes in the Séno province. The results show three groups of dairy farmers that are essentially differentiated by the main activity and the sex of the farmers as well as the size of the cattle herd on the farm. The first group is made of male agropastoralists, with herds averaging 12 cattle. Group 2 consists of male agropastoralists with an average of 22 cattle. Group 3 consists of female pastoralists (96.15%), with a herd size of about 19 head. The cows are fed on pasture and supplemented with crop residues with cotton cake, which is more important in group 2, where more farmers have hayloft for fodder conservation and manure pits compared to the other two groups. Crop residues are used primarily as feed in all groups from January to May. This supplementation allows the maintenance of milk production in the dry season and group 2, with more dairy cows, records more milk milked (6.5 and 3.8 l) and consumed in wet and dry seasons compared to the other two groups. The results suggest that the farmers in the area have low technical level and need capacity building in agropastoral fields to improve their production.

Development of profitable milk production systems for northern Australia: a field assessment of the productivity of five potential farming systems using farmlets

2010 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 246 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. G. Chataway ◽  
R. G. Walker ◽  
M. N. Callow
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Model Development ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Field Evaluation ◽  
Nutrient Inputs ◽  
Tropical Pastures ◽  
Mating Period ◽  
Learning Platform ◽  
Forage Base

Farmlets, each of 20 cows, were established to field test five milk production systems and provide a learning platform for farmers and researchers in a subtropical environment. The systems were developed through desktop modelling and industry consultation in response to the need for substantial increases in farm milk production following deregulation of the industry. Four of the systems were based on grazing and the continued use of existing farmland resource bases, whereas the fifth comprised a feedlot and associated forage base developed as a greenfield site. The field evaluation was conducted over 4 years under more adverse environmental conditions than anticipated with below average rainfall and restrictions on irrigation. For the grazed systems, mean annual milk yield per cow ranged from 6330 kg/year (1.9 cows/ha) for a herd based on rain-grown tropical pastures to 7617 kg/year (3.0 cows/ha) where animals were based on temperate and tropical irrigated forages. For the feedlot herd, production of 9460 kg/cow.year (4.3 cows/ha of forage base) was achieved. For all herds, the level of production achieved required annual inputs of concentrates of ~3 t DM/animal and purchased conserved fodder from 0.3 to 1.5 t DM/animal. This level of supplementary feeding made a major contribution to total farm nutrient inputs, contributing 50% or more of the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium entering the farming system, and presents challenges to the management of manure and urine that results from the higher stocking rates enabled. Mean annual milk production for the five systems ranged from 88 to 105% of that predicted by the desktop modelling. This level of agreement for the grazed systems was achieved with minimal overall change in predicted feed inputs; however, the feedlot system required a substantial increase in inputs over those predicted. Reproductive performance for all systems was poorer than anticipated, particularly over the summer mating period. We conclude that the desktop model, developed as a rapid response to assist farmers modify their current farming systems, provided a reasonable prediction of inputs required and milk production. Further model development would need to consider more closely climate variability, the limitations summer temperatures place on reproductive success and the feed requirements of feedlot herds.

scholarly journals Incorporating leucaena into goat production systems

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-181
Author(s):  
Frances C. Cowley ◽  
Romana Roschinsky
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Silvopastoral Systems ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Keynote Paper ◽  
The Tropics ◽  
Worm Control ◽  
Farming Systems Research ◽  
Feeding Systems

Keynote paper presented at the International Leucaena Conference, 1‒3 November 2018, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.The integration of leucaena into goat production systems in the tropics and subtropics is reviewed. Goats are well adapted to leucaena, and able to be productive on diets containing up to 100% leucaena as a result of bacterial and hepatic detoxification. Incorporation of leucaena into goat production systems can improve liveweight gains, milk production, worm control and reproduction. Successful feeding systems for goats can be based on both grazed silvopastoral systems and cut-and-carry intensive systems, although there is a lack of farming systems research examining the integration of leucaena into goat production systems, or documentation of the practicalities of these practices.

Integrating feeding programmes into organic production systems.

