Simulation of grazing cattle fattening systems in the humid tropics of Costa Rica depending on stocking rate, level of supplemental molasses and time of the year
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17138/tgft(12)173-190Abstract
Silvopastoral systems (SSP) are a sustainable alternative to produce beef in the tropics. In the present study, the average daily weight gain (ADG) per animal was 0.64 kg in pastures of Urochloa brizantha 'Toledo', associated with Arachis pintoi and U. decumbens as a monoculture. These pastures have persisted for over ten years, with stocking rates ranging from 1.9 to 3.2 AU/ha (UA=400 kg) in 10-month rotation cycles. The paddocks had live fences of Gliricidia sepium and scattered trees of Erythrina poeppigiana and Cordia alliodora. The Life-Sim model was used to simulate the response using 25 comparisons of ADG with a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.056 kg. Supplementing molasses at 18.32% of the potential DM intake provided the energy required to improve the utilization of the excess protein contained in the forage consumed, resulting in higher ADG (0.85 kg), but its inclusion was nonprofitable. Another scenario evaluated was the effect of fluctuating prices on the purchase and sale of fattened cattle throughout the year. The maximum gross margin per animal was for February (US$ 621), the minimum for March (US$ 445), and the annual mean was US$ 544. No difference among the starting months for fattening was detected when the prices for the last ten years were used. Other parameters evaluated were N consumption (139.66±3.88 g/animal/day); N use efficiency (25.60±0.58%); urinary N excretion (49.74±0.63 g/animal/day), fecal N (54.12±1.50 g/animal/day); and CH4 emissions (80.48±4.76 kg/year).
Author Biographies
José Daniel Hernández, Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE)
El artículo se basa en la tesis de maestría en la Escuela de Posgrado del CATIE
Alberto Ramírez, Consultor Independiente, Productor en finca "Tres Equis"
Graduado de CATIE y Productor en cuya finca se condujo el trabajo bajo su co-supervisión
Danilo Pezo, Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE)
Researcher-Professor of CATIE´´'s Graduate School
Cristóbal Villanueva, Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE)
Researcher and Professor CATIE´'s Graduate School
Roberto Quiroz, CATIE Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza
Roberto Quiroz is a Panamanian scientist trained in basic sciences but has vast experience in research, development, innovation, and capacity building in agriculture, climate change, and natural resources management. He obtained his undergraduate degree at the University of Panama and his Master of Science and Ph.D. degrees from North Carolina State University. His international experience includes working for the Panamanian Agricultural Research Institute (IDIAP) for 10 years, the International Development Research Center (IDRC) for 7 years, the International Potato Center (CIP) for 23 years, the radar group of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL- NASA) and currently the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE). He is the Education Director and Dean of the Graduate School at CATIE and an adjunct professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He is well known for his scientific publications and talks.
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