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1
Dell’Orto, V., G. Baldi, and F. Cheli. "Mycotoxins in silage: checkpoints for effective management and control." World Mycotoxin Journal 8, no. 5 (September 30, 2015): 603–17. http://dx.doi.org/10.3920/wmj2014.1866.
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Silage has a substantial role in ruminant nutrition. Silages as a source of mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxins merit attention. Fungal growth and mycotoxin production before and during storage are a well-known phenomenon, resulting in reduced nutritional value and a possible risk factor for animal health. Mycotoxin co-contamination seems to be unavoidable under current agricultural and silage-making practices. Multi-mycotoxin contamination in silages is of particular concern due to the potential additive or synergistic effects on animals. In regard to managing the challenge of mycotoxins in silages, there are many factors with pre- and post-harvest origins to take into account. Pre-harvest events are predominantly dictated by environmental factors, whereas post-harvest events can be largely controlled by the farmer. An effective mycotoxin management and control programme should be integrated and personalised to each farm at an integrative level throughout the silage production chain. Growing crops in the field, silage making practices, and the feed out phase must be considered. Economical and straightforward silage testing is critical to reach a quick and sufficiently accurate diagnosis of silage quality, which allows for ‘in field decision-making’ with regard to the rapid diagnosis of the quality of given forage for its safe use as animal feed. Regular sampling and testing of silage allow picking up any variations in mycotoxin contamination. The use of rapid methods in the field represents future challenges. Moreover, a proper nutritional intervention needs to be considered to manage mycotoxin-contaminated silages. At farm level, animals are more often exposed to moderate amounts of several mycotoxins rather than to high levels of a single mycotoxin, resulting more frequently in non-specific digestive and health status impairment. Effective dietary strategies to promote rumen health, coupled with the administration of effective and broad-spectrum mycotoxin detoxifiers, are essential to minimise the negative impact of mycotoxins.
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Gillespie, Jeffrey, Richard Nehring, Carmen Sandretto, and Charles Hallahan. "Forage Outsourcing in the Dairy Sector: The Extent of Use and Impact on Farm Profitability." Agricultural and Resource Economics Review 39, no. 3 (October 2010): 399–414. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1068280500007401.
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The extent of forage purchasing behavior in milk production and its impact on profitability are analyzed using data from the 2000 and 2005 dairy versions of the Agricultural Resource Management Survey. Forage outsourcing is more common with hay than with silage and haylage, and is more prevalent in the western United States. Though silage and haylage outsourcing is found to impact profitability, the major profitability drivers appear to be farm size and efficiency. Evidence of significant forage contracting is found in the western United States.
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Luna, John, Vivien Allen, Joseph Fontenot, Lee Daniels, David Vaughan, Scott Hagood, Daniel Taylor, and Curtis Laub. "Whole farm systems research: An integrated crop and livestock systems comparison study." American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 9, no. 1-2 (June 1994): 57–63. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0889189300005580.
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AbstractTo examine the long-term productivity, profitability, and ecological interactions associated with whole farming systems, we established an interdisciplinary replicated comparison of a conventional and an experimental alternative crop-livestock farming system in southwest Virginia in 1988. The conventional system uses the best management practices commonly used in the mid-Atlantic region. The alternative system puts more emphasis on crop rotation, grazing and forage management, conservation tillage, cover crops, and integrated pest management. Each is managed as a year-round system, with management decisions based on the system's overall goals.The comparison is planned to run for 10 years, so that only preliminary conclusions can be drawn so far. These include the following: 1) similar total productivity can be achieved with either reduced or full use of herbicides and insecticides; 2) the need for N fertilization can be decreased using grazing management and short-rotation alfalfa; and 3) recycling of manure from cattle fed corn silage provides most nutrients needed for the following corn crop. The comparative profitability of the two systems has fluctuated among years, and it is too early to know which system is more profitable. The process of interdisciplinary systems research has increased our knowledge of total system interactions, challenged prior assumptions, and clarified the methodological problems of integrated systems research.
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Misselbrook, Tom, Agustin Del Prado, and David Chadwick. "Opportunities for reducing environmental emissions from forage-based dairy farms." Agricultural and Food Science 22, no. 1 (March 27, 2013): 93–107. http://dx.doi.org/10.23986/afsci.6702.
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Modern dairy production is inevitably associated with impacts to the environment and the challenge for the industry today is to increase production to meet growing global demand while minimising emissions to the environment. Negative environmental impacts include gaseous emissions to the atmosphere, of ammonia from livestock manure and fertiliser use, of methane from enteric fermentation and manure management, and of nitrous oxide from nitrogen applications to soils and from manure management. Emissions to water include nitrate, ammonium, phosphorus, sediment, pathogens and organic matter, deriving from nutrient applications to forage crops and/or the management of grazing livestock. This paper reviews the sources and impacts of such emissions in the context of a forage-based dairy farm and considers a number of potential mitigation strategies, giving some examples using the farm-scale model SIMSDAIRY. Most of the mitigation measures discussed are associated with systemic improvements in the efficiency of production in dairy systems. Important examples of mitigations include: improvements to dairy herd fertility, that can reduce methane and ammonia emissions by up to 24 and 17%, respectively; diet modification such as the use of high sugar grasses for grazing, which are associated with reductions in cattle N excretion of up to 20% (and therefore lower N losses to the environment) and potentially lower methane emissions, or reducing the crude protein content of the dairy cow diet through use of maize silage to reduce N excretion and methane emissions; the use of nitrification inhibitors with fertiliser and slurry applications to reduce nitrous oxide emissions and nitrate leaching by up to 50%. Much can also be achieved through attention to the quantity, timing and method of application of nutrients to forage crops and utilising advances made through genetic improvements.
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Golin, Henrique de Oliveira, Rafael Padilha de Rezende, Victor Luan da Silva de Abreu, Patrick Bezerra Fernandes, and Gustavo de Faria Theodoro. "Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.) and corn (Zea mays L.) biomass production for silage as a function of mechanized tillage systems." Research, Society and Development 9, no. 2 (January 1, 2020): e67922038. http://dx.doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v9i2.2038.
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Mechanical soil management has a huge impact on early plant development and can promote effects at all stages of the silage forage production cycle. Thus, this work was conducted to verify if a mechanized system of soil preparation influences the accumulation of pigeon pea and corn biomass. The experiment was conducted at the farm school of Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science. The experimental delimitation chosen was randomized blocks, the treatments were two systems of tillage (conventional and reduced), associated to two crops (Cajanus cajan L., cv. BRS Mandarim e Zea mays L. hybrid TG Status). The cv. BRS Mandarim in conventional tillage system impacted higher biomass values. In addition, the same soil preparation system promoted oscillations between the crops (P<0.05), where cv. BRS Mandarim showed biomass values 7% higher than cv. Status TG. In reduced handling system, the crops presented the same biomass productivity. Despite the increase of dry weight during the cycle of cv. BRS Mandarim biomass production, there was a reduction in the dry matter fraction, indicating that the specific weight per plant decreased at the end of the evaluation period. The tillage system that was fulfilled conventionally promoted higher estimates of pigeon pea biomass. Corn was not influenced by mechanized tillage system.
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Baghdadi, Ali, Ridzwan A. Halim, Ali Ghasemzadeh, Mohd Fauzi Ramlan, and Siti Zaharah Sakimin. "Impact of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the yield and quality of silage corn intercropped with soybean." PeerJ 6 (October 26, 2018): e5280. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.5280.
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Background Corn silage is an important feed for intense ruminant production, but the growth of corn relies heavily on the use of chemical fertilizers. Sustainable crop production requires careful management of all nutrient sources available on a farm, particularly in corn-based cropping systems. Methods Experiments were conducted to determine the appropriate technique of corn-legume intercropping in conjunction with the supplemental use of chemical fertilizers, organic manure, and biofertilizers (BFs). Acetylene reduction assays (ARAs) were also performed on corn and soybean roots. Results Combining chemical fertilizers with chicken manure (CM) in a 50:50 ratio and applying 50% NPK+50% CM+BF produced fresh forage and dry matter (DM) yields that were similar to those produced in the 100% nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) treatment. Among the lone fertilizer treatments, the inorganic fertilizer (100% NPK) treatment produced the highest DM yield (13.86 t/ha) of forage and outyielded the 100% CM (9.74 t/ha) treatment. However, when CM was combined with NPK, the resulting DM yield of forage (13.86 t/ha) was the same as that resulting from 100% NPK (13.68 t/ha). Compared with CM applications alone, combinations of NPK and CM applications resulted in increased plant height, crop growth rates (CGRs) and leaf area index (LAI), but the values of these parameters were similar to those resulting from 100% NPK application. Fertilizers in which the ratio was 50% CM+50% NPK or 50% CM+50% NPK+BF resulted in protein yields that were similar to those resulting from conventional fertilizers. Similarly, the CP content did not significantly differ between applications of the 100% NPK and 50% CM+50% NPK fertilizers. The use of BFs had no significant impact on improving either the yield or quality of forage fertilized with inorganic or organic fertilizer. Lactic acid responded differently to different fertilizer applications and was significantly higher in the fertilized plots than in the unfertilized plots. Compared with treatments of lone chemical and lone organic manure fertilizers, treatments involving applications of BF and a combination of BF and NPK or CM resulted in higher ARA values. Discussion There is no simple and easy approach to increase biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in grain legumes grown as part of a cropping system under realistic farm field conditions. Overall, evidence recorded from this study proves that, compared with corn monocrops combined with CM and chemical fertilizers, corn-soybean intercrops could increase forage yields and quality, produce higher total protein yields, and reduce the need for protein supplements and chemical fertilizers.
