Description
Key points
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Temperate pastures offer a major opportunity to reduce the feed costs associated with ruminant production.
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Pastures offer unique opportunities for producing high value components in feedstuffs that are beneficial to human health.
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The increased use of pasture will not automatically lead to improved environmental outcomes – difficult challenges exist in reducing nitrogen and greenhouse gas pollution.
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Grazed pasture systems offer advantages in animal welfare, provided management avoids the problems associated with climatic extremes, and the toxins associated with some pastures.
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To remain competitive with total mixed ration systems, and environmentally acceptable, pastures with higher intake characteristics that allow a reduction in stock numbers per hectare and greater per animal productivity must be developed.
Included in
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Challenges and Opportunities for Animal Production from Temperate Pastures
Key points
-
Temperate pastures offer a major opportunity to reduce the feed costs associated with ruminant production.
-
Pastures offer unique opportunities for producing high value components in feedstuffs that are beneficial to human health.
-
The increased use of pasture will not automatically lead to improved environmental outcomes – difficult challenges exist in reducing nitrogen and greenhouse gas pollution.
-
Grazed pasture systems offer advantages in animal welfare, provided management avoids the problems associated with climatic extremes, and the toxins associated with some pastures.
-
To remain competitive with total mixed ration systems, and environmentally acceptable, pastures with higher intake characteristics that allow a reduction in stock numbers per hectare and greater per animal productivity must be developed.
