How do sheep and beef farmers manage pasture quality?

Lambert, M. G.; Paine, Mark; Sheath, G. W.; Webby, R. W.; Litherlandr, A.J.; Fraser, T.J.; Stevens, D.R.

doi:10.33584/jnzg.2000.62.2378

Cited by 14 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 3 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…They also advocated the integration of cattle with sheep to clean up rank pasture in order to minimise ewe bodyweight loss. The importance and need to integrate cattle on hill country has also been stressed by other authors (Rattray et al 1987;Lambert et al 2000).…”

Section: Optimise the Potential For High Ewe Hogget Ovulation And Conception Ratesmentioning

confidence: 86%

Summer management of sheep on summer-wet hill country: insights into decisions made by an "expert" farmer

Gray¹,

Reid²,

Kemp³

et al. 2005

ProNZG

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Although summer is a critical season for sheep production on summer-wet hill country, little is known about how high-performing farmers manage livestock and pastures during this period. If their practices could be captured and disseminated, it would provide the opportunity for other farmer s to increase productivity. The decisions made by a high-performing summer-wet hill-country farmer over summer were investigated using a single-case study design. This study highlights the relative complexity of summer management on hill country. Farmers must consider key strategic decisions such as when to wean, when to sell, what to sell, how many to sell, where to sell and at what weight. In this study, the answer s to these questions were found to be a function of the conditions (summerwet versus summer-dry) under which one farms and the amount of finishing country one has. Under summerwet conditions, the need to control pasture quality dictates important strategic decisions. To control pasture quality, the case farmer runs a high stocking rate (SR), high performance, later lambing system with a low sheep:cattle ratio. This system, particularly with a low proportion of finishing country, is not conducive to lamb finishing and a store policy is a more profitable alternative. As such, the case farmer's focus over summer is on ensuring the potential for high ovulation and conception rates in his ewes and ewe hoggets rather than lamb finishing. This is achieved by ensuring his ewes are in good condition (2.7 condition score (CS)) with adequate feed (1400 kg dry matter (DM)/ha) at flushing and his ewe hoggets reach 41 kg live weight (LW) by May 1st. These nonnegotiable targets are central to the farmer's consistent high performance. Minimisation of the distribution of LW (or CS) a bout the mean of different sheep classes through preferential feeding of younger, lighter and thinner stock was also found to be a critical element. To achieve high lamb growth rates, low priority stock and older finishing cattle were used to ensure pastures remained actively growing, of high quality and with low levels of infective larvae. A late weaning date and a high proportion of cattle and older stock were also important in maintaining pasture quality on summer-wet hill country. A critical feature of summer grazing management is area allocation and the use of post-grazing residuals to achieve animal performance targets. Pasture monitoring, microbudgeting and the use of this information in conjunction with market related data, to help decide the appropriate timing of stock sales was central to coping with uncertainty and achieving pasture and animal targets. Keywords: farmer decision making, grazing management, sheep productivity

show abstract

Section: Optimise the Potential For High Ewe Hogget Ovulation And Conception Ratesmentioning

confidence: 86%

Summer management of sheep on summer-wet hill country: insights into decisions made by an "expert" farmer

Gray¹,

Reid²,

Kemp³

et al. 2005

ProNZG

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Total kilograms of pasture dry matter mass (kg DM) was the sum of residual postgrazing pasture and the net pasture accumulation in bi monthly periods [31][32][33][34]. Utilizable kg DM of pasture was estimated as functions of maximum (i.e., 2500 kg DM for beef cattle and 1800 kg DM for sheep grazing) and minimum limits (i.e., 1500 kg DM for beef cattle and 800 kg DM for sheep grazing) of the total pasture mass and utilization percent [32,33,35]. Herbage above the maximum limits, when pasture supply exceeded animal demand, was conserved as silage and utilized during winter [35].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Utilizable kg DM of pasture was estimated as functions of maximum (i.e., 2500 kg DM for beef cattle and 1800 kg DM for sheep grazing) and minimum limits (i.e., 1500 kg DM for beef cattle and 800 kg DM for sheep grazing) of the total pasture mass and utilization percent [32,33,35]. Herbage above the maximum limits, when pasture supply exceeded animal demand, was conserved as silage and utilized during winter [35]. Silage was supplied to traditional beef cattle in their second winter and mature ewes at a maximum of 30% of the total feed intake to ensure that the allocated kg DM did not exceed gut-fill capacity [36].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimization of Profit for Pasture-Based Beef Cattle and Sheep Farming Using Linear Programming: Young Beef Cattle Production in New Zealand