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Koenig, Karen, Shabtai Bittman, Carson Li, Derek Hunt, and Karen Beauchemin. "PSVI-11 Effects of nutrient management and cropping strategies in a dual-crop forage production system of silage corn and perennial grass on nutritional quality and predicted milk production of dairy cattle." Journal of Animal Science 98, Supplement_4 (November 3, 2020): 433–34. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaa278.755.
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Abstract The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of incrementally applied enhanced nutrient management, cropping practices, and advanced production technologies on nutrient composition and in vitro degradability of whole plant corn and perennial grass (tall fescue) and the predicted milk production of dairy cattle. Farm management strategies included: conventional system with manure slurry broadcast, late harvest corn, and grass cut 5 times per year (F1); improved nutrient management with manure sludge applied to corn and liquid applied to grass (F2); improved nutrient management and cropping practices with separated manure, an early harvest corn inter-seeded with a relay crop (Italian ryegrass), and grass cut 3 times per year (F3); and advanced technologies that included a nitrification inhibitor (diacyandiamide, DCD; F4). The field trial was conducted as a randomized complete block design over 2 years with 4 blocks each divided into corn and grass, 4 subplots for each crop, and 2 replicates within each subplot. Enhanced nutrient, cropping, and advanced management increased (P < 0.05) the crude protein (CP) concentration in corn compared to the conventional system (Table 1). The DCD reduced (P < 0.05) the CP concentration and the highly degradable fiber of the relay crop compared to management without DCD. Decreasing the number of cuts of grass reduced (P < 0.05) the CP concentration in the spring harvest, increased (P < 0.05) the fiber concentration in spring and summer harvests, and reduced (P < 0.05) fiber degradability in all harvests. Milk production predicted from the nutritional quality and representative proportions of forages using the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System was increased with enhanced management. The lower forage quality of grass cut 3 times compared to 5 times annually was offset by the improved quality of corn and relay crop under enhanced field management of the dairy farm.
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Jones, D. I. H., C. P. Freeman, J. R. Newbold, A. R. Fychan, Elspeth Jones, and Aeronwy Lewis. "Prediction of forage dry matter and soluble carbohydrate content from analysis of expressed juice." Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science 1996 (March 1996): 234. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0308229600031974.
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The dry matter (DM) and water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) concentrations of forage are the main characteristics influencing the course of silage fermentation. Knowledge of these parameters would enable decisions to be made both on the need for additive and the type of additive likely to be most effective. Moreover, the degree of wilt could also be followed in wilted crops. The present study was directed to assessing the relationship between the composition of the crop and the volume and composition of the expressed juice. The ultimate objective was the development of on-farm methodology for predicting the ensiling characteristics of crops.
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Julien, Marie-Claude, Patrice Dion, Carole Lafrenière, Hani Antoun, and Pascal Drouin. "Sources of Clostridia in Raw Milk on Farms." Applied and Environmental Microbiology 74, no. 20 (August 29, 2008): 6348–57. http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/aem.00913-08.
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ABSTRACT A PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) method was used to examine on-farm sources of Clostridium cluster I strains in four dairy farms over 2 years. Conventional microbiological analysis was used in parallel to monitor size of clostridial populations present in various components of the milk production chain (soil, forage, grass silage, maize silage, dry hay, and raw milk). PCR amplification with Clostridium cluster I-specific 16S rRNA gene primers followed by DGGE separation yielded a total of 47 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), which varied greatly with respect to frequency of occurrence. Some OTUs were found only in forage, and forage profiles differed according to farm location (southern or northern Québec). More clostridial contamination was found in maize silage than in grass silage. Milk represented a potential environment for certain OTUs. No OTU was milk specific, indicating that OTUs originated from other environments. Most (83%) of the OTUs detected in raw milk were also found in grass or maize silage. Milk DGGE profiles differed according to farm and sampling year and fit into two distinct categories. One milk profile category was characterized by the presence of a few dominant OTUs, the presence of which appeared to be more related to farm management than to feed contamination. OTUs were more varied in the second profile category. The identities of certain OTUs frequently found in milk were resolved by cloning and sequencing. Clostridium disporicum was identified as an important member of clostridial populations transmitted to milk. Clostridium tyrobutyricum was consistently found in milk and was widespread in the other farm environments examined.
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Cevher, Celal, and Bulent Altunkaynak. "Socioeconomic Factors and Sustainable Forage Crops Production in Turkey Aegean Region: A Multivariate Modeling." Sustainability 12, no. 19 (September 30, 2020): 8061. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su12198061.
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The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of farmers’ socioeconomic characteristics on sustainable forage crop production after forage crop subsidies. One of the innovative aspects of the study is the simultaneous modeling of alfalfa, silage corn and vetch production efficiency. For this, the multivariate linear regression model was used. In this way, the effect of socioeconomic characteristics on production is more clearly demonstrated by taking into account the dependency structure between forage crop production. For the study, 487 farmers in the Aegean region, where fodder crops can be produced throughout the year, were interviewed face-to-face and data were collected through a questionnaire. According to the results obtained, it was determined that the width of the land had a positive effect on the increase in alfalfa, silage corn, and vetch production. The number of animals was found to have a positive effect on alfalfa and silage maize production growth. The production of alfalfa was higher in rural farmers, and vetch production was higher in urban farmers. Farmers who do not have non-agricultural income focused on vetch production, and farmers with non-agricultural income focused on alfalfa production. It was seen that the majority of the farmers participating in the study were primary school graduates and lived in rural areas. In general, a significant increase was observed in the production of silage corn, vetch, and alfalfa, respectively. After the subsidies, it was concluded that this increase in the production of silage corn, vetch, and alfalfa was not at a level to meet the amount of forage crops needed by animal husbandry.
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Champion, G. T., M. J. May, S. Bennett, D. R. Brooks, S. J. Clark, R. E. Daniels, L. G. Firbank, et al. "Crop management and agronomic context of the Farm Scale Evaluations of genetically modified herbicide–tolerant crops." Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences 358, no. 1439 (October 16, 2003): 1801–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2003.1405.
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The Farm Scale Evaluations of genetically modified herbicide–tolerant crops (GMHT) were conducted in the UK from 2000 to 2002 on beet (sugar and fodder), spring oilseed rape and forage maize. The management of the crops studied is described and compared with current conventional commercial practice. The distribution of field sites adequately represented the areas currently growing these crops, and the sample contained sites operated at a range of management intensities, including low intensity. Herbicide inputs were audited, and the active ingredients used and the rates and the timings of applications compared well with current practice for both GMHT and conventional crops. Inputs on sugar beet were lower than, and inputs on spring oilseed rape and forage maize were consistent with, national averages. Regression analysis of herbicide–application strategies and weed emergence showed that inputs applied by farmers increased with weed densities in beet and forage maize. GMHT crops generally received only one herbicide active ingredient per crop, later and fewer herbicide sprays and less active ingredient (for beet and maize) than the conventional treatments. The audit of inputs found no evidence of bias.
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Schoofs, Allison, and Martin H. Entz. "Influence of annual forages on weed dynamics in a cropping system." Canadian Journal of Plant Science 80, no. 1 (January 1, 2000): 187–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.4141/p98-098.
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Alternatives to herbicides are needed for weed control. Field studies were conducted in 1994/1995 and 1995/1996 to investigate the nature of forage crop-weed dynamics and to test the effect of single year forage crops on the density and community composition of annual weeds in a following field pea (Pisium sativum L.) test crop. Five spring-seeded forage treatments were compared with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain crops (with or without herbicides for grassy and broadleaved weeds): winter triticale (Triticosecale) (simulation grazed); spring triticale (silage); spring/winter triticale intercrop (silage, then simulation grazed); alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) (hay); sorghum-sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench × Sorghum sudanese [Piper]) (hay); and a weedy fallow (silage). A fall rye (Secale cereale L.) grain crop and a sweet clover (Melilotis officinalis L.)/winter triticale double crop (hay, then simulation grazing) were included in the 1995/1996 trial. All forage systems were at least as effective as the sprayed wheat control in suppressing wild oat (Avena fatua L.); however, effects on other weeds, especially broadleaved species, were variable. Biennial crops provided the best early season weed control, while long-season systems such winter triticale and the triticale intercrop provided the best late season weed control. Forages shifted the weed community composition away from wild oat and green foxtail (Setaria viridis L. Beauv.) to a similar or greater extent than herbicide-treated wheat. Forage systems that did not provide season-long crop competition tended to have more broadleaved weeds. Some forage systems increased pea grain yield the following year (relative to the sprayed wheat control); however, forages alone did not eliminate the need for herbicides in the pea crop. Annual forages may play an important role in integrated weed management, especially for wild oat, however further research to refine forage-based weed management systems is needed. Key words: Integrated weed management, alfalfa, intercropping, double cropping, organic farming
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Greenwood, K. L., G. N. Mundy, and K. B. Kelly. "On-farm measurement of the water use and productivity of maize." Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, no. 3 (2008): 274. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea06094.
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Maize, as a C4 species, is likely to use water more productively than the perennial ryegrass and white clover pastures typically grown for dairy cows in northern Victoria. However, only estimates of water use by irrigated maize crops are available for this region. We measured the growth and water use of three commercial maize crops used for silage in northern Victoria. Crops under centre pivot irrigation were monitored in 2003–04 (Spray 1) and 2004–05 (Spray 2). A border-check irrigated crop (Border-check) was monitored in 2004–05. The Spray 1 crop was irrigated 30 times and received 782 mm of rainfall and irrigation. The crop yielded 22 t DM/ha, giving a water productivity of 28 kg DM/ha.mm (including irrigation, rainfall and change in soil water content). In the cooler, wetter summer of 2004–05, the water productivity was 34 kg DM/ha.mm for the Spray 2 crop and 30 kg DM/ha.mm for the Border-check crop. Crop evapotranspiration was estimated from weather data and a daily soil water balance was computed according to FAO 56. The estimated and measured changes in soil water content were in good agreement and indicated that the basal crop coefficients in the model (Kcb = 1.15 during the mid-season, before correction for non-standard humidity and wind speed) were appropriate to local conditions. Maize grown for silage in northern Victoria has higher water productivity than pastures. However, high yields are required to make it economically viable compared with alternative forages for dairy cows. These data will assist dairy farmers to select the optimum forage mix for their enterprises.