2021 ◽  
pp. 177-217
Author(s):  
Robert Blair
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Feed Additives ◽  
Feed Quality ◽  
Feed Supplements ◽  
Cattle Farming

Abstract This chapter describes the effects of feeding programmes (including feed quality, feed supplements and feed additives) on the reproductive performance, beef and milk production and quality and environmental impact in organic cattle farming systems.

scholarly journals Prediction of nutrient flows with potential impacts on the environment in a rabbit farm: a modelling approach

2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (12) ◽  
pp. 2042 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bertrand Méda ◽  
Laurence Fortun-Lamothe ◽  
Mélynda Hassouna
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Dynamic Models ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Livestock Farming ◽  
Animal Products ◽  
Total N ◽  
Nutrient Flows ◽  
Animal Populations

To face the increasing demand for animal products throughout the world, livestock-farming systems have been intensified. This intensification has proven to be economically effective but is noted for its negative impact on the environment through the production of ammonia (NH3) and the greenhouse gases nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane. In this context, dynamic models are useful tools to evaluate the effects of farming practice on nutrient flows and losses to the environment. This paper presents the development of a model simulating the flows of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in a rabbit production farm. The model is comprised of two submodels. The first submodel simulates the number of animals in the farm (births, deaths, culling of does/fatteners) and their respective performances (growth, feed intake, milk production). The second one simulates the excretion of N and P for each animal category using a mass-balance approach between intake (feed and/or milk intake) and exports (body deposition, milk production, gestation). Specific emission factors are then applied to the excreted N amounts to estimate total N, NH3 and N2O losses in the housing unit and during manure storage. Methane emissions from enteric fermentations and manure are also estimated. A simulation example based on French technico-economic data illustrates how the model could be used to study the dynamics of animal populations within the system and of nutrient flows. Finally, there is a need for new knowledge (experimental data) to improve the model and help design more sustainable rabbit production systems by identifying best practices that minimise environmental impacts.

scholarly journals Characteristics of milk production systems and feed strategies for dairy cows in the North and Northwest of Paraná State

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (6Supl2) ◽  
pp. 4469
Author(s):  
Milton Takeo Yabe ◽  
Ferenc Istvan Bánkuti ◽  
Julio Cesar Damasceno ◽  
Marcel Moreira de Brito
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Multivariate Statistical ◽  
Production Chain ◽  
The North ◽  
Structural Variables ◽  
Low Performance ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Dichotomous Variables

Although milk production is widespread, several barriers remain that limit its competitiveness, including those related to low performance parameters in milk production systems (MPS), which can be minimized through the adoption of effective nutritional strategies. The increased use of corn can provide benefits to both rural production and the entire milk production chain. Moreover, it represents the major economic strategy of adding value to grain produced in Brazil, via the transformation of milk. The objective of this study was to characterize MPS in the north and northwest regions of Paraná, Brazil, and identify the relationship between productive and structural variables across the supply of concentrate containing corn and grain corn for dairy cows. Data were collected from 185 MPS and analyzed via multivariate statistical techniques, including the analysis of hierarchical clusters, as well as hypothesis testing and means comparison using ANOVA. A cluster analysis was performed based on two qualitative and dichotomous variables: (i) concentrate containing corn fed to dairy cows and (ii) grain corn fed to dairy cows. Four groups were defined: Group 1 (N = 99 MPS) was characterized by systems where cows were fed corn only in the form of a concentrate, referred to as “Concentrate”; Group 2 (N = 41 MPS) where cows were fed corn incorporated in both concentrate and grain form, referred to as “Concentrate + Grain”; Group 3 (N = 14 MPS), where corn was supplied to cows solely in the form of grain, referred to as “Corn Grain”; and finally, Group 4 (N = 41 MPS), which included systems where no corn was supplied to cows, referred to as “Zero Corn.” When weighed against the productive and structural variables, Groups 1 and 2 did not differ significantly (P > 0.05), nor did Groups 3 and 4 (P > 0.05). However, Groups 1 and 2 were significantly different from Groups 3 and 4 (P < 0.05). These results suggest that the strategy of supplying corn either exclusively as concentrate or in combination with grain corn resulted in better responses to the structural and productive variables analyzed in the MPS. Our results indicate that this is an important strategy for aggregation of grain value via transformation of milk. In addition, no difference was noted between exclusive use of grain corn and non-use of corn.

