Sustainability Analysis on a Small Farm with Crop and Livestock

A small farm affiliated to a credit-and-service cooperative collective venture in Camagüey, Cuba, was studied to determine its sustainability under a system integrating cattle raising and agronomy. Data from January 2009 to April 2010 were collected and the Logical Operation Schedule for Sustainability Evaluation (ECOFAS) by Funes-Monzote et al. (2002) was applied. Findings indicate an increase in incomes from sales compared to expenses. This evidence, therefore, shows that sustainability can be attained at short and median terms, but not at a long term, by implement- ing this system. Energy, nitrogen, and phosphorus balances confirm these results

Pastoreo racional Voisin para la producción bovina sostenible (artículo reseña, primera parte)

Restricted grazing main principles, grouped into four universal laws firmly stated by Voisin (1963)  in his book  Grass Productivity, are  here  in explained. Voisin himself applied such principles  to  his  own   farm,  including  not  only  European  and   some  other   countries scientists’ and  farmers’ experiences, but  also his own  conclusions. An adequate grass resting  time  is  essential  in  guaranteeing  the   highest  biomass  production  with  an acceptable quality,  so  once   the  grass is  grazed by  cattle either under   natural  grazing conditions or supplied to the animals after cutting it, it can  be turned  into high quality milk, meat, and other products for human consumption, without affecting grazing endurance and the  ruminant nutrient requirements. Several examples on how to apply these principles to the   grass  and   animal  law  effects  are   discussed.  Therefore,  any   animal  grazing  on anoptimum quality grassland during a proper  time attains a reasonable milk production or weight gain without negatively impacting the  grassland, if grass resting time is taking  into account as well as some other factors such  as season, species and  agricultural resources.En  esta reseña se explican  los  principios  básicos del  pastoreo racional,  enmarcados en las  cuatro   leyes  universales  que   enunciara acertadamente  Voisin  (1963)   en  su  obra Productividad de  la hierba y que  pusiera en  práctica en  su  propia finca, retomando las diversas experiencias de  los campesinos científicos europeos y de  otras latitudes y por supuesto sus  propias  conclusiones.  El  adecuado  tiempo  de  reposo  de  la  hierba  es esencial para  garantizar   la máxima producción   de  biomasa con   calidad suficiente para que  una  vez  cosechada por  el  animal  o  por  el  órgano de  corte  de  la  segadora, sea convertida en  leche, carne y otros productos con alto valor para  el consumo humano, sin comprometer la  persistencia del  pastizal  y los  requerimientos  nutricionales  del  rumiante. Se  discuten varios ejemplos de la aplicación de estos principios a los efectos de las leyes de la hierba y del animal. Se  concluye que  un rumiante que  consuma un pasto de calidad logra una  producción razonable de  leche o incremento de  peso sin deteriorar el pasto, si se respetan los  tiempos  de  reposo, acorde con  varios  factores  como  epoca, especies y nivel de insumos agrícolas aplicados

Pastoreo racional Voisin para la producción bovina sostenible. (Articulo reseña, segundaI parte)

The effects of the application of rational grazing on the processes that govern the recycling of nutrients are summarizedin the soil-plant-animal trinomial. Livestock soils develop in flat relief and wavy-alomado, theycharacterized by a savanna vegetation; slopes and tropical forests in smaller amounts; generally do not possesshigh fertility and also its physical and hydrological properties, its susceptibility to erosion and fertilityrelatively low natural, they can influence imbalances of mineral nutrients. In this regard to applytechnologies to grazing systems, the level of inputs and outputs of nutrients to the system should be considered,process that may be influenced by various factors such as soil type, form and intensity of exploitation of thepasture, fertilizers, resting time, presence of legumes and especially the degree of rationality of the use ofgrasses These effects were reviewed for rational grazing methods.Se resumen los efectos de la aplicación del pastoreo racional sobre los procesos que rigen el reciclaje de nutrientesen el trinomio suelo-planta-animal. Los suelos de ganadería se desarrollan en relieve llano y ondulado-alomado, secaracterizan por una vegetación de sabana; laderas y bosques tropicales en menor cuantía; generalmente no poseenuna gran fertilidad y además sus propiedades físicas e hidrológicas, su susceptibilidad a la erosión y la fertilidadnatural relativamente baja, pueden influir en desbalances de nutrientes minerales. En este sentido para aplicartecnologías a los sistemas de pastoreo, debe considerarse el nivel de entradas y salidas de nutrientes al sistema,proceso que puede estar influido por diversos factores como el tipo de suelo, forma e intensidad de explotación delpastizal, fertilizantes, tiempo de reposo, presencia de leguminosas y sobre todo el grado de racionalidad de uso de lospastos. Se revisaron estos efectos para los métodos de pastoreo racional

