Publication Date
1985
Location
Kyoto Japan
Description
New policies seek to increase beef output on China's rangeland by sowing legume-based pastures. "Model farms" provide a means of quickly transferring this technology to China. Gaopoling Model Cattle Farm was set up to improve beef production in dry tropical Hainan Island by introducing new legume species and better husbandry practices. With finance from Guangdong Province and technology from Australia, a program emphasising pasture research, performance recording of "improved" versus "traditional" cattle husbandry and commercial farm developmant was commenced in 1981. Though experimentation, recommendations for species combinations, fertilizer inputs and sowing methods were formulated for the major local soil types. Stylosanthes hamata cv Verano and S. sea bra cv Seca provided the best legume-base for improvement of sand soil, while Macroptilium atropurpureum cv Siratro andS. guianensis cv Graham were most suited to loam soil. Loam soil required no fertilizer, but moderate applications of superphosphate are needed for high yield on sand soil. The soundness of these recommendations was tested by the commercial development of 1200 ha of improved pasture and an integrated grazing system was developed for use on State Farms. Pasture improvement together with improved husbandry increased cow liveweight by 20%, calving rate by 50% and calf growth by 90%, while steers reached adult weight in two years. Constraints to the use of range improvement practices in dry tropical Hainan are noted, and an indication is given of the future role of Gaopoling Farm in technology transfer.
Citation
Michalk, D L.; Ayres, J F.; NanPing, Fu; and Chin-Min, Zhu, "Range Improvement in Tropical China: Gaopoling Model Cattle Farm" (1985). IGC Proceedings (1985-2023). 9.
(URL: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1985/ses16/9)
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Range Improvement in Tropical China: Gaopoling Model Cattle Farm
Kyoto Japan
New policies seek to increase beef output on China's rangeland by sowing legume-based pastures. "Model farms" provide a means of quickly transferring this technology to China. Gaopoling Model Cattle Farm was set up to improve beef production in dry tropical Hainan Island by introducing new legume species and better husbandry practices. With finance from Guangdong Province and technology from Australia, a program emphasising pasture research, performance recording of "improved" versus "traditional" cattle husbandry and commercial farm developmant was commenced in 1981. Though experimentation, recommendations for species combinations, fertilizer inputs and sowing methods were formulated for the major local soil types. Stylosanthes hamata cv Verano and S. sea bra cv Seca provided the best legume-base for improvement of sand soil, while Macroptilium atropurpureum cv Siratro andS. guianensis cv Graham were most suited to loam soil. Loam soil required no fertilizer, but moderate applications of superphosphate are needed for high yield on sand soil. The soundness of these recommendations was tested by the commercial development of 1200 ha of improved pasture and an integrated grazing system was developed for use on State Farms. Pasture improvement together with improved husbandry increased cow liveweight by 20%, calving rate by 50% and calf growth by 90%, while steers reached adult weight in two years. Constraints to the use of range improvement practices in dry tropical Hainan are noted, and an indication is given of the future role of Gaopoling Farm in technology transfer.
