scholarly journals Impact of Feeding Pattern on the Structure and the Economic Performance of Dairy Cow Sector

Dairy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 122-134
Author(s):  
Athanasios Ragkos ◽  
Georgia Koutouzidou ◽  
Alexandros Theodoridis
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cow ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Programming Model ◽  
Feeding Strategy ◽  
Parametric Programming ◽  
Feeding Strategies ◽  
Feed Production ◽  
Feeding Costs ◽  
Alternative Scenarios ◽  
On Farm

In dairy farms, the feeding cost, which includes the expenses for purchased feed but also the expenses for feed production, constitutes a very large part of production cost (more than 60%), which indicates the economic importance of the feeding strategy. This study discerns three different feeding strategies: landless farms only purchasing feed from markets (“Purchasing”), farms for which home-grown feeds stand for more than 10% of feeding costs (“Producing”) and farms with less than 10% home-grown feeds (“Multi-purpose”). Based on technical and economic data from 47 dairy cow farms in Greece, alternative scenarios of development of the dairy sector are determined taking into account the dependence on on-farm feed production. Through a parametric programming model, the study provides insights regarding the optimal structure of the system under different scenarios (changing availability of variable capital, changes in milk prices). The results indicate that “Purchasing” farms are the preferred option when variable capital is abundant and milk prices are satisfactory, while “Producing” are the ones surviving with milk prices significantly lower than the actual ones in Greece and European Union. “Multi-purpose” farms perform worse than the other two and are sidelined in both scenarios, as they do not seem to be able to specialize in the dairy enterprise or in crop production and thus to minimize costs.

scholarly journals Economics of Stony Land Reclamation for Crop Production in South-Western Quebec

1986 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 108-116
Author(s):  
Randolph Seecharan ◽  
Kisan Gunjal ◽  
Gerard Millette
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Land Reclamation ◽  
Programming Model ◽  
Parametric Programming ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Market Prices ◽  
Market Values ◽  
Representative Farms

Linear programming model is used to investigate the economic feasibility of utilizing stony lands for crop production in South-Western Quebec where stoniness is the major constraint. Results for the representative farms indicate that income variations are due to economies of size, differences in crop yields (experimental or farm level) and type of reclamation method used. The market values for stony lands (determined by regression technique) are higher compared with the productive values. Analysis also indicates that crop production is feasible within the parameters defined and that it is more economical to develop unutilized stony land rather than purchase prime agricultural land at current market prices. Parametric programming procedures indicate that the solutions are more sensitive to crop yields and prices than reclamation costs.

scholarly journals Sustainability os small ruminant population on the Adja Plateau (South Benin)

1994 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-76
Author(s):  
A. Van Den Broek ◽  
I.T. Gbégo
Keyword(s):  
Oil Palm ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Small Ruminant ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Small Ruminants ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Feed Production ◽  
Animal Feeding ◽  
On Farm

Since 1986 the RAMR project (Recherche Appliquee en Milieu Reel) has conducted on-farm research on the Adja Plateau in Mono Province (South Benin). In this article, technical and socio-economic aspects of small ruminant production systems on the Adja Plateau are described. Monitoring of small ruminant flocks showed that about 25% of the small ruminants were sold annually. Export of nutrients as a result of the sale of animals (85 g N. 23 g P. 12 g K and 46 g Ca per hectare) was low compared with export through crop production. In-depth studies at village level showed that farmers mainly collected oil palm leaves, constituting 75% of the small ruminant rations, to feed their animals. Nutrients in collected oil palm leaves represented a substantial fraction (about 10%) of available nutrients in fields under oil palm. Proposals for future research on small ruminant production systems have to contribute to the sustainability of farming systems. Emphasis will be put on animal feeding and feed production integrating small ruminant and crop production.

ON-FARM COMPARISON OF FEEDING STRATEGIES BASED ON FORAGES FOR SMALL-SCALE DAIRY PRODUCTION SYSTEMS IN THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTRAL MEXICO

2002 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 375-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. M. Arriaga-Jordán ◽  
B. Albarrán-Portillo ◽  
A. Espinoza-Ortega ◽  
A. García-Martínez ◽  
O. A. Castelán-Ortega
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Strategy ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Feeding Strategies ◽  
Dairy Herds ◽  
Central Mexico ◽  
Maize Silage ◽  
Maize Straw ◽  
Dry Seasons ◽  
Alternative Feeding ◽  
On Farm