Modelo experimental de granja lechera diversificada. Análisis y evaluación de su puesta en práctica

This research was carried out on a dairy farm located in a typical livestock region from Jimaguayú municipality in Camagüey province. This farm diversity in production was experimentally studied to evaluate bio-economic and sustainability indicators. Energy inputs and outputs were estimated by the energy equivalent coefficient for vegetable and livestock products for human consumption (Funes Monzote, 2003). Sustainability indicators evaluated were energy balance and economic efficiency. More than thirty species and varieties —selected according to edaphicclimatic conditions and the species productive performance— had been introduced as dairy farm production alternatives. Evaluation of average production and energy efficiency per hectare showed higher values for annual energy and protein production due to an increase in production numbers and diversity. Energy expenses and energy rate (produced calories vs. invested calories) exhibited a remarkable annual increase when compared to the first and third years. Improvement in dairy farm conditions evidenced a rise in expenses; however, this system implementation generated the economic resources needed to enhance production. In 1998, a net profit of 24 315 pesos (national currency) with a cost of 0,36 cents per peso invested was obtained.El trabajo se ejecutó en una unidad ubicada dentro de una zona típica ganadera del municipio Jimaguayú, provincia de Camagüey, con el objetivo de hacer la evaluación bio-económica y de sostenibilidad de un modelo de finca lechera diversificada a nivel experimental. Se calcularon las entradas y salidas de energía, mediante el coeficiente equivalente de energía para productos vegetales y pecuarios destinados al consumo humano propuesto por Funes Monzote (2003). Los indicadores de sostenibilidad determinados fueron el balance de energía y la eficiencia económica. Se introdujeron más de 30 especies y variedades de viandas, hortalizas, granos y frutales, cuya selección se realizó teniendo en cuenta las condiciones edafoclimáticas, así como las potencialidades productivas de las especies seleccionadas. La evaluación productiva y la eficiencia energética por hectárea promedio, mostró un incremento en la producción de energía y proteína por año debido al aumento y diversidad de las producciones. Los gastos energéticos del sistema y la relación energética (calorías producidas/calorías invertidas) mostraron un incremento considerable por año, al comparar el I Año con el III Año. Los resultados económicos evidenciaron un incremento de los gastos debido a las mejoras en la finca; no obstante, el sistema generó los recursos económicos necesarios para continuar produciendo, y aportar una ganancia en el año1998 de 24 315,81 pesos, con un costo por peso de 0,36 centavos

Análisis de sostenibilidad de una finca pequeña con integración ganadería-agricultura

A small farm affiliated to a credit-and-service cooperative collective venture in Camagüey, Cuba, was studied to determine its sustainability under a system integrating cattle raising and agronomy. Data from January 2009 to April 2010 were collected and the Logical Operation Schedule for Sustainability Evaluation (ECOFAS) by Funes-Monzote et al. (2002) was applied. Findings indicate an increase in incomes from sales compared to expenses. This evidence, therefore, shows that sustainability can be attained at short and median terms, but not at a long term, by implement- ing this system. Energy, nitrogen, and phosphorus balances confirm these results.Se analizó la sostenibilidad de una finca pequeña perteneciente a una cooperativa de créditos y servicios, en Ca- magüey, Cuba, donde se desarrolla un sistema integrado de producción ganadería-agricultura. Los datos se tomaron desde enero de 2009 hasta abril de 2010. Se utilizó el Esquema Operativo Lógico para Evaluación de Sostenibilidad (ECOFAS), propuesto por Funes-Monzote et al. (2002). Los ingresos por concepto de ventas superaron los gastos, por tanto, el sistema es sostenible a corto y mediano plazo, no así a largo plazo; esto se corroboró con los resultados de los balances de energía, nitrógeno y fósforo

Uso estratégico de la base forrajera en la producción estacional de leche bovina en la zona centro-oriental de Cuba.