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In New Zealand, surplus dairy-origin calves not needed as replacement or for beef cattle farms requirements for finishing are commercially slaughtered within two weeks of age. This system has perceived ethical issues which can potentially negatively affect the dairy industry. Therefore, a young beef cattle production system to maximize the use of excess calves within the land size constraint is considered as an alternative to a traditional 18 to 33-months slaughtering system. The current study examined the effects of young beef cattle production with slaughter ages at 8 to 14 months on pasture utilization, farm profitability and selling policy on class 5, intensive finishing sheep and beef cattle farms in New Zealand. A linear programming model that had previously been developed for this farm class (optimized traditional beef cattle system) was modified to include a young beef cattle slaughter system and identified the carrying capacity for young and traditional beef cattle and the selling policy required to optimize pasture utilization and farm profitability. Systems with young beef cattle slaughtered at 8, 10, 12 or 14-months of age were simulated without (Scenario I) or with (Scenario II) decreasing the number of traditional beef cattle. Daily per head energy demand for maintenance and live weight change was estimated and converted to kg DM/head on a bimonthly basis. Carcasses from young beef cattle were processed as one class under manufacturing beef price (NZ$4.50). The modified young and traditional beef cattle slaughtering system maintained an extra 6% and 35% beef cattle in Scenario I and Scenario II respectively, and finished 90% and 84% of traditional beef cattle before the second winter. Pasture supplied 98% of the feed demand for the beef cattle activities and 79–83% of that was consumed. Mixed young and traditional beef cattle finishing scenarios returned 2% less gross farm revenue per hectare (GFR/ha). However, earnings before tax per hectare (ETB/ha) in Scenario I and Scenario II were 15–25% greater than that of the optimized traditional beef cattle system, respectively. Young beef cattle production increased pasture utilization and farm profitability and increased selling options for finished beef cattle. Therefore, the young beef cattle system is a viable option for farmers and will help to reduce the need to slaughter calves within two weeks of age.

show abstract

“…If a deferred surplus can be suitably removed to regain control of the sward, pasture quality can be recovered to a similar level to well-maintained pasture (Rennie et al 2014), although reductions in pasture growth should be expected. many factors including: proportion of different land classes, grazing duration, herbage palatability, ease of harvesting, pasture density and height, potential for selective grazing, manageability, and grazing animal species/class (Lambert et al 2000a). Stock generally prefer to graze easy rather than steep land.…”

Section: )mentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of grazing management on hill country pastures: principles and practices

King¹,

Rennie²,

Devantier³

et al. 2016

NZGA R&P Series

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Management of the balance of animal demand and feed supply is the result of a complex set of decisions. These decisions interact and are also variably affected by external drivers, including environmental. In particular, both pasture quantity and quality can be optimised by using appropriate grazing management, including stocking rate, livestock class, etc. In essence: apply sufficient grazing pressure at the appropriate time to maintain pasture covers at a level where the development of grass inflorescences is limited and pasture quality is maximised. The optimal grazing management strategy, however, may be different for each paddock and will change through the season. At a whole-farm scale, grazing management will be a set of trade-offs. Understanding the underlying ecological principles that drive the outcome of these grazing management decisions on pasture performance will have the greatest potential to drive the profitability and sustainability of hill country farms. Keywords: Grazing management, pasture performance, pasture quality, hill country

show abstract

How do sheep and beef farmers manage pasture quality?

Cited by 14 publications

References 3 publications

Summer management of sheep on summer-wet hill country: insights into decisions made by an "expert" farmer

Summer management of sheep on summer-wet hill country: insights into decisions made by an "expert" farmer

Optimization of Profit for Pasture-Based Beef Cattle and Sheep Farming Using Linear Programming: Young Beef Cattle Production in New Zealand

Impacts of grazing management on hill country pastures: principles and practices

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About