Intensification: A Key Strategy to Achieve Great Animal and Environmental Beef Cattle Production Sustainability in Brachiaria Grasslands

Intensification of tropical grassland can be a strategy to increase beef production, but methods for achieving this should maintain or reduce its environmental impact and should not compromise future food-producing capacity. The objective of this review was to discuss the aspects of grassland management, animal supplementation, the environment, and the socioeconomics of grassland intensification. Reducing environmental impact in the form of, for example, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is particularly important in Brazil, which is the second-largest beef producer in the world. Most Brazilian pastures, however, are degraded, representing a considerable opportunity for the mitigation and increase of beef-cattle production, and consequently increasing global protein supply. Moreover, in Brazil, forage production is necessary for seasonal feeding strategies that maintain animal performance during periods of forage scarcity. There are many options to achieve this objective that can be adopted alone or in association. These options include improving grassland management, pasture fertilization, and animal supplementation. Improving grazing management has the potential to mitigate GHG emissions through the reduction of the intensity of CO2 emissions, as well as the preservation of natural areas by reducing the need for expanding pastureland. Limitations to farmers adopting intensification strategies include cultural aspects and the lack of financial resources and technical assistance.

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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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Environmental Impact assessment of a semi-intensive beef cattle production in Brazil’s Northeast

The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment ◽

10.1007/s11367-016-1062-4 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 22 (4) ◽

pp. 516-524 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Camila Daniele Willers ◽

Henrique Leonardo Maranduba ◽

José Adolfo de Almeida Neto ◽

Luciano Brito Rodrigues

Keyword(s):

Environmental Impact ◽

Beef Cattle ◽

Impact Assessment ◽

Environmental Impact Assessment ◽

Cattle Production ◽

Beef Cattle Production

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Structure of a dynamic simulation model for beef cattle production systems

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.4141/a99-020 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 79 (4) ◽

pp. 409-417 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

H. Pang ◽

M. Makarechian ◽

J. A. Basarab ◽

R. T. Berg

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Production Systems ◽

System Optimization ◽

Sensitivity Analyses ◽

Nutrient Requirements ◽

Beef Production ◽

Cattle Production ◽

Forage Production ◽

Data Set ◽

Beef Cattle Production

A dynamic deterministic model for simulating beef cattle production systems is developed to evaluate the effects of production traits and management strategies on the bioeconomic efficiency of beef production systems. The model, named Alberta Beef Production Simulation System (ABPSS), is composed of four major submodels: herd inventory, nutrient requirement, forage production, and economic submodels. The herd inventory submodel is used to simulate population dynamics and feed requirements in the herd. The nutrient requirements submodel is mainly based on the 1996 version of the National Research Council (NRC). It is used to evaluate nutrients and feed requirements for calves and cows depending on their physiological status (maintenance, growth, lactation and gestation) and the climatic condition. The forage production sub-model is used to predict forage growth rate, cattle grazing rate, available forage biomass and total hectares required for grazing. The economic submodel measures bioeconomic efficiency, as net return per cow, by subtracting total cost from total return. The nutrient requirements predicted by ABPSS were compared with those recommended by the NRC for testing. The results that were predicted by the NRC model and ABPSS model were similar, as expected. Sensitivity analyses showed that cow mature weight, milk production, calf weaning weight and feed prices were the most critical input parameters in the model. It must be noted that the model was developed based on available experimental results and data from the literature and, due to the unavailability of a suitable data set, the model could not be validated. We suggest that the ABPSS has the potential for providing a useful method for simultaneous consideration of many factors in an integrated system, which could be helpful to beef cattle extension specialists and cow-calf production managers for assessing the potential effects of different management and selection strategies on bioeconomic efficiency. Key words: Beef cattle, simulation and modelling, production system, optimization

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Silvopastoral management of beef cattle production for neutralizing the environmental impact of enteric methane emission

Agroforestry Systems ◽

10.1007/s10457-019-00460-x ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 94 (3) ◽

pp. 893-903 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Leonardo de Oliveira Resende ◽

Marcelo Dias Müller ◽

Marta Moura Kohmann ◽

Luís Fernando Guedes Pinto ◽

Laury Cullen Junior ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Impact ◽

Beef Cattle ◽

Methane Emission ◽

Cattle Production ◽

Enteric Methane ◽

Beef Cattle Production

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Beef cattle production in established integrated systems

Semina Ciências Agrárias ◽

10.5433/1679-0359.2017v38n5p3241 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 38 (5) ◽

pp. 3241 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Érick Lemes Gamarra ◽

Maria Da Graça Morais ◽

Roberto Giolo de Almeida ◽

Natália Aguiar Paludetto ◽

Mariana Pereira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Live Weight ◽

Forage Yield ◽

Integrated Systems ◽

Cattle Production ◽

Forage Production ◽

Yield Difference ◽

Beef Cattle Production ◽

Daily Gain

The aim of the current study is to assess three integrated systems presenting different eucalyptus tree densities due to animal and forage production. The following integrated systems were assessed: crop-livestock-forest with 357 eucalyptus trees ha-1 (ICLF1); crop-livestock-forest with 227 eucalyptus trees ha-1 (ICLF2); and crop-livestock with 5 remnant native trees ha-1 (ICL). The randomized block experimental design was applied in a split-plot scheme with four replicates. The Average Daily Gain (ADG, g animal-1day-1) and the live-weight gain per area (LWG, kg ha-1) were applied to analyze animal performance, which was set by weighing the animals every 28 days (the animals previously fasted for 16h). Forage yield was higher in ICL during fall and winter; in summer, it did not differ from ICLF2. There was no forage yield difference between the ICL and ICLF2 systems in any of the assessed seasons; summer was more productive in ILPF1 than other seasons. The highest leaf crude protein contents (CP) in summer was recorded in systems ICLF1 and ICLF2, and the highest value recorded in fall was found in ILPF1; the lowest was found in ILP. On the other hand, the highest leaf NDF contents in summer were found in ILP. The highest ADG were found in summer. The highest LWG values recorded for the ICL and ICLF2 systems were collected in summer and fall; there was no difference in any of the three systems in winter. The LWG was higher in all system in summer. The ICLF2 emerged as the system (with trees) most appropriate for beef cattle production. Despite the shading interference on forage production, such condition is compensated by the best nutritional contents such as CP. The ICLF2 system allowing an annual LWG of 83% in relation to the ICL system during the fifth year of establishment of the systems.

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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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