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Pandolfo, Carla M., and Milton da Veiga. "Crop yield and nutrient balance influenced by shoot biomass management and pig slurry application." Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agrícola e Ambiental 20, no. 4 (April 2016): 302–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1807-1929/agriambi.v20n4p302-307.
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ABSTRACT Crop systems that export large amounts of nutrients from the farm may require higher doses of animal manure than those needed for grain production. This study aimed to evaluate the yield of crops and to determine the simplified nutrient balance in three management systems of shoot biomass of crops (cover-grain, cover-silage and hay-silage) associated with five fertilization treatments (control, soluble fertilizer and three doses of pig slurry). The experimental design was a split plot, arranged in randomized blocks with four replicates. The management systems of shoot biomass did not affect the yield of the winter pasture, but there was an increase in yield with the application of pig slurry. The summer crops responded differently to fertilization, depending on the purpose for which they were grown, whether for grain or silage. In the three management systems of shoot biomass, there was an excess of Zn and Cu from the application of 25 m3 ha-1; N from 50 m3ha-1; and P, K and Ca + Mg at the dose of 100 m3ha-1.
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Medrano, H., M. M. Chaves, C. Porqueddu, and S. Caredda. "Improving Forage Crops for Semi-Arid Areas." Outlook on Agriculture 27, no. 2 (June 1998): 89–94. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/003072709802700205.
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In semi-arid areas, forage crops for grazing are suitable for extensive, marginal lands because they can sustain competitive meat or milk production, they protect against soil erosion risks, and they can form the basis of an alternative sustainable agriculture. Drought is the main limiting factor to plant growth in these lands, seriously affecting total herbage production and seasonal availability of forage. Recent research work looking for new cultivars of some annual self-reseeding pasture crops (annual rye grass, lupin and subterranean clover) with an enhanced capacity for herbage or seed production under water stress, has demonstrated the difficulties in obtaining new cultivars of well adapted crops with substantial yield improvement under drought conditions. New management strategies for improving pasture availability for grazing and self-reseeding ability have been tested (also at farm level) showing clear possibilities for enhancement of herbage production and a more regular seasonal distribution in drought-prone environments.
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Yılmaz, Hilal, Tugay Ayasan, Cengiz Sağlam, and Mevlüt Gül. "Doğu Akdeniz Bölgesinde Süt Sığırcılığı İşletmelerinin Sosyo-Ekonomik Özellikleri ve Süt Sığırcılığı Faaliyetinde Yem Kullanım Durumu." Turkish Journal of Agriculture - Food Science and Technology 8, no. 1 (January 29, 2020): 89. http://dx.doi.org/10.24925/turjaf.v8i1.89-94.2749.
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The aim of this study was to determine the socio-economic structures of dairy cattle farms and feed usage in dairy cattle sector in the Mediterranean Region provinces (Adana, Osmaniye, Mersin, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş) of Turkey. According to the results of the research, it was determined that the family sourced labour force was used at a higher rate than the foreign labour force during dairy cattle production activities. It was found that forage crops were produced in 62% of the farms where silage maize, alfalfa, barley and vetch covered the highest acreages, respectively. A large proportion of the enterprises was possessor of milking machines (85.81%). It was determined that, as the size of the farm increases, the roughage usage increases compared to concentrate feed.
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Misra, A. K., A. P. Singh, D. S. Katiyar, M. S. Dhanoa, and A. C. Longland. "Nutritional evaluation of stovers of various strains of sorghum: chemical composition, in sacco dry matter disappearance and silage quality." BSAP Occasional Publication 22 (1998): 341–43. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0263967x00033061.
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Sorghum is a multipurpose crop where all parts of the plant are used for human food, animal food, fuel and fabrication. In comparison to other cereal crops it requires little water and it is tolerant to poor soils and adverse climatic conditions. It is one of the most widely grown crops in India particularly in semi-arid and rain-fed regions where the potential for crop and livestock production is limited by the availability of water. During the kharif season (July to October), it occupies about 10 million ha of land and produces a large quantity of stover which is given to farm livestock. The rabi season crop (November to February) occupies about 6 million ha of land and is mainly dependent upon residual moisture in the soil and provides both grain and forage. The economic value of sorghum stover as fodder sometimes exceeds that of the grain because seasonal shortage of food is an acute problem during the dry season. Much effort has been expended on improving sorghum varieties (Burton, 1973; Gupta et al., 1976; Dongi and Paroda, 1978), mostly directed towards increasing the yield. Pederson et al. (1982) compared the quality and agronomic traits of 49 forage sorghum hybrids and suggested that the most rapid way to improve the quality of forage sorghum would be to improve its in vitro dry-matter (DM) digestibility. There are several new strains of sorghum which have been improved in terms of agronomic characters but there is little information on the nutritional quality of their stovers. Therefore the objective of this study was to evaluate the stovers of several new sorghum strains in terms of chemical composition, in sacco DM disappearance (DMD) and their silage quality.
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Teston, Marta, Daniel Villalba, Marco Berton, Maurizio Ramanzin, and Enrico Sturaro. "Relationships between Organic Beef Production and Agro-Ecosystems in Mountain Areas: The Case of Catalan Pyrenees." Sustainability 12, no. 21 (November 8, 2020): 9274. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su12219274.
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This study analyzed the link between organic beef production and agroecosystems in mountain areas and the potential effects of land use change in eight farms of Catalan Pyrenees with a three step approach: (i) assessment of structural and management features; (ii) comparison of forage productivity and manure loads of 71 farmland parcels in relation with management intensity (natural meadows, seminatural meadows, temporary crops) and, for meadow parcels, with the farmers’ willingness to convert them to temporary crops; (iii) life cycle assessment of the environmental impacts. Each farm managed around 150 ha of pastures and 23 ha of farmland (of which only 5 as temporary crops), and maintained a herd of around 130 livestock units. Forage productivity and manure loads of farmland were modest and extremely variable, and no productive advantages could be predicted from the conversion of meadows to temporary crops. Environmental impacts were mostly related to the on-farm stages, because of low-input management and very high feed self-sufficiency, and the diets used showed very low feed/food competition. These results indicate a balance between organic beef production and management of mountain agroecosystems, which is a key point for sustainability and should be a priority in European policies and strategies.
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Abera, Mergia, and Tekleyohannes Berhanu. "Farmers’ preference for improved grasses and legume forage species in six mixed farming system districts of southern region of Ethiopia." Agricultural Science and Practice 4, no. 2 (July 15, 2017): 23–27. http://dx.doi.org/10.15407/agrisp4.02.023.
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Participatory on-farm evaluation of improved forage crops was conducted in six mixed farming system districts of Southern Ethiopia with the objective to identify farmers preferred forage crops (legumes and grasses). Two annual forage legumes (Vigna unguiculata L. (cow pea) and Lablab purpureus (L.), two perennial legumes (Medicago sativa (L.) (alfalfa) and Desmodium intortum (Mill.) Urb. (green-leaf)), and three perennial grasses (Chloris gayana Knuth (Rhodes grass) and two Pennisetum purpureum Schumach (elephant grass) accessions (No.16800 and 16798)) were evaluated in the study. The major farmers’ criteria considered in the evaluation of forage species were vegetative growth, herbage yield, tillering, protection of soil erosion, palatability, perfor- mance under dry weather conditions, performance in marginal area under low input management, multipurpose use (conservation and soil fertility) and fast growing condition. The study showed that elephant grass accession No. 16798, 16800 and Chloris gayana adapted well and farmers preferred them for their higher herbage yield, vegetative growth, tillering ability and drought resistance. Even though the annual forage legumes Lablab purpureus and Vigna unguiculata were superior in their forage yield, the farmers preferred the perennial forage legumes (Desmodium intortum and Medicago sativa) mainly for their performance under dry weather condi- tion due to their longer growth period. Therefore, the consideration of farmers’ preference for forage crops is crucial for increased adoption of improved forage crops in the region.
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Evans, J., G. Scott, D. Lemerle, A. Kaiser, B. Orchard, G. M. Murray, and E. L. Armstrong. "Impact of legume 'break' crops on the residual amount and distribution of soil mineral nitrogen." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 54, no. 8 (2003): 763. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ar02149.
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Important factors in the successful uptake of grain legumes by cereal growers have been their capacity to increase soil N and control cereal disease, as these have underpinned high yields in following wheat crops. However, alternative 1-year legume crops are required to introduce additional biodiversity and management flexibility for cereal growers. The effects on soil mineral N and potential contribution to soil total N of other legume enterprises were studied. These included vetch (Vicia bengalhensis) or clovers (mix of Trifolium alexandrinum, T.�versiculosum, T. resupinatum) managed for green manure; pea (Pisum sativum), vetch, or clovers managed for silage; and clovers managed for hay. These were compared with pea and lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) managed for grain production. Wheat was also included as a control. The legumes were grown in acidic Red Kandasol soil at Wagga Wagga in southern New South Wales, in 1996, 1997, and 1998. Mineral N was measured in the autumn or winter of seasons 1997 and 1998 respectively. Amounts of stubble residue N were measured in all seasons. The green manure crops, particularly vetch, produced more mineral N than both grain legumes. The forage conservation crops (silage or hay) produced similar amounts of mineral N to grain pea and more than grain lupin. For the grain and green manure legume crops, variation in amounts of mineral N was explained by the total N content of legume stubble residue, but for the forage conservation crops, more mineral N was measured than was predictable from stubble N. The amounts of mineral N at different soil depths differed between legume treatments and experiments (sites and years). Based only on above-ground plant N, the green manure crops contributed more to increasing total soil N than grain legumes; in turn, the grain legumes contributed more than the forage conservation crops. It was concluded that alternative annual legume enterprises to grain legumes may provide at least similar enrichment of soil mineral N early in the following season, and that all annual legume enterprises may accumulate nitrate deep in the soil profile in some seasons.
