GRAZING MANAGEMENT FOR A SUSTAINABLE ANIMAL PRODUCTION IN THE TROPICS

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GRAZING MANAGEMENT FOR A SUSTAINABLE ANIMAL
PRODUCTION IN THE TROPICS
EDUARDO G. CANUDAS-LARA, Ph.D. Professor of
Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science
Faculty University of Veracruz, Mexico
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INTRODUCTION

• Tropical Grasses (C4) High Growth Potential
• Intensive Grazing Management works (grazing laws)
• Farm Administration an essential aspects
• Plan clear goals (animal and forage production,
  sustainable, profitable,
• Organization identify, group, and assign ranch
  activities,
• Direction leadership, communication,
  motivation,
• Control Intensive Grazing System gives more
  control.

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OBJECTIVES

• Conserve soil properties by efficient nutrient
  cycling (sustainability).
• Achieve profitability by increasing productivity
  and reducing cost.
• Reduce forest conversion to pasture land by
  increasing land productivity (animal).
• Become competitive in quality and price.

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PLANTANIMAL SYSTEM
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PLANTANIMAL SYSTEM
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PLANTANIMAL SYSTEM
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How?

• How solar energy is utilized?
• How forage is produced? (soil, minerals,
  water,..)
• How animal intake is controlled? (quality,
  quantity,...)
• How the environment is preserved? (nutrient
  cycling, erosion, insecticides, herbicides,...)

RATIONAL MANAGEMENT
The common sense is the least common of the
senses
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How Solar Energy is utilized?
Maintenance
GE
DE
ME
Production
C H O
CO2
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How much minerals does the plant extracts from
the soil?
III
II
I
500 kg/ha/año of N
125 kg/ha/año of P2O5
40 m2/an/d
500 kg/ha/año of K2O
50 an./0.2 ha
250 an./ha
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Pasture Utilization Efficiency
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LAWS of theRational Intensive Grazing System
4o Have some reserves
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MATERIAL AND METHOD

• LOCATION Medellin, Ver., Mexico
• WEATHER Tropical Sub-humid
• RAINFALL 1,700 mm (90 from July to October.)
• TEMPERATURE 25º C (mean annual)

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ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

• Rational Intensive Grazing System
• Deworming, vaccinate, vitamins, implants, tick
  control,
• Weight individually approximately every 45 days.

concentrated (16 CP)
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Aerial picture of El Principio Ranch 9.2 ha of
taiwan grass (22.7 acres) 1.5 ha sugarcane (3.7
acres)
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Close up of some paddocks ofEl Principio
Ranch(paddocks size 2000 m2 or 0.5 acres)
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Grazing
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Pasture Divisions (paddocks)
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Plant Production Parameters taiwan grass under
RIGS with fertirrigation
Total
Stem
Leaf
Parameter
28.8
9.8
19.0
Production, DM t/ha/year
13.1
4.2
8.9
DM Intake, AU/kg/day
34
66
DM Intake,
2.9
0.9
2.0
DM Intake, AU of BW
79
27
52
Gwowth rate, DM kg/ha/d
Average of 13 cuts from October of 1997 to
June of 1999.
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Animal Production Variables with Concentrated
Taiwan with fertirrigation
Hectares (n) Hectares (n) Hectares (n) 9.2 9.2
Cattle groups (number/year) Cattle groups (number/year) Cattle groups (number/year) 3 3
Fattening period (d) Fattening period (d) Fattening period (d) 376 376
Cattle raised (produced) per year (n) Cattle raised (produced) per year (n) Cattle raised (produced) per year (n) 193 193
Average initial weight (kg/animal) Average initial weight (kg/animal) Average initial weight (kg/animal) 240 240
Average final weight (kg/animal) Average final weight (kg/animal) Average final weight (kg/animal) 374 374
Stocking rate (AU/ha) (animals/ha) 4.8 7.0
Average daily gain (kg) Average daily gain (kg) Average daily gain (kg) 1.09 1.09
Meat production (kg/ha/year) Meat production (kg/ha/year) Meat production (kg/ha/year) 2,766 2,766
Supplementation form January to July with 2 kg
DM/day of chopped sugarcane with 3 urea and the
whole year with 1.14 of their body weight with a
concentrated with 16 CP.
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Animal Production Variables with Concentrated
Taiwan with fertirrigation
Hectares (n)
9.2
Cattle groups (number/year)
3
Fattening period (d/group)
125
193
Cattle raised (produced) per year (n)
Average initial weight (kg/animal)
240
Average final weight (kg/animal)
374
animals/ha
AU/ha
7.0
Stocking rate
4.8
Average daily gain (kg)
1.09
Beef production (kg/ha/year)
2,766
Feed complement form January to July with 2 kg
DM/day of chopped sugarcane with 3 urea, and the
whole year with 1.14 of their body weight with a
concentrated with 16 CP.
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Profit/Loss StatementUS Dollars
PARAMETER
TAIWAN
Total Sales
Production Cost
GROSS PROFIT
18,834
Administrative Expenses
Sales Expenses
Financial Expenses
Other Expenses
OPERATING PROFIT
13,004
Profit sharing to workers
650
NET PROFIT
12,354
Supplementation form January to July with 2 kg
DM/day of chopped sugarcane with 3 urea and the
year 2000 with 1.14 of their body weight with a
concentrated with 16 CP.
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FINANCIAL RATIOS
TAIWAN GRASS
PARAMETER
2.40
Break-even point, animals/ha
0.35
Break-even point, kg/animals/day
65
Total assets productivity,
0.90
Total cost of meat, US/kg
0.48
Net profit of meat, US/kg
13.1
Profit margin,
25
Profit over investment (reval), /year
1,300
Net profit per hectare, US/year
Supplementation form January to July with 2 kg
DM/day of chopped sugarcane with 3 urea and the
year 2000 with 1.14 of their body weight with a
concentrated with 16 CP.
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CONCLUSIONS

• Rational Intensive Grazing System has
  demonstrated to be sustainable by recycling
  nutrient and maintaining production throughout
  the years.
• The system had proof to be profitable and be
  competitive with high productivity per hectare,
  quality, and price in the domestic and
  international markets.
• On a macroeconomic environment, the extensive use
  of this system may reduce the forest conversion
  to pasture land.
• Finally, human population can be fed economically
  and environmental sustainable.

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Thanks
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The
End