Suchergebnisse

The beef cattle breeding development is one of the strategic directions for the livestock development in Russia and the CIS countries, including the Republic of Belarus. The livestock fattening most important point is minimizing the costs. Studies have shown that the animals' greatest body weight 900 kg had had adult culled cattle over a period of 120 days, as well as heifers with calving on pasture during the 30-month fattening. During 28-month fattening of suckling steers at pasture housing, the amount of feed energy unit per day turned out to be the smallest among technologies with the largest number of fattening periods, and amounted to 29.3 at animals fattening during five periods of pasture housing versus 39.7 in two periods of intensive grain fattening: 1 day of pasture housing costs 3.5 versus 12.5 feed energy unit in other periods. In young animals raised on suckling, the best average body weight was equal to 720 kg, but weaning calves showed 710 kg. The feed costs per 1 kg of weight gain were equal to 0.04, 0.10 and 0.09 respectively, i. e. the smallest amount of feed was spent for suckling young animals' fattening, and the largest – for weaning calves. Efficiency of fattening in rubles made 21.0, 56.4 and 48.0 rubles per 1 kg of weight gain, respectively, or in terms of 1 period of fattening of grown animals – 56.4 rubles, young animals raised at suckling – 6.8, and weaning calves – 19.2. The obtained data allows, through the biological methods and mathematical models individual for each group of cattle at fattening, to obtain optimal weight gain with minimized feed costs.

The objective of this study was to assess the economic outcomes of three space allowances (6, 12, and 24 m2 per animal) for outdoor feedlots-finished beef cattle. Simulations considered confinement systems with a static capacity of 5,000 animals per cycle and two 86-day cycles per year. Performance data were obtained from 1,350 uncastrated bovine males. An increase in space allowance elevated the fixed cost per animal. Fixed and variable costs represented 3% and 93% of the total operating cost, respectively. For variable costs, around 70% was used for purchasing cattle and 17% for purchasing feed. The operating profit per animal increased as space allowance increased (R$ 80.90, R$ 102.00, and R$ 109.00 for 6, 12, and 24 m2 per animal, respectively). The three feedlot systems recovered the initial investment and had a positive net present value. In addition, the internal rates of return were 22%, 27%, and 25%, and the probabilities of financial loss were 33%, 29%, and 26% for pen sizes of 6, 12, and 24 m2 per animal, respectively. Therefore, larger space allowances improve profitability and reduce the risk of financial loss.

ABSTRACT: This paper aimed to identify the determinants of beef traceability adoption at farm level in São Paulo State, Brazil. A sample survey of 32 farmers who adopted the European Union certified traceability and 52 other farmers who did not adopt traceability provided data to test hypotheses on determinant factors. Three binomial logit models were used in the analysis. Results suggested that capital-intensive livestock production system, high scale production, access to specialized information and high level of human and social capital play significant role in the adoption decision.

Aspects related to good handling practices have significant impacts on animal behaviour with positive effects on the productivity and profitability of production systems. This study investigated the impact of good handling practices on the modification of stress indicators and the behaviour of beef cattle. Thirty-six male castrated bovines at the growth stage were evaluated for 490 days and submitted to two different production systems in Southern Brazil: good handling practices (GHP) and a traditional handling system of beef-cattle farming (THS). Body weight, reactivity indicators (flight distance and composite behaviour score), and blood indicators of stress (glucose and cortisol) were measured. An analysis of variance was carried out with measurements repeated over time, and Pearson's correlation applied between the variables mentioned above. No differences were found (P>0.05) for body weight in any of the evaluations, with initial weights of 196.2 and 196.3 kg and final weights of 431.0 and 413.8 kg for the GHP and THS steers, respectively. The GHP determined better values for the stress and behavioural indicators compared to THS (P<0.05). The flight distance of the GHP animals decreased from 11.33 to 5.22 metres from the first to the last evaluation, while in the THS animals the values were 10.17 and 11.89 metres, respectively. The behaviour composite score differed in the evaluations at 372 and 490 days, with values of 1.77 and 1.47 for GHP animals and values of 2.92 and 2.83 points for THS animals, respectively. Glucose and cortisol levels decreased with the advancing evaluations in GHP animals, with values from 94.80 to 74.22 mg/dL and from 6.08 to 3.68 µg/dL, respectively. In THS animals, glucose and cortisol levels were similar in the initial and final evaluations, with values of 89.30 and 91.28 mg/dL and 5.34 and 5.80 µg/dL, respectively. Regardless of the handling, the final body weight of the animals correlated negatively with the reactivity indicators and physiological stress indicators. The reactivity of the cattle is influenced by the quality of the human-animal interaction but has no effect on the performance of animals raised on pasture. Good handling practices reduce the reactivity and stress indicators of cattle.

