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Publication Date
1981
Description
Biological output, gross margins, and efficiency of support-energy usage in an 18-month beef-production system on grass-white clover swards receiving either 50 kg N/ha stocked at 3.3 head/ha (low N) or 300 kg N/ha stocked 4.5 head/ha (high N) were compared. To date, two production cycles (1977-1979 and 1978-1980) at two sites have been completed. Mean live-weight and carcass gains/ha were, respectively, 17.5% and 14% higher from the high-N than from the low-N system. Gross margin/head was higher from the high-N system in the first production cycle but not in the second. In the low-N system as com· pared with the high-N system support-energy output was 35.36 and 63.24 GJ/ha, and efficiency of usage was 22.5 % and 15.4%, resulting in the low-N system's being 46% more efficient in energy utilization than the high-N system. Although a low-N g:rassclover beef system will carry fewer animals and produce less beef/ha than will a high-N system, in the present economic situation it can be as profitable as similar systems that require high inputs of inorganic N and support energy.
Citation
Stewart, T A.; Haycock, R E.; and Laidlaw, A S., "Potential Contribution of White Clover to the Economics and Support-Energy Inputs of Grass-Based Beef-Production Systems" (1981). IGC Proceedings (1977-2023). 8.
(URL: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1981/section14/8)
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Potential Contribution of White Clover to the Economics and Support-Energy Inputs of Grass-Based Beef-Production Systems
Biological output, gross margins, and efficiency of support-energy usage in an 18-month beef-production system on grass-white clover swards receiving either 50 kg N/ha stocked at 3.3 head/ha (low N) or 300 kg N/ha stocked 4.5 head/ha (high N) were compared. To date, two production cycles (1977-1979 and 1978-1980) at two sites have been completed. Mean live-weight and carcass gains/ha were, respectively, 17.5% and 14% higher from the high-N than from the low-N system. Gross margin/head was higher from the high-N system in the first production cycle but not in the second. In the low-N system as com· pared with the high-N system support-energy output was 35.36 and 63.24 GJ/ha, and efficiency of usage was 22.5 % and 15.4%, resulting in the low-N system's being 46% more efficient in energy utilization than the high-N system. Although a low-N g:rassclover beef system will carry fewer animals and produce less beef/ha than will a high-N system, in the present economic situation it can be as profitable as similar systems that require high inputs of inorganic N and support energy.
