Publication Date
1993
Description
Level of nnimal production from grassland is determined by the amount of pasture grown, pasture utilisation and animal conversion efficiency. The key components affecting production are pasture growth and animal conversion efficiency. These arc mainly influenced by environment, genetics and through inputs to maintain soil fertility or animal health. Systems development aims to link pasture growth and animal conversion through efficient strategies for pasture utilisation. The means of influencing pasture utilisation is through adjustments to animal feed demand, feed supply or grazing management. Stock policies that adjust the pattern and level of feed demand are of greatest significance in developing low cost, in sit11 grazing systems. Conservation and supplementation are of much greater significance where year-round grazing cannot be practised or high prices are paid for animal products. Grazing management is the fine tuning instrument balancing feed supply and demand. Its principal roles in pasture-based systems are to transfer feed and to give priority feeding to stock classes generating the greatest marginal return. Future challenges are to adapt grassland systems lo meet more exacting specifications for product and environmental standards. Relevance of grassland technology lo farmers is important. Technology relevance is determined largely by economic benefit. Two other important factors are farmer perceptions about system constraints, and former behaviournl barriers to adoption. Farmer perceptions are clearly linked to their understanding of grassland systems. Understanding is a prerequisite for uptake of new ideas. Future grassland development needs to focus 011 quantitative input-output relationships between grassland components rather than "treatment" difference comparisons. This will promote more efficient use of information for farmer learning and decision making through technologies such as decision-support models. Processes that provide opportunities for farmers agribusiness and scientists to interact will also be vital. Scientists need lo be aware of future market needs and the interaction of technology with farmer resource and behavioural constraints. Farmers and agribusiness need a learning forum. Processes such as the farm study group concept are possible means to this end.
Citation
McCall, D G. and Sheath, G W., "Development of Intensive Grassland Systems: From Science to Practice" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 35.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session37/35
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Development of Intensive Grassland Systems: From Science to Practice
Level of nnimal production from grassland is determined by the amount of pasture grown, pasture utilisation and animal conversion efficiency. The key components affecting production are pasture growth and animal conversion efficiency. These arc mainly influenced by environment, genetics and through inputs to maintain soil fertility or animal health. Systems development aims to link pasture growth and animal conversion through efficient strategies for pasture utilisation. The means of influencing pasture utilisation is through adjustments to animal feed demand, feed supply or grazing management. Stock policies that adjust the pattern and level of feed demand are of greatest significance in developing low cost, in sit11 grazing systems. Conservation and supplementation are of much greater significance where year-round grazing cannot be practised or high prices are paid for animal products. Grazing management is the fine tuning instrument balancing feed supply and demand. Its principal roles in pasture-based systems are to transfer feed and to give priority feeding to stock classes generating the greatest marginal return. Future challenges are to adapt grassland systems lo meet more exacting specifications for product and environmental standards. Relevance of grassland technology lo farmers is important. Technology relevance is determined largely by economic benefit. Two other important factors are farmer perceptions about system constraints, and former behaviournl barriers to adoption. Farmer perceptions are clearly linked to their understanding of grassland systems. Understanding is a prerequisite for uptake of new ideas. Future grassland development needs to focus 011 quantitative input-output relationships between grassland components rather than "treatment" difference comparisons. This will promote more efficient use of information for farmer learning and decision making through technologies such as decision-support models. Processes that provide opportunities for farmers agribusiness and scientists to interact will also be vital. Scientists need lo be aware of future market needs and the interaction of technology with farmer resource and behavioural constraints. Farmers and agribusiness need a learning forum. Processes such as the farm study group concept are possible means to this end.