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Santos, R. D., A. L. A. Neves, L. G. R. Pereira, L. E. Sollenberger, E. N. Muniz, E. Y. B. Souza, A. J. S. Sobral, N. V. Costa, and L. C. Gonçalves. "Performance, agronomic traits, ensilability and nutritive value of pearl millet cultivar harvested at different growth stages." Journal of Agricultural Science 158, no. 3 (April 2020): 225–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0021859620000222.
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AbstractPearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.) is an important crop for rainfed production systems and can play a significant role as a feed source for ruminants owing to its high yield and drought tolerance. It is well-established that the maturity stage can influence the chemical composition as well as the nutritional value of crops traditionally used for silage production, although quantitative evidence that this occurs with pearl millet under rainfed conditions is lacking. The current research assessed the agronomic characteristics, ensilability, intake and digestibility of a Brazilian pearl millet cultivar (IPA BULK1-BF) harvested at four different growth stages. Forage was harvested at 35, 50, 65 and 80 days after sowing and ensiled under laboratory and farm conditions. Apparent digestibility of the silages was determined using 24 male lambs. The results showed that dry matter (DM) and panicle and stem proportions increased with the advancement maturity. The silage evaluations showed that DM, total and non-fibrous carbohydrates and lignin concentrations increased, while crude protein, ADF and in vitro DM digestibility decreased with the increase in plant maturity. Additionally, the fermentation characteristics were improved with the increasing maturity. The digestion study showed that intake of DM and N as well as digestibility of DM and fibre fractions decreased, while lignin intake increased. The results obtained for the production of dry and digestible DM, the ratio of plant fractions and fermentation parameters indicate the possibility of harvesting pearl millet forage after 50 days after sowing for silage production in the Brazilian semi-arid region.
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Fedak, N. M., S. P. Chumachenko, and I. V. Dushara. "EFFICIENCY OF USING IN FEEDING CALVES VETCH-OAT SILAGE PREPARED WITH PROBIOTICS." Scientific and Technical Bulletin оf State Scientific Research Control Institute of Veterinary Medical Products and Fodder Additives аnd Institute of Animal Biology 22, no. 1 (March 29, 2021): 236–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.36359/scivp.2021-22-1.29.
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The results of the study of the effectiveness of new probiotic preparations based on strains of probiotic microorganisms in the preparation of silage from cereal-legume mixtures of annual forage crops with high humidity and their impact on the interior performance and productivity of fattening calves.
in production conditions, two variants of vetch-oat silage were preserved, the control one was fermented with BPS-L leaven at a dose of 10 ml per tone, and the experimental one was preserved with probiotic preparation KT-L 18/1 at a dose of 8 ml per tone of green mass. Both preparations are domestically produced, created in the laboratory of probiotics of the Institute of Agriculture Microbiology and Agro-Industrial Manufacture of NAAS.
A study of the chemical composition and nutritional value of silos showed that the addition of probiotic preparations BPS-L and KT-L 18/1 to the green mass by ensiling annual forage crops with high humidity (78-80%) contributes to the preservation of dry matter at 91-94, crude protein 90-93 and carotene 85-88%, provides the optimal level of lactic acid fermentation, accumulation of lactic acid at the level of 67-69%, acetic - 29-32% without accumulation butyric acid. Based on data on chemical composition, fermentation acid content and organoleptic evaluation, such silos were classified as quality class 1.
Studies on animals (calves for fattening) lasted 140 days in the experimental farm "Obroshyne" Pustomyty district of Lviv region. The main diet of both groups consisted of cereal-legume hay, winter wheat straw, pulp and feed. Animals of the control group received an additional 15 kg of silage prepared with BPS-L, and experimental - 14.5 kg of silage with the KT-L 18/1.
In the rumen fluid calves were fed silage harvested with drug KT-L 18/1 noted the increase in the concentration of nitrogen free amino acids and protein nitrogen in the background reduction of ammonia.
Established tendency to increase the level of red blood cells and hemoglobin content of calves in the experimental group.
Analysis of serum protein spectrum showed a significant increase in the level of albumin and γ-globulin fractions in animals that consumed silage prepared with the KT-L 18/1.
Average daily live weight increase of calves in experimental group were 703 g, its 4.2% higher than in controls (675 g).
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Murphy, William M., John R. Rice, and David T. Dugdale. "Dairy farm feeding and income effects of using Voisin grazing management of permanent pastures." American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 1, no. 4 (1986): 147–52. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0889189300001211.
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AbstractPermanent pastures produce far below their potential, as they are usually managed in the northcentral and northeastern United States. Dairy farmers in these regions generally feed their cattle year-round from stored forage and purchased concentrates, and use permanent pastures as mere holding or exercise areas, grazing them continuously. This practice involves high operating costs that, combined with lower milk prices, have resulted in greatly reduced profit margins. Farming practices that return more net income are needed. The Voisin system of rotational grazing management, which applies intensive management to forage crops on pastureland, is widely used on dairy and sheep farms in New Zealand. Farmers using the Voisin system there have low operating costs and obtain high yields of excellent quality forage over long grazing periods; increased net income results Between 1 May and 1 October 1984, 497 forage samples were taken and analyzed from permanent pastures grazed according to the Voisin management system on six Vermont dairy farms. This was done to provide farmers with current estimates of forage feeding value so that they could balance their cows' rations accordingly throughout the season, and determine if they could improve the profitability of their farms by using Voisin grazing management. Average grazingseason analyses (dry weight) were: 22.5% dry matter, 22.4% crude protein, 20.8% available protein, 28.4% acid detergent fiber, 1.18% calcium, .48% phosphorus, 1.60% potassium, .22% magnesium, and 1.58 Mcal/kg net energy lactation. Average dry forage yield was 8.9 metric tons/ha. Dry matter intake was adequate for milk production up to 36 kg/cow/day. Forage protein and energy contents were sufficient for at least 25 and 18 kg milk/day, respectively. On three farms where economic factors were calculated, net profits per cow averaged $67 more during the 5-month period from using Voisin grazing management, compared to continuous grazing of the same pastureland in the year before Voisin management was used. This profit resulted mainly from feed savings and a more favorable milk:concentrate ratio of 4.1:1 obtained with Voisin management, compared to 2.7:1 with continuous grazing and more feeding of stored or machine-harvested forage. Voisin-managed pastures can produce high yields of excellent-quality forage that can be incorporated into dairy feeding programs, thereby reducing feed costs and increasing profitability of the farming operations.
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Mooleki, S. P., Y. Gan, R. L. Lemke, R. P. Zentner, and C. Hamel. "Effect of green manure crops, termination method, stubble crops, and fallow on soil water, available N, and exchangeable P." Canadian Journal of Plant Science 96, no. 5 (October 1, 2016): 867–86. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjps-2015-0336.
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Green manure crops may have a role to play in the development of sustainable agricultural systems in the semiarid northern Great Plains of North America. This study determined the benefits of different green manure crops, seeding dates, and termination methods on soil nitrogen, phosphorus, and moisture, as well as the performance of durum wheat following green manures the following year. Field experiments were conducted at Swift Current, Saskatchewan, from 2006 to 2009. Three green manure crops [forage pea (Pisum sativum L.), chickling vetch (Lathyrus sativus L.), and black lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.)] were seeded in May, June, and July, and terminated at full bloom using glyphosate, rototilling or by frost. Other treatments included summerfallow and stubble of selected crops harvested for grain or silage. Different green manure crops, seeding dates or termination methods had similar effects on soil moisture, available N, and exchangeable P at termination or the following spring. These effects of green manure management on soil residual characteristics were comparable to those observed under summerfallow, but higher than those on grain or silage stubble. Therefore, green manure is a viable alternative to summerfallowing and could be seeded any time during the growing season. If seeded late, green manure could be terminated by frost, thus saving on costs.
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Pembleton, K. G., R. P. Rawnsley, J. L. Jacobs, F. J. Mickan, G. N. O'Brien, B. R. Cullen, and T. Ramilan. "Evaluating the accuracy of the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) simulating growth, development, and herbage nutritive characteristics of forage crops grown in the south-eastern dairy regions of Australia." Crop and Pasture Science 64, no. 2 (2013): 147. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/cp12372.
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Pasture-based dairy farms are a complex system involving interactions between soils, pastures, forage crops, and livestock as well as the economic and social aspects of the business. Consequently, biophysical and farm systems models are becoming important tools to study pasture-based dairy systems. However, there is currently a paucity of modelling tools available for the simulation of one key component of the system—forage crops. This study evaluated the accuracy of the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) in simulating dry matter (DM) yield, phenology, and herbage nutritive characteristics of forage crops grown in the dairy regions of south-eastern Australia. Simulation results were compared with data for forage wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), oats (Avena sativa L.), forage rape (Brassica napus L.), forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench), and maize (Zea mays L.) collated from previous field research and demonstration activities undertaken across the dairy regions of south-eastern Australia. This study showed that APSIM adequately predicted the DM yield of forage crops, as evidenced by the range of values for the coefficient of determination (0.58–0.95), correlation coefficient (0.76–0.94), and bias correction factor (0.97–1.00). Crop phenology for maize, forage wheat, and oats was predicted with similar accuracy to forage crop DM yield, whereas the phenology of forage rape and forage sorghum was poorly predicted (R2 values 0.38 and 0.80, correlation coefficient 0.62 and –0.90, and bias correction factors 0.67 and 0.28, respectively). Herbage nutritive characteristics for all crop species were poorly predicted. While the selection of a model to explore an aspect of agricultural production will depend on the specific problem being addressed, the performance of APSIM in simulating forage crop DM yield and, in many cases, crop phenology, coupled with its ease of use, open access, and science-based mechanistic methods of simulating agricultural and crop processes, makes it an ideal model for exploring the influence of management and environment on forage crops grown on dairy farms in south-eastern Australia. Potential future model developments and improvements are discussed in the context of the results of this validation analysis.