The on-farm evaluation of three feeding strategies for smallholder campesino dairy herds was undertaken in the highlands of Central Mexico with cooperating farmers: traditional, alternative and intermediate feeding strategies. All three incorporated grazing of cultivated pastures, but concentrate use was 4.0 and 7.0 kg per cow per day in the rainy and dry seasons respectively for the traditional feeding strategy, 3.3 for the alternative feeding strategy in both rainy and dry seasons and 5.0 and 9.0 kg per cow per day in the rainy and dry seasons respectively for the intermediate feeding strategy. Feeding during the dry season was based on maize straw in the traditional strategy, on pasture complemented with maize silage in the alternative feeding strategy, and with some maize silage but mostly maize straw in the intermediate feeding strategy. The trial ran between 25 September 1996 and 24 September 1997, divided by season into four, thirteen-week periods. Milk yields were recorded once per week, and live weight and body-condition score, every 28 days. Three cows per strategy that completed each period were blocked according to stage of lactation and used for the statistical analysis of a split-plot design with feeding strategies as main plots and weeks as split-plots. Overall mean milk yields were 15.5±2.05, 13.4±2.43 and 12.4±2.37 kg milk per cow per day for alternative, intermediate and traditional feeding strategies respectively, with significant interactions (P<0.05) for autumn, winter and summer. The alternative feeding strategy (with over 50% less concentrate) produced milk yields 0.24 and 0.38 higher than the intermediate and traditional feeding strategies in the dry season. In the rainy season, milk yields with the alternative feeding strategy (30% less concentrates) were 0.09 and 0.16 higher than the other two strategies. Margins per day of family labour were: alternative feeding strategy US$36.48 per day, intermediate feeding strategy US$9.22 per day and the traditional feeding strategy US$9.11 per day, although in the case of the last two there were two family members in charge of the dairy herds. Results demonstrate the successful integration of grazed pasture and maize silage for the efficient production of milk, and provide evidence on the productive use of limited campesino land resources in the face of unviable economic conditions for maize grain production.

scholarly journals On-farm trees are a safety net for the poorest households rather than a major contributor to food security in Rwanda

Food Security ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alain Ndoli ◽  
Athanase Mukuralinda ◽  
Antonius G. T. Schut ◽  
Miyuki Iiyama ◽  
Jean Damascene Ndayambaje ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Household Income ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Income Sources ◽  
Agroforestry Practice ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Agroforestry Practices

AbstractThe world is challenged to meet the food demand of a growing population, especially in developing countries. Given the ambitious plans to scale up agroforestry in Africa, an improved understanding of the effect of agroforestry practices on the already challenged food security of rural households is crucial. The present study was undertaken to assess how on-farm trees impacted food security in addition to other household income sources in Rwanda. In each of the six agroecologies of Rwanda, a stratified sampling procedure was used where two administrative cells (4th formal administrative level) were selected in which households were randomly selected for interviews. A survey including 399 farmers was conducted and farmers were grouped in three types of agroforestry practice (i) low practitioners (LAP) represented by the first tertile, (ii) medium practitioners (MAP) represented by the second tertile and (iii) high practitioners (HAP) represented by the third tertile of households in terms of tree number. Asset values, household income sources, crop production, farm size, crop yield, and food security (food energy needs) were quantified among the types of agroforestry practice. A larger proportion of HAP households had access to adequate quantity and diversity of food when compared with MAP and LAP households. Food security probability was higher for households with more resources, including land, trees and livestock, coinciding with an increased crop and livestock income. We found no difference in asset endowment among types of agroforestry practices, while farmers in agroecologies with smaller farms (0.42 ha to 0.66 ha) had more on-farm trees (212 to 358 trees per household) than farms in agroecologies with larger farms (0.96 ha to 1.23 ha) which had 49 to 129 trees per household, probably due to differences in biophysical conditions. A positive association between tree density and food security was found in two out of six agroecologies. The proportion of income that came from tree products was high (> 20%) for a small fraction of farmers (12%), with the more food insecure households relying more on income from tree products than households with better food security status. Thus, tree income can be percieved as a “safety net” for the poorest households.

scholarly journals Effects on Crop Development, Yields and Chemical Composition of Celeriac (Apium graveolens L. var. rapaceum) Cultivated Underneath an Agrivoltaic System

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 733
Author(s):  
Axel Weselek ◽  
Andrea Bauerle ◽  
Sabine Zikeli ◽  
Iris Lewandowski ◽  
Petra Högy
Keyword(s):  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
Root Biomass ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Vegetation Period ◽  
Apium Graveolens ◽  
Land Productivity ◽  
Common Root ◽  
Crop Development ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Organically Managed

Agrivoltaic (AV) systems increase land productivity through the combined production of renewable energy and food. Although several studies have addressed their impact on crop production, many aspects remain unexplored. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of AV on the cultivation of celeriac, a common root vegetable in Central Europe. Celeriac was cultivated in 2017 and 2018 as part of an organically managed on-farm experiment, both underneath an AV system and in full-sun conditions. Under AV, photosynthetic active radiation was reduced by about 30%. Monitoring of crop development showed that in both years, plant height increased significantly under AV. Fresh bulb yield decreased by about 19% in 2017 and increased by about 12% in 2018 in AV, but the changes were not significant. Aboveground biomass increased in both years under AV, but only increased significantly in 2018. As aboveground biomass is a determinant of root biomass at harvest in root vegetables, bulb yields may be further increased by a prolonged vegetation period under AV. Compound analysis of celeriac bulbs did not show any clear effects from treatment. As harvestable yields were not significantly reduced, we concluded that celeriac can be considered a suitable crop for cultivation under AV.

