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.
Citation
Clark, D. A., "Challenges and Opportunities for Animal Production from Temperate Pastures" (2023). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 8.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/20/satellitesymposium4/8
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.