Since the Thai economy experiences rapid growth, agricultural systems, i.e. crop-livestock systems, are changing rapidly. On account of these changes, buffalo and cattle production has to be re-examined in terms of performance characteristics and roles of livestock for farm households in order to initiate suitable development programmes. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the present characteristics of beef buffalo and beef cattle farms in Northeast Thailand. Using a semi-structured questionnaire, 121 randomly selected beef buffalo and beef cattle farms were interviewed in Nakhon Ratchasima province between October 2007 and May 2008. Both buffaloes and cattle were mostly integrated in mixed crop-livestock systems with medium to large farm sizes (7.9 ha), whereof less than half of the area was used for livestock. Family members were mainly responsible for the different activities of livestock farming and salaried labourers were only found on large-scale farms. The dominant roles of livestock were income generation to build up wealth or savings, the coverage of expected and unexpected expenses and earning of regular and additional income. Another important issue was the improvement of the social status, which increased with herd size. In order to improve farmers' livelihoods and develop sustainable farming systems in Northeast Thailand the changing economic circumstances of cattle and especially buffalo production should receive more attention of researchers, governmental institutions and stakeholders. ; peerReviewed

Highlights of a study designed to determine the leadership life skills development (YLLSD) of youth beef cattle exhibitors and to determine if there is a relationship between YLLSD and participation in the beef project are discussed in this paper. The study was conducted using a correlational, ex post facto design. A sample of 374 individuals was randomly selected from a population of 4,229 national junior cattle exhibitors of the National Junior Angus Association. The population frame consisted of junior members ages 18 to 21. Participants' YLLSD scores ranged from 40 to 90 with a composite mean of 73.02. Significant relationships existed between YLLSD scores and shows per year, hours working with projects per week, and years of beef project exhibition.

The supplementation of the animals' diet can increase the production costs of beef cattle, directly affecting the results of the production system. Using the cost-volume-profit ratio, this study aimed to determine the best level of replacement of corn by pearl millet in the concentrate supplementation of beef cattle finished in a crop-livestock integration system. Based on a previous study, we investigated the production performance of 64 uncastrated steers of an average age of 20 months and an initial average body weight of 388 ± 26 kg based on cost for the consumption of four different supplements distinguished by the amounts of pearl millet grain replacing corn grain (0%, 33%, 66% and 100%). The unit contribution margin, accounting and financial break-even points, margin of safety, and shutdown point were used as the components of the cost-volume-profit ratio in a criterion for determining the optimal supplementation strategy. The results showed that intermediate replacement levels (33% and 66%) can provide a greater return for the amortization of fixed expenses and profit generation and that cheaper supplements may not generate financial returns to the system. Therefore, a systemic cost-volume-profit analysis is useful in experimental evaluations. The concentrate feed supplement with 33% of corn replaced by pearl millet provides the greatest profitability to the production system.

The distribution of Neospora caninum, an important agent of reproductive disorders in cattle, has been frequently reported in dairy cattle in Brazil and worldwide. Records of infection are less frequent in beef cattle. To determine the seroprevalence of bovine neosporosis, 507 beef cattle blood samples were collected from January 2013 to September 2015, from 16 municipalities of the Associação dos Municípios da Região Serrana (AMURES). Samples were tested for the presence of IgG antibodies ( ? 1:100) against N. caninum by indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT). Information about sex, age, and origin of the bovines were obtained from the Brazilian Bovine and Bubaline Identification and Certification System (SISBOV), and were tabulated for statistical analysis (Chi-square and Fisher Exact test, P ? 0.05). Of the 507 serum samples analyzed, 70 (13.81%) contained antibodies against N. caninum with titers of 1:100 (16), 1:200 (22), 1:400 (17), 1:800 (nine), 1:1600 (four) and 1:3200 (two). Positive specimens were collected from 13 of the 16 municipalities and across all age groups. Of the positive samples, there were no statistical differences between males and females (32.86% vs. 67.14%, P= 0.1072), age groups (P= 0.4116), or municipalities (P= 0.6838). While not statistically significant (P>0.05), higher seroprevalence was observed among older females. Although seroprevalence was relatively low, results indicate that infection by N. caninum in beef cattle is widespread in the studied region.