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Aarts, H. F. M., E. E. Biewing, and H. van Keulen. "Dairy farming systems based on efficient nutrient management." Netherlands Journal of Agricultural Science 40, no. 3 (September 1, 1992): 285–99. http://dx.doi.org/10.18174/njas.v40i3.16514.
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In Dutch dairy farming, dramatic nutrient losses occur, causing serious environmental problems, and representing an economic and energy waste. So farming systems have to be developed based on efficient nutrient management. A dairy farm is characterized as a system with soils and crops, forage, cattle, and manure as main components. Simple models of nutrient flows in and between components of the farming system were used to design a prototype system for a new experimental farm on sandy soil, which has to meet strict environmental demands. Experimental results of this farm will be used to improve the models and the models will be used again to optimize the prototype system. Initial results of modelling suggest that nutrient losses can be reduced considerably by more accurate management, and introduction of relatively cheap and simple measures. However, more radical and expensive modifications of the farming system are necessary to meet further standards of the Dutch government for max. allowable emissions. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)
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McCartney, D., L. Townley-Smith, F. C. Stevenson, and J. R. Pearen. "Seeding ratios and rates that maximize annual forage production in Black soil zones of central Saskatchewan." Canadian Journal of Plant Science 85, no. 3 (July 1, 2005): 615–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.4141/p03-227.
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Three different seeding densities and four seeding ratios of spring and fall crop components for annual forage production were evaluated for maximizing silage and fall regrowth yield in a 3-yr study at Melfort, Saskatchewan. Binary mixtures of a spring cereal, barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) or oat (Avena sativa L.), and a fall crop, fall rye (Secale cereale L.) or Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), were seeded at three total stand seed densities (150, 275 and 400 seeds m-2), which consequently resulted in the following spring:fall seeding crop component ratios: 1:0, 2:1, 1:2 and 0:1. Both spring and fall crops were harvested when the spring cereals were at the soft-dough stage (silage cut) and late in the autumn (fall regrowth cut). Average spring crop component yield was greater for the silage cut (4806 kg ha-1) than for the fall regrowth cut (329 kg ha-1), and total sward yield was greater for the silage cut (5995 kg ha-1) than for the fall regrowth cut (1261 kg ha-1). Productivity of the fall component was 1173 and 929 kg ha-1 for the silage and fall regrowth cuts, respectively. Total crop yield was often maximized with seeding ratios of 60% spring:fall crop component or greater for the different combinations. Fall regrowth cut yields were always maximized by seeding 100% fall crop component. The spring crop component yield, especially for the oat mixtures, contributed very little to fall regrowth yields. Stand seeding rate frequently affected spring component and total crop yield, but not fall crop yield. Silage and annual yield for the spring crop and total sward increased with increase in stand seeding rate. Fall crop yield was not affected by stand seeding rate or its effect was of questionable practical importance. Italian ryegrass produced the most fall regrowth yield. Weed management was identified as a possible area for future research with regard to seeding ratios and rates for annual forage stands. Key words: Monocrop, intercrop, annual forage, seeding rates, seeding ratio
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Jégo, Guillaume, C. Alan Rotz, Gilles Bélanger, Gaëtan F. Tremblay, Édith Charbonneau, and Doris Pellerin. "Simulating forage crop production in a northern climate with the Integrated Farm System Model." Canadian Journal of Plant Science 95, no. 4 (July 2015): 745–57. http://dx.doi.org/10.4141/cjps-2014-375.
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Jégo, G., Rotz, C. A., Bélanger, G., Tremblay, G. F., Charbonneau, E. and Pellerin, D. 2015. Simulating forage crop production in a northern climate with the Integrated Farm System Model. Can. J. Plant Sci. 95: 745–757. Whole-farm simulation models are useful tools for evaluating the effect of management practices and climate variability on the agro-environmental and economic performance of farms. A few process-based farm-scale models have been developed, but none has been evaluated in northern regions with boreal and hemiboreal climates characterized by a short growing season and a long period with snow cover. The study objectives were to calibrate the grass sub-model of the Integrated Farm System Model (IFSM) and evaluate its predictions of yield and nutritive value of timothy and alfalfa, grown alone or in a mixture, using experimental field data from across Canada, andto assess IFSM's predictions of yield of major annual crops grown on dairy farms in eastern Canada using regional yield data from two contrasting regions. Several timothy and alfalfa datasets combining sites, years, harvests, and N fertilization rates were used to calibrate and evaluate the model. For timothy and alfalfa, the model's accuracy was globally satisfactory in predicting dry matter yield and neutral detergent fiber concentration with a normalized root mean square error (NRMSE)<30%. For N uptake, the scatter was a bit larger, especially for timothy (NRMSE= 49%), mainly because of a small range in the measured data. The model's accuracy for predicting the yield of annual crops was generally good, with an NRMSE<30%. Adding timothy and alfalfa to the grass sub-model of IFSM and verifying the model's performance for annual crops confirmed that IFSM can be used in northern regions of North America. In addition, the model was able to simulate the yield and nutritive value of a timothy–alfalfa mixture, which is the most common perennial mixture used in Canada.
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PARKER, P., J. INGWERSEN, P. HÖGY, E. PRIESACK, and J. AURBACHER. "Simulating regional climate-adaptive field cropping with fuzzy logic management rules and genetic advance." Journal of Agricultural Science 154, no. 2 (May 29, 2015): 207–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0021859615000490.
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SUMMARYAgriculture is a largely technical endeavour involving complicated managerial decision-making that affects crop performance. Farm-level modelling integrates crop models with agent behaviour to account for farmer decision-making and complete the representation of agricultural systems. To replicate an important part of agriculture in Central Europe a crop model was calibrated for a unique region's predominant crops: winter wheat, winter and spring barley, silage maize and winter rapeseed. Their cultivation was then simulated over multiple decades at daily resolution to test validity and stability, while adding the dimension of agent behaviour in relation to environmental and economic conditions. After validation against regional statistics, simulated future weather scenarios were used to forecast crop management and performance under anticipated global change. Farm management and crop genetics were treated as adaptive variables in the milieu of shifting climatic conditions to allow projections of agriculture in the study region into the coming decades.
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Tautges, Nicole E., Jessica R. Goldberger, and Ian C. Burke. "A Survey of Weed Management in Organic Small Grains and Forage Systems in the Northwest United States." Weed Science 64, no. 3 (September 2016): 513–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1614/ws-d-15-00186.1.
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A lack of information regarding weed control, relative to conventional systems, has left organic growers largely on their own when devising weed management systems for organic crops. As interest in organic weed management increases, researchers need more information regarding the type and number of weed control practices undertaken on organic farms. A survey of certified organic growers was conducted in five states in the northwest United States to identify organic weed management programs and what grower and farm-operation characteristics were factors in weed management program design. Three types of weed management programs, with varying diversity in weed control practices, were identified. Stepwise binary logistic regression indicated that the likelihood of an organic grower using a more-diverse weed management program increased if the grower engaged in grain production and as the number of crops produced on an organic farm operation in 1 yr increased. The probability of operating a more-diverse weed management program also increased as a grower's education level increased. Organic hectarage operated was positively correlated with weed management program diversity, and with the adoption of cultural controls. Additionally, awareness of weeds as a factor causing yield loss was correlated with increased weed management program diversity. An increased awareness among researchers of the differing needs and abilities of organic growers in managing weeds on their farms will improve communication and outreach efforts when assisting growers with designing organic weed management programs.
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Baysal-Gurel, Fulya, Md Niamul Kabir, and Prabha Liyanapathiranage. "Effect of Organic Inputs and Solarization for the Suppression of Rhizoctonia solani in Woody Ornamental Plant Production." Plants 8, no. 5 (May 24, 2019): 138. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/plants8050138.
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Soilborne diseases are the most economically significant problem faced by Southern region nursery producers. The goal of this research was to improve Rhizoctonia root rot disease management through the use of soil solarization alone and in combination with biofumigant cover crops—arugula ‘Astro’ (Eruca vesicaria ssp. sativa), mustard green ‘Amara’ (Brassica carinata), and turnip ‘Purple top forage’ (B. rapa); good quality compost and mustard meal amendment. The experiments were established as on-farm trials in 2016 and 2017 with prevalent Rhizoctonia solani population in propagation beds. All three biofumigant cover crops, arugula ‘Astro’, mustard green ‘Amara’, and turnip ‘Purple top forage’ in combination with solarization were able to reduce the Rhizoctonia root rot in flowering cherry ‘Kwanzan’ plants in nursery propagation beds. Compost amendment increased the flowering cherry rooted cuttings growth (plant weight, root weight, and plant height) compared to other treatments. Soil solarization in combination with cover crops and organic inputs could be used as part of an integrated approach to manage Rhizoctonia root rot in nursery crop propagation beds.
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Kurmanova, G. K. "On-farm land use management of agricultural entities." Problems of AgriMarket, no. 1 (March 15, 2021): 132–37. http://dx.doi.org/10.46666/2021-1-2708-9991.16.