scholarly journals Strategies for Increasing Beef Cattle Production under Dryland Farming Systems

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 161
Author(s):  
Heather Burrow
Keyword(s):  
Crop Residues ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Beef Production ◽  
Cattle Breeding ◽  
Dryland Farming ◽  
Market Preference ◽  
Stocking Rates

Integrated cattle and dryland farming systems in Indonesia use a range of crop residues and by products to feed cattle through intensive and extensive production systems. Intensive systems use stalls to house cattle and cut and carry feeding systems, primarily for fattening cattle. Under extensive systems, cattle are free‐grazing,and the systems apply only where greater land areas exist and they are used for breeding and fattening cattle. This paper therefore specifically focuses on the opportunities that exist to improve beef production in dryland farming systems in Indonesia. The best strategies for smallholder farmers in Indonesia to improve beef production require farmers to focus on profitability and use proven management strategies, including a) using adapted cattle breeds resistant/tolerant to environmental stressor, b) understanding the market preference; c) managing cattle breeding herds based on rainfall patterns, d) keeping good records on all aspects of breeding and fattening activities and e) adjusting stocking rates in extensive system to match the carrying capacity of the land.

Increasing milk production from forage: production systems and extension service preferences of the northern Australian dairy industry

2010 ◽  
Vol 50 (7) ◽  
pp. 705 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. G. Chataway ◽  
D. G. Barber ◽  
M. N. Callow
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
Extension Service ◽  
Land Resource ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Resource Base ◽  
Enterprise Size

Dairy farms in Queensland were stratified by six regions, three levels of enterprise size (0.25–0.69, 0.7–1.39 or >1.4 ML milk/year) and two rainfall zones (<1000 and >1000 mm/year). Thirteen percent of farmers (89 farms) were surveyed using a prepared questionnaire to ascertain the current production systems, forage management practices and preferences for extension services. Herd size, dairy area, milk production per cow, the use of cropping, pit silage, concentrate input and irrigation input all increased (P < 0.05) with larger enterprises. At the same time the stocking rate on high milk volume farms was almost twice that on smaller farms. The drier zone (<1000 mm/year) was associated with lower stocking rate, higher per cow production and a greater emphasis on cropping and feedpad usage (P < 0.05). The importance of enterprise growth through intensification of the existing farm land resource base is indicated through these findings. Apart from ration formulation, processes used to manage cropping land, irrigation and grazing were primarily based on tradition or intuition. In valuing extension activities, farmers across all enterprise sizes were in general agreement that information products warranted only a small investment. As enterprise size increased, a more individualised and focussed extension service, delivered through targeted discussion groups and personal coaches was favoured.

Integrating crop and livestock production in Inland Northwest farming systems

1996 ◽  
Vol 11 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 121-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda H. Hardesty ◽  
James A. Tiedeman
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Livestock Production ◽  
Domestic Demand ◽  
Forage Crops ◽  
Inland Northwest ◽  
Production Cycles ◽  
Crop And Livestock Production

AbstractThe demand for more ecologically and economically sustainable agriculture arises because we currently integrate products economically in a fashion that distorts ecologica I relationships. Earfy farms were ecologically integrated through feeding of forage crops and crop residues to livestock, with livestock contributing draft power and manure for crops. Today we have almost entirely uncoupled plant and animal production, eliminating the contribution that each can make to the productivity of the other. Barriers to integrating farming systems include the large volume of information needed for sophisticated production systems and the lack of infrastructure. Also, many chemicals used on crops have not been evaluated for their safety in food animals. Winter feeding and calving may conflict with crop production cycles; balancing year-round forage supplies is another obstacle. Opportunities include using the Conservation Reserve Program to shift land to livestock production. Domestic demand for meat is changing, and range livestock production is seen by some people as more humane than confinement. Animals fed less grain may be more acceptable in some markets. As agriculture responds to changes in society, ecologica I integration may become more compatible with economic integration.

