Performance of spring-calving beef suckler cows and their progeny on four contrasting grassland management systems

Drennan, M. J.; McGee, M.

doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2007.12.018

Cited by 12 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 20 publications

(26 reference statements)

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“…Surplus N within grassland-based production systems is susceptible to loss to the wider environment. In accord with previous studies (Lawes et al, 2000;Drennan and McGee, 2008) only small proportions of the N inputs were converted to animal product i.e. live weight gain.…”

Section: Nitrogen Balance Ha −supporting

confidence: 63%

“…The pre-weaning live weight gain of the calves in the present Systems were in excess of 1.0 kg day − 1 over the grazing season. These values are somewhat lower than previous reports of spring-calving rotationally grazed, temperate grassland systems (Drennan and McGee, 2004;Audic et al, 2002;Drennan and McGee, 2008). This can be attributed to differences in cow genotype and age between studies as the actual magnitude of calf weight gain is largely influenced by the milk yield of the dam (McGee et al, 2005b).…”

Section: Progeny Performancementioning

confidence: 60%

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Performance of spring-calving beef suckler cows and their progeny to slaughter on intensive and extensive grassland management systems

Drennan

McGee

2009

Livestock Science

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The performance of rotationally grazed beef suckler cows and their progeny to slaughter on two lowland grassland management systems differing in stocking rate (SR) and fertiliser nitrogen (N) level was compared over eight years. The two Systems were 1) Intensive (INT): SR of 0.56 (bull production) or 0.71 (steer production) ha cow − 1 unit, 211 kg fertiliser N ha − 1 , two silage harvests, and 2) Extensive (EXT): SR of 0.69 (bull production) or 0.88 (steer production) ha cow − 1 unit, 97 kg fertiliser N ha − 1 and one staggered silage harvest. A cow unit was defined as a cow plus progeny to slaughter. On the silage harvesting area, the mean application rate for fertiliser N was 110 and 80 kg ha − 1 for first and second harvests, respectively. Herbage dry matter digestibility both pre-and post-grazing was similar (P N 0.05) for the two systems, whereas herbage crude protein concentrations were generally significantly lower for the EXT than the INT system. There was no difference (P N 0.05) between the Systems in cow live weight, body condition score or their changes or in calf live weight gain from birth to weaning. Post-weaning, live weight gain, slaughter weight, carcass weight, kill-out proportion, estimated carcass gain, carcass conformation score or carcass fat score did not differ (P N 0.05) between the systems for heifer, steer or bull progeny. It can be concluded that similar animal performance levels can be expected in an extensive grassland-based suckler calf-to-beef system compatible with the EU, Rural Environmental Protection Scheme as that attained in a more intensive System comprising of both a moderately high SR (~1.25 higher) and fertiliser N application (~2.1 higher).

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Section: Nitrogen Balance Ha −supporting

confidence: 63%

Section: Progeny Performancementioning

confidence: 60%

Performance of spring-calving beef suckler cows and their progeny to slaughter on intensive and extensive grassland management systems

Drennan

McGee

2009

Livestock Science

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“…McMeekan and Walshe (1963) found that the decline in animal performance could be rapid as grazing allowance per animal falls quickly when the optimal stocking rate is exceeded. Drennan and McGee (2008) observed no significant difference in liveweight gain for suckler beef calves from birth to 28 d post‐weaning as stocking rate increased from 1·7 to 2 CU ha −1 . While this result appears contradictory to the previously reported findings, it is possible that, at 2 CU ha −1 , the optimal stocking rate for that site had not been reached.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 74%

“…This total silage requirement determined the conservation area required, whereby no winter feed surplus or deficit occurred. In the two‐harvest silage systems (2H), the area of second harvest was assumed to be 0·70 of the first‐harvest area (Drennan and McGee, 2008). The slurry produced over the winter period was then allocated between first‐ and second‐harvest silage conservation areas, as appropriate.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Economic modelling of an integrated grazed and conserved perennial ryegrass forage production system

Finneran¹,

Crosson²,

O’Kiely³

et al. 2011

Grass and Forage Science

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The Grange Feed Costing Model was modified to simulate the economic implications of grassland management strategies for a grass-based suckler beef calf-toweanling system at the whole-farm level. The modified model enabled costing of annual grass consumed as grazed grass and silage when the farm grazing and conservation areas are integrated. Grass growth data from sites in the south, east and north of Ireland were used. Sixty-three scenarios were simulated, enabling analysis of site, stocking rate and silage strategy effects on total annual feed cost for the grass forage production system. Total annual feed cost (of grazed grass and grass silage) ranged from €96 to €111 per 1000 UFL (Unité Fourragè re Lait) and €411 to €456 per beef cow unit (CU). The silage strategy with respect to the number of harvests and whether the silage area was grazed in the spring had negligible impact on annual total feed cost per CU. However, a tendency towards reduced annual feed cost under a two harvest, relative to a one harvest, silage strategy was observed. The lowest cost stocking rate was 2 CU ha )1 . Site-specific differences such as seasonal growth distribution and nitrogen fertilizer response rate had the greatest influence on the annual cost of the grass-based feeding system.

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Whole-farm systems modelling of greenhouse gas emissions from pastoral suckler beef cow production systems

Foley

Crosson

Lovett

et al. 2011

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment

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Performance of spring-calving beef suckler cows and their progeny on four contrasting grassland management systems

Cited by 12 publications

References 20 publications

Performance of spring-calving beef suckler cows and their progeny to slaughter on intensive and extensive grassland management systems

Performance of spring-calving beef suckler cows and their progeny to slaughter on intensive and extensive grassland management systems

Economic modelling of an integrated grazed and conserved perennial ryegrass forage production system

Whole-farm systems modelling of greenhouse gas emissions from pastoral suckler beef cow production systems

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