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The issues of land legislation in the field of regulation of land relations have been identified. It was determined that pre-reform period was characterized by the planned development of economy, on-farm land management design was mandatory and was of a directive nature. The author notes that the Rules for Rational Use of Agricultural Lands establish the existence of onfarm land management projects aimed at their rational use. The results of the analysis showed that currently in the land legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan there are no clear requirements for drafting projects in the system of measures on land use regulation. Therefore, in practice, they are developed by only a small part of economic entities, which leads to deterioration in reclamation state of agricultural land, decrease in fertility level, contamination of crops with weeds, spread of various diseases and plant pests, degradation of forage lands (pastures, hayfields), etc. All this is the result of underdeveloped land legislation, weak implementation of public control over the use and protection of land. The existing structure of on-farm land management projects has been analyzed. The conclusion on the need for their development, as well as methodological instructions based on new approaches and innovative technologies was done. It is noted that in 2018 at the legislative level, amendments were made to the Land Code, regulating the procedure and features of the provision of State-owned agricultural land for peasant or private farm operations, agricultural production through tender commission. Owners or land users were invited to develop on-farm land management projects at their own expense.
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BUDI, SANTOSO, BAMBANG PRASETIYONO, and PURNAWENI HARTUTI. "THE PRIORITY OF BEEF CATTLE FARM DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY IN SEMARANG REGENCY USING AHP AND SWOT (A’WOT) METHOD." Journal of Sustainability Science and Management 15, no. 6 (August 30, 2020): 125–36. http://dx.doi.org/10.46754/jssm.2020.08.011.
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The development of a directed and sustainable beef cattle farm can be achieved if the development strategy plan is based on existing real problems. This study aims to determine the priority of beef cattle farm development strategies in Semarang Regency, Central Java Province, Indonesia. The A’WOT method was applied in this study, by integrating strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). After determining the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats found in beef cattle farm business, group weights and SWOT factors were calculated using the AHP method, the results of which were the three priority strategies with the highest scores. These strategies can be summarised as follows: (1) optimising the utilisation of forage through silage and hay making, (2) optimising the provision of suitable land and meeting the technical requirements of livestock, and (3) optimising farmers’ ability to access capital. It was concluded that sustainable beef cattle farm business in Semarang Regency could be improved through the application of priority strategies focusing on feed technology, land suitability, and access to capital. Findings also demonstrated that the A’WOT method is useful and effective in determining livestock sector strategies.
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Chapman, D. F., J. Hill, J. Tharmaraj, D. Beca, S. N. Kenny, and J. L. Jacobs. "Increasing home-grown forage consumption and profit in non-irrigated dairy systems. 1. Rationale, systems design and management." Animal Production Science 54, no. 3 (2014): 221. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/an12295.
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The profitability of dairy businesses in southern Australia is closely related to the amount of feed consumed from perennial ryegrass-dominant pasture. Historically, the dairy industry has relied on improvements in pasture productivity and utilisation to support profitable increases in stocking rate and milk production per hectare. However, doubts surround the extent to which the industry can continue to rely on perennial ryegrass technology to provide the necessary productivity improvements required into the future. This paper describes the design and management of a dairy systems experiment at Terang in south-west Victoria (780-mm average annual rainfall) conducted over four lactations (June 2005–March 2009) to compare the production and profitability of two forage base options for non-irrigated dairy farms. These options were represented by two self-contained farmlets each milking 36 mixed-age, autumn-calving Holstein-Friesian cows at peak: (1) well managed perennial ryegrass pasture (‘Ryegrass Max’, or ‘RM’); and (2) perennial ryegrass plus complementary forages (‘CF’) including 15% of farmlet area under double cropping with annual species (winter cereal grown for silage followed by summer brassica for grazing on the same land) and an average of 25% of farmlet area in perennial pasture based on tall fescue for improved late spring–early summer feed supply. The design of these systems was informed by farming systems models (DairyMod, UDDER and Redsky), which were used to estimate the effects of introducing different forage options on farm profitability. The design of the CF system was selected based on modelled profitability increases assuming that all forage components could be managed to optimise forage production and be effectively integrated to optimise milk production per cow. Using the historical ‘average’ pasture growth curve for the Terang district and a mean milk price of $3.71 per kg milk solids, the models estimated that the return on assets of the RM and CF systems would be 9.4 and 15.0%, respectively. The objectives of the experiment described here were to test whether or not such differences in profitability could be achieved in practice, and to determine the risks associated with including complementary forages on a substantial proportion of the effective farm area. Key results of the experiment are presented in subsequent papers.
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Nieto, María, Olivia Barrantes, Liliana Privitello, and Ramón Reiné. "Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Beef Grazing Systems in Semi-Arid Rangelands of Central Argentina." Sustainability 10, no. 11 (November 16, 2018): 4228. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su10114228.
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The livestock sector can be a major contributor to the mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Within the sector, beef production produces the largest proportion of the livestock sector’s direct emissions. The objective of this study was to assess the on-farm GHG emissions in semi-arid rangelands in Argentina and to identify the relationship between emissions and current farm management practices. A survey recorded detailed information on farm management and characteristics. Assessments of GHG emissions were based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Tier 2 protocols. The relationship between farm management and GHG emissions were identified using general linear models. Cluster analysis was used to identify groups of farms that differed from others in emissions and farm characteristics. Emissions per product sold were low on farms that had improved livestock care management, rotational grazing, received technical advice, and had high animal and land productivities. Emissions per hectare of farmland were low on farms that had low stocking rates, a low number of grazing paddocks, little or no land dedicated to improved pastures and forage crops, and low land productivity. Our results suggest that the implementation of realistic, relatively easy-to-adopt farming management practices has considerable potential for mitigating the GHG emissions in the semi-arid rangelands of central Argentina.
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Ungureanu, George, Gabriela Ignat, Eduard Boghita, Luiza Costuleanu, Catalin Razvan Vintu, Dan Bodescu, and Costel Bejinariu. "Good Management Practices in Managing the Most Important Factors to Ensure Dureble Soil Quality." Revista de Chimie 68, no. 10 (November 15, 2017): 2350–57. http://dx.doi.org/10.37358/rc.17.10.5884.
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The importance of sustainable development has started to be acknowledged in Romania as well, once the various pollution sources and the restrictions affecting industrial and agricultural pollution were identified, from an economic and ecological standpoint. Sustainable development represents the need of raising awareness about environmental protection and educating people, and this aspect is reflected by the evolution of communal policies in recent years, policies marked by a shift from an approach based on constraints and sanctions to a higher level of flexibility, based on incentives. The purpose of this paper is to make a recommendation for improving existing policy by making an assessment of economic incentives in order to stimulate farmers to adopt sustainable farming systems of a viable, sustainable agriculture, capable to apply the newest technologies and lead to profit and efficiency, to the economical and organizational consolidation. To analyse the effects of different zone packages on income of farmers and the environment a linear programming model is developed for a typical, 192 ha mixed farm in the Iasi region plain pilot area. The major activities of the farm is keeping dairy cattle, growing fodder (grass, alfalfa, silage maize) and cash crops (winter wheat and maize).
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FINNERAN, E., P. CROSSON, P. O'KIELY, L. SHALLOO, D. FORRISTAL, and M. WALLACE. "Stochastic simulation of the cost of home-produced feeds for ruminant livestock systems." Journal of Agricultural Science 150, no. 1 (July 22, 2011): 123–39. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s002185961100061x.
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SUMMARYAn agro-economic simulation model was developed to facilitate comparison of the impact of management, market and biological factors on the cost of providing ruminant livestock with feed grown on the farm (home produced feed). Unpredictable year-to-year variation in crop yields and input prices were identified as quantifiable measures of risk affecting feed cost. Stochastic analysis was used to study the impact of yield and input price risk on the variability of feed cost for eight feeds grown in Ireland over a 10-year period. Intensively grazed perennial ryegrass was found to be the lowest cost feed in the current analysis (mean cost €74/1000 Unité Fourragère Viande (UFV)). Yield risk was identified as the greatest single factor affecting feed cost variability. At mean prices and yields, purchased rolled barley was found to be 3% less costly than home-produced spring-sown barley. However, home-produced spring barley was marginally less risky than purchased barley (coefficient of variation (CV) 0·063 v. 0·064). Feed crops incurring the greatest proportion of fixed costs and area-dependent variable costs, including bunker grass silage, were the most sensitive to yield fluctuations. The most energy input-intensive feed crops, such as grass silage, both baled and bunker ensiled, were deemed most susceptible to input price fluctuations. Maize silage was the most risky feed crop (CV 0·195), with potential to be both the cheapest and the most expensive conserved feed.
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Chapman, D. F., D. Beca, J. Hill, J. Tharmaraj, J. L. Jacobs, and B. R. Cullen. "Increasing home-grown forage consumption and profit in non-irrigated dairy systems. 4. Economic performance." Animal Production Science 54, no. 3 (2014): 256. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/an13186.
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The profitability of dairy farm systems in southern Australia is closely related to the amount of pasture grown and consumed on-farm by dairy cows. However, there are doubts regarding the extent to which gains in feed supply from perennial ryegrass pasture can continue to support productivity growth in the industry. A farmlet experiment was conducted in south-western Victoria for 4 years (June 2005–May 2009), comparing a production system based on the use of forage species that complement perennial ryegrass in their seasonal growth pattern (‘Complementary Forages’, or CF) with a well managed system solely based on perennial ryegrass pasture (‘Ryegrass Max’, or RM). The forage base in CF included perennial ryegrass with a double-cropping rotation of winter cereal grown for whole-crop silage, followed by a summer brassica for grazing on 15% of farmlet area, a summer-active pasture based on tall fescue (on average 20% of farmlet area), perennial ryegrass oversown with short-rotation ryegrasses (average 16% of farmlet area) and summer brassica crops used in the process of pasture renovation (average 5% of farmlet area). The stocking rate was 2.2 and 2.8 cows/ha on RM and CF, respectively. Both systems were profitable over the 4 years of the experiment, with the modified internal rate of return over 4 years being 14.4% and 14.7% for the RM and CF farmlets, respectively. The coefficient of variation (%) of annual operating profit over 4 years was higher for the CF farmlet (56% and 63% for RM and CF, respectively). A severe drought in one of the 4 years exposed the more highly stocked CF system to greater supplementary feed costs and business risk. By comparison, the RM system performed consistently well across different seasons and in the face of a range of milk prices. The very small gain in profit from CF, plus the associated higher risk, makes it difficult to endorse a substantial change away from the traditional RM feed supply to greater reliance on summer-grown forages on non-irrigated dairy farms in southern Australia, as implemented in this experiment.
