L1: Intro to Pastures

Adobe Flashcards

What percentage of the world’s ice-free land is occupied by grasslands?

54%

worldwide stats:

How much feed E does pasture provide?

>90% of feed energy

worldwide stats:

how much grain do animals consume/year?

1.4 B t of grain/year

worldwide stats:

what is the worldwide population of livestock?

(as of 2013)

-4 bill head

worldwide stats:

how much of the population are involved in animal production?

>1/10

Worldwide stats:

How much of the protein intake?

1/3

(2006)

worldwide stats:

livelihood?

1 bill of poorest people

Aus:

largest ecosystem?

-grasslands

Aus:

how much do grasslands cover?

60% of Aus continent

Aus:

indirect benefit of industry? (3)

-land from biological N fixation

-weed & pest control

-improved soil health

Area of permanent pasture and ruminant livestock numbers:

SE Asia

A of permanent pasture: 0.2 M km²

Ruminant #: 43.6 M a.e

Area of permanent pasture and ruminant livestock numbers:

L America

A of permanent pasture: 5.7 M km²

Ruminant #: 336.9 M a.e.

Area of permanent pasture and ruminant livestock numbers:

Oceania

A of permanent pasture: 4.3 M km²

Ruminant #: 63.2 M a.e.

units definition:

M km²

-Millions of square km

which world region contributes the most ruminant numbers?

-S Asia (384.3 M a.e.)

which world region contributes the most ruminant numbers?

-SE Asia (43.6 M a.e.)

animal unit conversions:

1 AE = steer?

1 × 450 kg steer

animal unit conversions:

1 AE = lactating cow?

= + 0.32 AE for a lactating cow

animal unit conversions:

1 AE = wethers?

= 8 × 50 kg wethers (DSE)

animal unit conversions:

1 AE = dry goats?

= 8 × 50 kg dry goats

explain:

1 animal equivalent (AE)

= 1 x 450 kg steer

= + 0.32 AE for a lactating cow

= 8 x 50 kg wethers (DSE)

= 8 x 50 kg dry goats

-baseline is the 1 × 450 steer

-lactating cow: has 32% more energy/feed as the steer (= 1.32 AE)

-wethers: their combined feed requirements = 1 AE

-dry goats: their combined feed requirements = 1 AE

Aus:

which state has the most cattle?

QLD (44%)

-10.7 mil

definition:

nominal stocking rate

-raw count of animals/land area

-# animals/unit area of land

Aus:

Which region has the highest nominal stocking rate?

Oceania (6.8 ha/a.e.) - hectares/animal equiv

Aus:

Where are extensive pastoral systems primarily located?

North Australia

What is the average size of extensive properties?

77,000 ha

What is the stocking rate for these extensive pastoral systems?

16 ha/a.e.

Aus:

who has the second highest # beef cattle?

NSW (18%)

4.4 mil head

What is Australia’s largest agri holdings?

77% native pastures

Aus:

biggest land use?

(2005-6)

1. grazing native vegetation

2. grazing modified pastures

Aus:

which state has the most sheep/lambs?

NSW (36%)

-24.7 mil

Aus:

where does QLD sit with sheep/lamb numbers?

-tied for last with Tasmania

3%

-2.1 mil

Aus:

total # sheep/lamb

(2021-2)

-70.24 mil

What is the minimum annual rainfall required for intensive permanent pasture systems?

≥600 mm/year

summary:

extensive pastoral system

-unimproved native rangelands

-77k ha

-at low intensity: 16 ha/a.e., 2 ha/DSE

-low-input, large-area, forage-based livestock systems

• rangelands

• arid zones

• savannahs

unit:
DSE

dry sheep equivalent (particularly Aus)

benefits:

improved pastures (5)

-greater live weight gains (LWG)

-younger animals at turn-off

-improved market flexibility

-positive animal welfare outcomes

-increased land value

What percentage of Australia’s DSE equivalents are accounted for by integrated crop-livestock systems?

40%

50% of total sheep population

> 30% of total cattle population

What types of feed are consumed in integrated crop-livestock systems? (4)

-Crops

-forage crops

-pastures

-crop residues

integrated crop-livestock system:

stocking rate

4.4 ha/a.e.

definition:

Carrying Capacity

-determines how many animals the land can support without degrading environment

Factors →

• rainfall

• forage biomass

• grazing pressure

definition:

Stocking Rate

-# animals grazed/unit of land over a specific time period

-KEY MANAGEMENT TOOL

-used to prevent →

• overgrazing

• land degradation

• animal malnutrition

what (5) factors to consider in extensive pastoral system?

-carrying capacity

-stocking rate

-water access

-food availability: wet vs dry

-animal breed & adaption considerations

what characteristics thrive in an extensive pastoral system?

-resilient

-heat tolerant

-low input

summary:

intensive permanent improved pasture systems

-grazing livestock (especially dairy and beef cattle) on fertilized, reseeded, and rotationally-managed pasture

-more intense than integrated crop-livestock

-moderate intensity: 4.4 ha/ae, 0.6 ha/dse

what are the (5) factors of intensive permanent improved pasture systems?

-rotational grazing: max pasture regrowth, maintains plant health, increases stocking rate

-forage species selection: right vegetation increases yield, quality, persistence

-fertility management: regular application of N, P, K, and lime sustains high productivity, plant health

-stocking rate matches growth

-measuring & monitoring pasture: to avoid under and over-growth

benefits:

extensive pastoral system

-low input costs

-sustainability & environmental

-animal welfare

-adaptability to marginal land

-lower disease prevalence

-large herd cost-effective

-supports traditional & indigenous practices

benefits:

Intensive Permanent Improved Pasture Systems (7)

-higher productivity

-better nutritional quality

-efficient land use

-greater control over management

-improved repro success

-higher economic returns: superior grass-fed beef

-market flexibility

-animals are younger at turn-off

-soil improvement, increase land value

summary:

integrated crop-livestock system

-crop production and livestock raising are combined on the same land, either at the same time or in rotation

benefits:

integrated crop-livestock system

-productivity

-sustainability

-resource use efficiency

-diverse income

-weed & pest control

What percentage of horses are registered?

10% to 50%

how much does the northern beef industry account for DSE?

30%

productive capacity (avg stocking rate, annual LWG):

native pasture - N. QLD

ST: 10 ha/steer

LWG: 80 kg/steer, 8-10 kg/ha

integrated crop-livestock:

type of rotation pastures (7)

-Panicum spp

-Rhodes grass

-Kikuyu

-medics

-clover

-butterfly pea

-lucerne

integrated crop-livestock:

type of forage crops

-forage oats

-forage sorghum

integrated crop-livestock:

type of crop residue

-wheat, barley

where do integrated crop-livestock systems occur?

Sub-humid subtropical slopes and plains:

• Southern Queensland

• Northern NSW

Seasonally dry slopes and plains:

• Southern WA

• Central NSW