scholarly journals Sustainable land use in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of Mali: exploring economically viable options using multiple goal linear programming

1998 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-122
Author(s):  
E.J. Bakker ◽  
H. Hengsdijk ◽  
K. Sissoko
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Animal Husbandry ◽  
Chemical Fertilizer ◽  
Sustainable Land Use ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Self Sufficiency ◽  
Ecologically Sustainable ◽  
Sahelian Zone

Technical options in crop and animal husbandry to reduce soil nutrient mining and other forms of natural resource degradation in the Sudano-Sahelian zone should be economically attractive, if they are to be adopted. A model is presented in which agronomic and economic information and goals are combined to explore possibilities for agro-ecologically sustainable and economically viable land use in three different climatic regions in Mali and for a situation of non-degraded soils. The time frame of the study is to the year 2010. For each region, an agro-ecologically sustainable land use system (a combination of crop, livestock and pasture production systems) that maximizes income of the agricultural sector and satisfies self sufficiency targets is identified. Special attention is given to the use of chemical fertilizer in crop activities. It is shown that use of chemical fertilizer is an important element of sustainable and economically viable land use, especially in higher rainfall regions. Population size has a marked effect on optimal land use systems in the regions, but self sufficiency is not endangered even if the population is 50% higher than estimated for 2010. It is argued that results should not be used to simulate the actual situation or future developments, but to define priorities for agricultural development in the Sudano-Sahelian region.

scholarly journals Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) vine silage: a cost-effective supplement for milk production in smallholder dairy-farming systems of East Africa?

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (8) ◽  
pp. 1087 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. K. Gakige ◽  
C. Gachuri ◽  
K. Butterbach-bahl ◽  
J. P. Goopy
Keyword(s):  
East Africa ◽  
Sweet Potato ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Wheat Bran ◽  
Lower Cost ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Napier Grass ◽  
Fibre Content

Context Dairy production in East Africa is dominated by smallholder production systems, but is dogged by suboptimal milk production mediated by poor nutrition. Grain-based concentrates can be used to make the energy and protein deficits in rain-fed systems, but this strategy faces several hurdles. For livestock production systems to be sustainable, it is important that less human-edible food is fed to animals and sweet potato can serve both as a source of human food (tuber) and animal feed (vines). Smallholder scale-appropriate technology has been used to allow feed preservation of the perishable sweet potato vines for use throughout the year. Aims We assessed the efficacy of sweet potato vine silage plus wheat bran (SPVSWB) as a supplement to maintain milk production at a lower cost than that of grain-based commercial dairy concentrate (CDC). Methods Multiparous Holstein–Friesian cattle (n = 12) were given a basal diet of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. South Africa), ad libitum, plus a fixed amount of either SPVSWB or CDC, (designed to be both iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric) during late (LL) and early (EL) lactations. Key results Daily milk yield was lower for SPVSWB than for CDC groups, although comparable (not significant), in both LL (6.2 vs 7.5 L/day) and EL (14.2 vs 16.0 L/day); however, the lower cost of production for SPVSWB (23.2 vs 48.7 KES/kg DM) ensured that margins on milk income over feed (per cow per day) were greater for SPVSWB in both periods. (LL: 71 vs 14.5; and EL: 426 vs 400 KES/day). The lower intake for SPVSWB than for CDC is most probably due to high neutral detergent fibre content in the supplement and the lower milk production, owing to either, or both, of lower energy and protein intake. Conclusions It is suggested that some reformulation of SPVS, replacing in part or in whole the Napier grass with rejected sweet potato tubers, will decrease the neutral detergent fibre content, increase the metabolisable energy content, reducing the need for additional wheat bran and may, thereby, enhance the production response to equate with that of CDC. Implications It is clear that, despite SPVSWB eliciting lower milk production (LL 6.2 and EL14.2 L/day) than does CDC (LL 7.5 and EL 16.0 L/day), SPVSWB is a cost-effective, accessible alternative to grain-based supplementation in small-holder dairy-farming systems of Kenya.

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