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Wayman, Sandra, Valentine Debray, Stephen Parry, Christophe David, and Matthew R. Ryan. "Perspectives on Perennial Grain Crop Production among Organic and Conventional Farmers in France and the United States." Agriculture 9, no. 11 (November 14, 2019): 244. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agriculture9110244.
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Perennial grain crops are currently being developed, yet little is known about farmer interest in these new crops. We conducted an online survey in France and the United States to evaluate interest in perennial grains. Results show that 57% of the farmers who responded reported they were “interested” or “very interested” in growing perennial grains, whereas 41% reported they needed more information. Respondents consistently ranked “to increase or maintain farm profitability” and “to improve soil health” among the top reasons why they were interested in growing perennial grains. Reasons why farmers were interested, as well as their concerns about growing perennial grains, differed by country and farm type (i.e., conventional vs. organic). More farmers in France than in the United States ranked “to reduce labor requirements”, and more conventional farmers than organic farmers ranked “to reduce inputs” among their top reasons for their interest. Farmers were also asked about integration strategies and management. More farmers in the United States than in France and more conventional farmers than organic farmers reported that they were interested in dual-purpose perennial crops that can be harvested for both grain and forage. Results from this survey can guide future perennial grain research and development.
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Hamilton-Manns, Mark, and Rob Crothers. "Farmer experience of perennial ryegrass endophyte on a Manawatu dairy farm." NZGA: Research and Practice Series 7 (January 1, 1999): 51–56. http://dx.doi.org/10.33584/rps.7.1999.3398.
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Case studies of two Manawatu properties currently experiencing ryegrass staggers (RGS) are presented; a dairy farm and a run-off grazing both dairy heifers and intensive bull beef. Before its conversion from a sheep and cattle enterprise to dairying an outbreak of RGS was experienced in 1987. Tall fescue-based pastures were established to minimise the potential threat of RGS. In the intervening 12 years high endophyte ryegrass cultivars have been established and hotter, drier summers are being experienced in this region. Severe cases of RGS have been observed in the last three years. On the dairy farm in 1998/99, 21 cows were dried off in January due to severe RGS. The loss in production is impossible to measure. Sixteen heifers and weaner bulls died during that summer due to RGS and those alive were 35 kg LWT below target. Management options to reduce the effects of endophyte-related disorders include establishing non-toxic pastures such as tall fescue or forage crops to utilise during periods of the year when RGS can be experienced. While limited in cultivar choice at present, the use of novel endophytes provides long-term options for farmers wishing to reduce RGS yet still maintaining ryegrass pastures. Including herbaceous species such as chicory or plantain in pasture mixes will provide high quality summer forage and can dilute the effects of endophyte in the total daily intake. Keywords: bull beef, dairy cows, endophyte, heifers, perennial ryegrass, ryegrass staggers
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Koehler, Brigitte, Michael Diepolder, Johannes Ostertag, Stefan Thurner, and Hubert Spiekers. "Dry matter losses of grass, lucerne and maize silages in bunker silos." Agricultural and Food Science 22, no. 1 (March 27, 2013): 145–50. http://dx.doi.org/10.23986/afsci.6715.
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An efficient feed management is important for a sustainable and economic agricultural production. One of the main points for improving the efficiency is the reduction of feed losses. In the present investigation the dry matter (DM) losses of grass, lucerne and maize silages in farm scaled bunker silos were analysed. The method of determining DM losses was the total-in versus total-out DM mass flow of the silos, including the determination of DM content and other silage parameters via manual sampling. The results taken from 48 silos showed on average for all investigated crops 9–12% of DM losses. Density and feed out rate showed a negative correlation to DM losses in maize silages. According to the applied method for determining DM losses on farm scale, a guideline of 8% can be suggested for maximum DM losses in bunker silos for grass and maize silages. The described method seems to be applicable for improving the feed management by using largely automated measurements on the harvest and feeding side.
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Haughton, A. J., G. T. Champion, C. Hawes, M. S. Heard, D. R. Brooks, D. A. Bohan, S. J. Clark, et al. "Invertebrate responses to the management of genetically modified herbicide–tolerant and conventional spring crops. II. Within-field epigeal and aerial arthropods." Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences 358, no. 1439 (October 16, 2003): 1863–77. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2003.1408.
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The effects of the management of genetically modified herbicide–tolerant (GMHT) crops on the abundances of aerial and epigeal arthropods were assessed in 66 beet, 68 maize and 67 spring oilseed rape sites as part of the Farm Scale Evaluations of GMHT crops. Most higher taxa were insensitive to differences between GMHT and conventional weed management, but significant effects were found on the abundance of at least one group within each taxon studied. Numbers of butterflies in beet and spring oilseed rape and of Heteroptera and bees in beet were smaller under the relevant GMHT crop management, whereas the abundance of Collembola was consistently greater in all GMHT crops. Generally, these effects were specific to each crop type, reflected the phenology and ecology of the arthropod taxa, were indirect and related to herbicide management. These results apply generally to agriculture across Britain, and could be used in mathematical models to predict the possible long–term effects of the widespread adoption of GMHT technology. The results for bees and butterflies relate to foraging preferences and might or might not translate into effects on population densities, depending on whether adoption leads to forage reductions over large areas. These species, and the detritivore Collembola, may be useful indicator species for future studies of GMHT management.
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Hassanali, Ahmed, Hans Herren, Zeyaur R. Khan, John A. Pickett, and Christine M. Woodcock. "Integrated pest management: the push–pull approach for controlling insect pests and weeds of cereals, and its potential for other agricultural systems including animal husbandry." Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 363, no. 1491 (July 25, 2007): 611–21. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2007.2173.
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This paper describes the ‘push–pull’ or ‘stimulo-deterrent diversionary’ strategy in relation to current and potential examples from our own experiences. The push–pull effect is established by exploiting semiochemicals to repel insect pests from the crop (‘push’) and to attract them into trap crops (‘pull’). The systems exemplified here have been developed for subsistence farming in Africa and delivery of the semiochemicals is entirely by companion cropping, i.e. intercropping for the push and trap cropping for the pull. The main target was a series of lepidopterous pests attacking maize and other cereals. Although the area given to the cereal crop itself is reduced under the push–pull system, higher yields are produced per unit area. An important spin-off from the project is that the companion crops are valuable forage for farm animals. Leguminous intercrops also provide advantages with regard to plant nutrition and some of the trap crops help with water retention and in reducing land erosion. A major benefit is that certain intercrop plants provide dramatic control of the African witchweed (striga). Animal husbandry forms an essential part of intensive subsistence agriculture in Africa and developments using analogous push–pull control strategies for insect pests of cattle are exemplified.
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Hoshide, Aaron K., Timothy J. Dalton, and Smith N. Stewart. "Profitability of coupled potato and dairy farms in Maine." Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 21, no. 4 (December 2006): 261–72. http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/raf2006146.
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AbstractAfter decades of farm specialization, re-integrating crop and livestock farming systems is being reconsidered as a key step toward sustainable agriculture. The relative profitability of Maine farms integrating crops and livestock is compared to non-integrated or conventional farms. Crop and livestock integration in Maine occurs through either diversified on-farm integration or, more commonly, through coupled interactions between specialized crop and livestock producers. Potato and dairy systems coupled for only 2 years (short-term) had greater profitability compared to conventional systems. Profitability increased in the short term in two ways. First, potato farms grew more of their primary cash crop. Secondly, dairy farms expanded cow numbers, increasing profitability assuming increasing returns to scale. Coupled systems integrated for more than 10 years (long-term) had more favorable profitability than short-term couplers since greater manure-nutrient credits were taken for potatoes and silage corn. The advantages of potato–dairy integration were even greater if potato yields increased in the long term, as suggested by long-term rotation plot studies in Maine. Even if coupling is more profitable than non-integrated systems, it requires that farms be in close proximity and for farmers to have adequate working relationships and management skills. Despite these challenges to re-integrating crops and livestock, short- and long-term economic benefits may encourage farmers in appropriate areas to consider coupling with other producers.
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McCormick, J. I., J. W. Paulet, L. W. Bell, M. Seymour, M. P. Ryan, and S. R. McGrath. "Dual-purpose crops: the potential to increase cattle liveweight gains in winter across southern Australia." Animal Production Science 61, no. 11 (2021): 1189. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/an19231.
