GRAZING MANAGEMENT FOR A SUSTAINABLE ANIMAL PRODUCTION IN
GRAZING MANAGEMENT FOR A SUSTAINABLE ANIMAL PRODUCTION IN THE TROPICS EDUARDO G. CANUDAS-LARA, Ph. D. Professor of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science Faculty University of Veracruz, Mexico
INTRODUCTION ü Tropical Grasses (C 4) = High Growth Potential ü Intensive Grazing Management works (grazing laws) Farm Administration: an essential aspects ü 1. Plan: clear goals (animal and forage production, sustainable, profitable, … 2. Organization: identify, group, and assign ranch activities, … 3. Direction: leadership, communication, motivation, … 4. Control: Intensive Grazing System gives more control.
OBJECTIVES ü Conserve soil properties by efficient nutrient cycling (sustainability). ü Achieve profitability by increasing productivity and reducing cost. ü Reduce forest conversion to pasture land by increasing land productivity (animal). ü Become competitive in quality and price.
PLANT: ANIMAL SYSTEM
PLANT: ANIMAL SYSTEM
PLANT: ANIMAL SYSTEM
How? ü How solar energy is utilized? ü How forage is produced? (soil, minerals, water, . . ) ü How animal intake is controlled? (quality, quantity, . . . ) ü How the environment is preserved? (nutrient cycling, erosion, insecticides, herbicides, . . . ) RATIONAL MANAGEMENT The common sense is the least common of the senses…
How Solar Energy is utilized? GE Feces DE Urine, methane ME C H O O 2 C 6 H 12 O 6 Sugar, starch, . . . N P K S Mg Ca + micros O. M. Maintenance Production
C H O Production How much minerals does the plant extracts from the soil? III II I Days 500 kg/ha/año of N 125 kg/ha/año of P 2 O 5 500 kg/ha/año of K 2 O N P K S Mg Ca micros 40 m 2/an/d 50 an. /0. 2 ha = 250 an. /ha 250 cows/ha/day = 50 -10 -40 Murphy, 1981
Pasture Utilization Efficiency Utilization (%) 80 50 - 20 2 50 Instant stocking rate (an. /ha/day) 100
LAWS of the Rational Intensive Grazing System 1 o Adequate development 2 o One day grazing 3 o Leave some leaves 4 o Have some reserves : Sugar cane Silage Hay Concentrated
MATERIAL AND METHOD ü ü LOCATION: Medellin, Ver. , Mexico WEATHER: Tropical Sub-humid RAINFALL: 1, 700 mm (90% from July to October. ) TEMPERATURE: 25º C (mean annual)
ANIMAL MANAGEMENT ØRational Intensive Grazing System ØDeworming, vaccinate, vitamins, implants, tick control, … ØWeight: individually approximately every 45 days. Chopped + urea + concentrated (16% CP)
Aerial picture of “El Principio Ranch” 9. 2 ha of taiwan grass (22. 7 acres) 1. 5 ha sugarcane (3. 7 acres)
Close up of some paddocks of “El Principio Ranch” (paddocks size = 2000 m 2 or 0. 5 acres)
Grazing
Pasture Divisions (paddocks) 2 ½” 4” 2, 000 m 2 each 2”
Plant Production Parameters taiwan grass under RIGS with fertirrigation Parameter Production, DM t/ha/year DM Intake, AU/kg/day DM Intake, % AU of BW Gwowth rate, DM kg/ha/d Average of 13 cuts from October of 1997 to June of 1999. Leaf 19. 0 8. 9 66 2. 0 52 Stem 9. 8 4. 2 34 3. 6 0. 9 27 Total 28. 8 13. 1 2. 9 79
Animal Production Variables with Concentrated Hectares (n) Cattle groups (number/year) Fattening period (d) Cattle raised (produced) per year (n) Average initial weight (kg/animal) Average final weight (kg/animal) Stocking rate (AU/ha (animals/ha) ) Taiwan with fertirrigation 9. 2 3 376 193 240 374 4. 8 7. 0 Average daily gain (kg) 1. 09 Meat production (kg/ha/year) 2, 766 Supplementation form January to July with 2 kg DM/day of chopped sugarcane with 3% urea and the whole year with 1. 14% of their body weight with a concentrated with 16% CP.
Animal Production Variables with Concentrated Taiwan with fertirrigation Hectares (n) Cattle groups (number/year) Fattening period (d/group) Cattle raised (produced) per year (n) Average initial weight (kg/animal) Average final weight (kg/animal) AU/ha animals/ha Stocking rate Average daily gain (kg) Beef production (kg/ha/year) 9. 2 3 125 193 240 374 4. 8 7. 0 1. 09 2, 766 Feed complement form January to July with 2 kg DM/day of chopped sugarcane with 3% urea, and the whole year with 1. 14% of their body weight with a concentrated with 16% CP.
Profit/Loss Statement US Dollars PARAMETER TAIWAN Total Sales $93, 895 Production Cost $75, 062 GROSS PROFIT $18, 834 Administrative Expenses NUMBERS Sales Expenses INFORMATION Financial Expenses Other (analyze, Expenses interpret, NET PROFIT $26 $4, 797 compare, take decisions, …) $0 OPERATING PROFIT Profit sharing to workers $1, 007 $13, 004 $650 $12, 354 Supplementation form January to July with 2 kg DM/day of chopped sugarcane with 3% urea and the year 2000 with 1. 14% of their body weight with a concentrated with 16% CP.
FINANCIAL RATIOS PARAMETER Break-even point, animals/ha Break-even point, kg/animals/day Total assets productivity, % Total cost of meat, US$/kg Net profit of meat, US$/kg Profit margin, % Profit over investment (reval), %/year Net profit per hectare, US$/year TAIWAN GRASS 2. 40 0. 35 65 0. 90 0. 48 13. 1 25 $1, 300 Supplementation form January to July with 2 kg DM/day of chopped sugarcane with 3% urea and the year 2000 with 1. 14% of their body weight with a concentrated with 16% CP.
CONCLUSIONS ØRational Intensive Grazing System has demonstrated to be sustainable by recycling nutrient and maintaining production throughout the years. ØThe system had proof to be profitable and be competitive with high productivity per hectare, quality, and price in the domestic and international markets. ØOn a macroeconomic environment, the extensive use of this system may reduce the forest conversion to pasture land. ØFinally, human population can be fed economically and environmental sustainable.
Thanks…
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