COMPARATIVE TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC ESTIMATION OF THE SMALL-SCALE ON-FARM COMPOUND FEED PLANTS

2021 ◽  
pp. 59-65
Author(s):  
SERGEY V. BRAGINETS ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Net Present Value ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Farm Animals ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Hammer Mill ◽  
Capital Investments ◽  
Agricultural Enterprises ◽  
Feed Production ◽  
Effi Ciency ◽  
On Farm

On-farm compound feed production from self-produced raw materials is favorable to agricultural enterprises under present-day conditions. The authors carried out a comparative technical and economic study of the conventional and modular small-scale on-farm compound feed plants with a capacity of 2 tons per hour, designed for agricultural enterprises with an average livestock population of 6…8 thousand pigs. The proposed modular plant consists of two modules – the operative storage of raw materials and the main module of grinding and mixing. Modules with installed equipment are delivered and placed on a light foundation, connected by transport equipment and with tanks for raw materials and fi nished products. The conventional factory is a technological line housed in a hangar and used for crushing, metering, and mixing raw materials. It consists of a separator, a hammer mill, weighing equipment, a mixer, containers for raw materials and fi nished products, transport, and aspiration equipment. The technical and economic analysis has shown that the erection and operation of the on-farm modular enterprise require 41% less capital investments than a traditional compound feed plant of the same capacity. The use of a small-scale modular plant will reduce operating costs by 23.8% (from 3094 to 2358 thousand rubles), increase the specifi c economic eff ect from the compound feed production by 1.6% (from 8.64 to 8.78 thousand rubles per ton) and return on margin by 4% (from 10.2 to 10.6%), reduce the payback period by 42% (from 0.8 to 0.46 years), and increase the net present value by 3% (from 66167 to 68216 thousand rubles), as compared to a conventional enterprise. The modular on-farm plants producing loose compound feed with a productivity of up to 3 tons per hour are profi table and economically sound as they can increase production effi ciency of compound feeds for farm animals.`

scholarly journals Corrigendum to “Robustness and sensitivity of a blueprint for on-farm estimation of dairy cow energy balance” (J. Dairy Sci. 101:6002–6018)

2019 ◽  
Vol 102 (1) ◽  
pp. 927
Author(s):  
Vivi M. Thorup ◽  
Mizeck G.G. Chagunda ◽  
Amelie Fischer ◽  
Martin R. Weisbjerg ◽  
Nicolas C. Friggens
Keyword(s):  
Energy Balance ◽  
Dairy Cow ◽  
On Farm

scholarly journals Lactate-Based Model Predictive Control Strategy of Cell Growth for Cell Therapy Applications

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 78
Author(s):  
Kathleen Van Beylen ◽  
Ali Youssef ◽  
Alberto Peña Fernández ◽  
Toon Lambrechts ◽  
Ioannis Papantoniou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Growth ◽  
Model Predictive Control ◽  
Predictive Control ◽  
Feeding Strategy ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Process Models ◽  
Feeding Strategies ◽  
Cell Culture Process ◽  
Reference Trajectory ◽  
Set Up

Implementing a personalised feeding strategy for each individual batch of a bioprocess could significantly reduce the unnecessary costs of overfeeding the cells. This paper uses lactate measurements during the cell culture process as an indication of cell growth to adapt the feeding strategy accordingly. For this purpose, a model predictive control is used to follow this a priori determined reference trajectory of cumulative lactate. Human progenitor cells from three different donors, which were cultivated in 12-well plates for five days using six different feeding strategies, are used as references. Each experimental set-up is performed in triplicate and for each run an individualised model-based predictive control (MPC) controller is developed. All process models exhibit an accuracy of 99.80% ± 0.02%, and all simulations to reproduce each experimental run, using the data as a reference trajectory, reached their target with a 98.64% ± 0.10% accuracy on average. This work represents a promising framework to control the cell growth through adapting the feeding strategy based on lactate measurements.

The role of crop and pasture legumes in rotations on duplex soils

1992 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 971 ◽  
Author(s):  
MA Ewing ◽  
AD Bathgate ◽  
RJ French ◽  
CK Revell
Keyword(s):  
Programming Model ◽  
Agricultural System ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Pasture Legumes ◽  
Agricultural Performance ◽  
Leguminous Crops ◽  
On Farm ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Established Role

Duplex soils are prominent in southern Australia and are generally low in fertility. Their agricultural performance is, therefore, suboptimal in most circumstances without an exogenous source of nitrogen. This is often supplied by legumes which are grown in rotation with non-leguminous crops. Both crop and pasture legumes are now widely used in southern Australia and the contribution that they make to the non-legume phase of rotations is through nitrogen fixation and through other mechanisms such as cereal disease breaks. We use a mathematical programming model, MIDAS (Model of an Integrated Farming Dryland Agricultural System), to investigate the role of legumes in the low rainfall wheatbelt of Western Australia. The impact of legumes on farm profitability is assessed with a special focus on the contribution of legumes grown on a duplex soil. By using the model, the sensitivity of rotation choice on this duplex soil to changes in biological and economic parameters is explored. We conclude that crop legumes, in particular, have a firmly established role on sandy-surfaced duplex soils in low rainfall regions and that substantial increases in both the productivity and legume content of pasture would be required to outperform rotations which include crop legumes.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document