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Context Dual-purpose wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and canola (Brassica napus L.) crops have been extensively researched for grazing in Australian farming systems, with a focus on grazing by sheep. In some regions, dual-purpose crops have been grazed by cattle, but there have been reports of animal health problems. Aims This paper sought to collate all known experiments conducted throughout Australia of cattle grazing dual-purpose crops, in order to evaluate grazing management options for cattle on dual-purpose crops that result in high growth rates and good animal health outcomes. Methods There were six experiments. In Expts 1–3, cattle were grazed on wheat crops with and without available mineral supplementation of NaCl and MgO in a 1:1 ratio. In Expt 3, lime was also added to the mineral mix. In Expts 4 and 5, dual-purpose crops were grazed in combination with annual pastures to determine whether strategic use of dual-purpose crops could increase whole farm livestock productivity. In Expt 6, cattle were introduced to dual-purpose canola with different periods of adaptation (0, 4 and 7 days). Liveweight gain was monitored regularly to assess differences between adaptation treatments. Key results Liveweight gain was increased by 0–27% when cattle grazing high quality, dual-purpose wheat were provided with mineral supplement. Cattle had an initial lag in growth rate when introduced to dual-purpose canola for grazing and this was not affected by the adaptation strategy used. Cattle that experienced a shorter adaptation period achieved higher weight gains more quickly. After the lag phase, average daily gain (ADG) was ≥2 kg/head.day, with an ADG over the entire grazing period for all treatments of 1.75 kg/head.day. The effect on the farm system was determined by extending the length of the grazing period on the dual-purpose crops. Grazing periods of shorter duration did not increase overall liveweight gains compared with grazing only pasture, whereas extending the period of dual-purpose crop grazing resulted in increased cattle weights. Conclusions Cattle benefit from the addition of mineral supplements when grazing a dual-purpose wheat crop, with a response similar to that previously demonstrated in sheep. Cattle can safely graze dual-purpose canola and achieve high ADG. Inclusion of dual-purpose crops can improve overall cattle performance in the farming system. Implications The potential area for production of dual-purpose crops within the Australian mixed farming zone is large and there may be insufficient livestock numbers within the zone to utilise the potential forage production. Cattle from other regions could be introduced during autumn and winter to realise this large forage potential during a period that is commonly a feed deficit on grazing-only properties. Estimates suggest that up to two million young cattle could be supported for 60 days, increasing liveweight by 90 kg/head.
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Grillo, Federico, Ilaria Piccoli, Ivan Furlanetto, Francesca Ragazzi, Silvia Obber, Tiziano Bonato, Francesco Meneghetti, and Francesco Morari. "Agro-Environmental Sustainability of Anaerobic Digestate Fractions in Intensive Cropping Systems: Insights Regarding the Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Crop Performance." Agronomy 11, no. 4 (April 12, 2021): 745. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11040745.
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Digestate is an anaerobic digestion by-product rich in inorganic-nitrogen (N) that can be used as an organic fertilizer. Digestate agronomic efficiency and its impact on the environment have not yet been studied in detail, therefore this study tries to fill this gap. The agro-environmental sustainability of digestate fractions was evaluated in a holistic way by comparing the best management practices available in the Veneto Region agroecosystem. A farm experiment involving mineral fertilizer and both liquid and solid digestate fractions was established involving silage winter wheat and silage maize as main crops. Agro-environmental sustainability was investigated coupling crop performance analysis (e.g., yield, N uptake and N use efficiency (NUE)) with a novel proposed agro-environmental sustainability index (AESI) (i.e., product of the dry yield and NUE). The results showed that the liquid digestate fraction gave agronomic performances comparable to mineral fertilizers and a satisfying AESI while solid digestate showed lower performances. In conclusion, liquid digestate fractions might be an effective substitute for mineral fertilizers in the Veneto region agroecosystem reaching encouraging levels of agro-environmental sustainability. On the contrary, longer-term experiments are requested to evaluate solid digestate fraction sustainability.
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STEWART, A. A., S. M. LITTLE, K. H. OMINSKI, K. M. WITTENBERG, and H. H. JANZEN. "Evaluating greenhouse gas mitigation practices in livestock systems: an illustration of a whole-farm approach." Journal of Agricultural Science 147, no. 4 (May 20, 2009): 367–82. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0021859609008764.
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SUMMARYAs agriculture contributes about 0·08 of Canada's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, reducing agricultural emissions would significantly decrease total Canadian GHG output. Evaluating mitigation practices is not always easy because of the complexity of farming systems in which one change may affect many processes and associated emissions. The objective of the current study was to compare the effects of selected management practices on net whole-farm emissions, expressed in CO2equivalents (CO2e) from a beef production system, as estimated for hypothetical farms at four disparate locations in western Canada. Whole-farm emissions (t CO2e) per unit of protein output (t) of 11 management systems (Table 2) were compared for each farm using a model based, in part, on Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) equations. Compared with the baseline management scenario, maintaining cattle on alfalfa-grass pastures showed the largest decrease (0·53–1·08 t CO2e/t protein) in emissions for all locations. Feeding lower quality forage over winter showed the greatest increase in emissions per unit protein on the southern Alberta (S.AB) and northern Alberta (N.AB) farms, with increases of 1·36 and 2·22 t CO2e/t protein, respectively. Eliminating the fertilization of forages resulted in the largest increase (4·20 t CO2e/t protein) in emissions per unit protein on the Saskatchewan (SK) farm, while reducing the fertilizer rate by half for all crops showed the largest increase (11·40 t CO2e/t protein) on the Manitoba (MB) farm. The findings, while approximate, illustrate the importance of considering all GHGs simultaneously, and show that practices which best reduce emissions may vary among locations. The findings also suggest merit in comparing emissions on the basis of CO2e per unit of protein exported off-farm, rather than on the basis of total CO2e or CO2e per hectare.
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Senyk, I. I. "FEED PRODUCTIVITY OF WINTER FEED AGROPHYTOCENOSIS, DEPENDING ON THE FACTORS OF FARMING TECHNOLOGY." Podilian Bulletin: Agriculture, Engineering, Economics, no. 32 (June 29, 2020): 68–72. http://dx.doi.org/10.37406/2706-9052-2020-1-8.
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Among the factors that determine the efficiency and success of the livestock industry is the science-based production of high quality feed. The solution to this problem is impossible without field feed production, engaged in the cultivation of annual mixtures. Among the large number of forage crops in the western forest-steppe are worthy of annual mixtures, in particular winter, which is highly valued for adaptability to growing conditions, especially in climate change. Despite the considerable part of the conducted researches on the development of technology of cultivation of winter forage crops, the question of optimization of their component composition and increase of stability of the most economically valuable species in the conditions of climate change remains relevant. Field studies were conducted in accordance with the common methods of forage production at the collection and research field of the Separate unit of the National University of Bioresources and Nature Management of Ukraine «Zalishchyky Agricultural College. E. Khraplyvy» during 2016-2018. On the basis of the experimental data, the optimal elements of the technology of cultivation of agrophytocenoses of Pannonian Viking with rye winter and triticale winter for the conditions of the Western Forest Steppe were identified. It was found that the highest yield of 1 ha of fodder units and exchange energy among the grass-root mixtures (4.50 t and 62.8 GJ) was agrophytocenosis, which included the cultivation of Pannosk in the amount of 2.5 million / ha of similar seeds with winter rye - 75% of the total sowing rate in single-species sowing, and among the ex-tritical (5.09 t and 64.6 GJ) - variant with sowing of the same seeding rate of legume component and winter triticale - 25% of the total sowing rate in single-species sowing. Pannonian wiki seeds in both variants were treated before sowing growth promoter. The results of the research will help to strengthen the forage base for animal husbandry and increase the productivity of farm animals.
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Aarts, H. F. M., B. Habekotte, G. J. Hilhorst, G. J. Koskamp, F. C. Van Der Schans, and C. K. De Vries. "Efficient resource management in dairy farming on sandy soil." Netherlands Journal of Agricultural Science 47, no. 2 (November 1, 1999): 153–67. http://dx.doi.org/10.18174/njas.v47i2.473.
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Sandy soils in the Netherlands are mainly used for dairy farming. As a result of intensification of dairy farming in the recent past, valued functions of sandy regions now are threatened by high emissions of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) and by increased water consumption by forage crops. Improved utilization efficiency of resources is proposed as a strategy to realise environmental targets in an economically viable way. Experimental results of the prototype system 'De Marke' indicate that an average intensive commercial farm can halve inputs of fertilizers and feeds at least, without the need to reduce milk yield/ha or to export slurry. Water consumption can be reduced by 13%, increasing groundwater 'production' by 570 msuperscript 3/ha. Nitrate concentration in the upper groundwater decreased from 200 to 50 mg/litre. Changes in soil fertility did not lead to serious agricultural problems but costs of milk production increased by 5%. However, additional costs may be compensated for if the extra groundwater is 'harvested' by water companies, because of high cost of purification of surface water and consumer preference for drinking groundwater instead of river-water. In 1999, the examined strategy of improved resource management was implemented on 12 commercial farms, representing the full range of conditions for dairy farming in the Netherlands.
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Chataway, R. G., V. J. Doogan, and W. M. Strong. "A survey of dairy farmers' practices and attitudes towards some aspects of arable-land management in the Darling Downs and South Burnett regions of Queensland." Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 43, no. 5 (2003): 449. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea01179.
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The Darling Downs and Southern Inland Burnett are important geographical subregions of the Queensland dairy industry. The system of dairy farming in these subregions is unique in Australia in that it is based on grazed annual forage crops rather than pastures. When these soils were first cultivated up to 110 years ago they were inherently fertile. However, erosion and fertility decline has reduced their productive capacity and there is a need for the adoption of farming practices that are less exploitative. In February 1997, a survey was conducted to determine dairy farmers' practices and attitudes toward management strategies that were being recommended to grain farmers in the subtropical cereal belt for sustaining the soil resource base. These strategies included greater use of ley pastures, opportunistic double-cropping, zero-till planting and higher fertiliser inputs. We found that dairy farmers were generally familiar with and understanding of the potential benefits of these approaches to their farming enterprises. However, farmers raised a number of issues that need consideration in the transfer of these practices to dairy forage production. These included concerns that an increased emphasis on pastures would result in lower and less-reliable forage production; that double-cropping is practiced more out of necessity than in the belief it is a better way to farm; that zero tillage may not be suitable on clay soils that have been trampled by cattle and that farmers rely primarily on their own observations of crop performance to determine fertiliser use. These findings have particular implications for research and extension activities conducted with dairy farmers and are also relevant to work conducted with other cropping enterprises that incorporate grazing animals in their farming program.