Background: The central-eastern region of Cuba has been the scene of several studies to find solutions to the availability deficit and the inadequate management of the forage base, as they are determining factors in the productive results and the sustainability of the systems. Objective. Consider changes in the forage base management strategies based on a milk production model in the central-eastern region of Cuba.Development: Some important arguments based on previous studies about the advantages of the change in the perspective of management of grazing areas are summarized, so that their higher biomass production is used more efficiently, making this behavior coincide with the peaks of milk production, particularly in the months of April-August. Different scenarios and forms of production were taken into account, where they all agree that they work on the basis of minimal resources and their greatest perspective is to improve the exploitation and rational use of their natural and local resources.Conclusions: Taking into account such real possibilities of the livestock systems in the central-eastern territory of Cuba, it may be that, when implementing a seasonal strategy, the bio-economic efficiency of milk production is increased, with limited dependence on inputs. external. Keywords: season, pasture, animal production, efficiency (Source: AIMS)Antecedentes: La región centro-oriental de Cuba ha sido escenario de diversos estudios para encontrar soluciones al déficit de disponibilidad y el manejo inadecuado de la base forrajera, por ser factores determinantes en los resultados productivos y la sostenibilidad de los sistemas. Objetivo. Considerar cambios en las estrategias de manejo de la base forrajera a partir de un modelo de producción lechera en la región centro-oriental de Cuba. Desarrollo: Se resumen algunos argumentos importantes basados en estudios previos acerca de las ventajas que reporta el cambio en la perspectiva de manejo de las áreas de pastoreo, de manera que su mayor producción de biomasa se utilice más eficientemente, haciendo coincidir este comportamiento con los picos de producción de leche, particularmente en los meses de abril-agosto. Se tuvieron en cuenta diferentes escenarios y formas de producción, donde todos ellos coinciden en que funcionan sobre la base de mínimos recursos y su mayor perspectiva es la de mejorar el aprovechamiento y uso racional de sus recursos naturales y locales. Conclusiones: Teniendo en cuenta tales posibilidades reales de los sistemas ganaderos en el territorio centro-oriental de Cuba, puede resultar que, al lograr implementar una estrategia estacional, se incremente la eficiencia bio-económica de la producción de leche, con limitada dependencia de insumos externos. Palabras claves: época, pasto, producción animal, eficiencia (Fuente: AIMS

Introduction of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandú for Milk Production, and Economic Results of a Buffalo Dairy

The effect of introducing Brachiaria brizanta cv. Marandú for forage upon milk production and economic results was evaluated on Tayabito buffalo dairy farm affiliated to Maraguán Livestock Center in Camagüey municipality, Cuba. To this purpose, a two-hectare B. brizanta grazing ground was introduced and its effect on milk production and quality was estimated by a Switch Back design with two treatments and six replicas each. Initially, female buffaloes lactation span was 122 ± 5,7 days. Forage balances were performed on native pastures and half the area with B. brizanta  grassland.  This new species  proved its suitability  by spreading  over 80 % of the 2 ha area after being planted. Concerning milk production during dry and rainy seasons, a significant increase was registered for B. brizanta compared to native pastures (over 0,54 and 0,83 l/animal/day for each season, respectively). Milk quality was not affected in either case. This farm forage production could supply current herd feeding needs by introducing 50 % grazing grounds of B. brizanta; besides, productive indexes could significantly improve

Análisis del efecto bioeconómico de la inclusión de cultivos de ciclo corto como integración al sistema de producción lechera

Bioeconomic possibilities by integrating short-cycle cultures (Vigna sinensis, Sorghum vulgare, and Sesamum indicum) into a Leucaena leucocephala area were evaluated in a livestock production system established on an experimental farm from the Study Center for Animal Production Development affiliated to Camagüey University, Cuba. A simulation of a dairy farm comprising a 100 ha grazing ground and 1,2 cattle heads/ha was performed. In this area, 30 ha were sown with Leucaena leucocephala vs. Peru. Treatments assessed were Vigna sinensis + Leucaena leucocephala, Sorghum vulgare + Leucaena leucocephala, Sesamum indicum + Leucaena leucocephala, and Leucaena leucocephala (control treatment). Forage balances including yields of pasture, Leucaena leucocephala, and grains from the intercalated cultures were performed. Potential energy and protein supply was determined. Utility net changes per treatment were estimated through a partial budget analysis. Social and environmental benefits due to the treatments application were also estimated. It was proved that these grains supplementation to cattle directly affected by Leucaena leucocephala as an only feeding source was profitable in satisfying dry matter needs in 48,2 %, 40,1 %, and 32,0 % for Vigna sinensis, Sorghum vulgare, and Sesamum indicum, respectively. Besides, protein (0,74 t/ha, 0,55 t/ha, and 1,21 t/ha) and metabolical energy (6 646,6 Mcal/ha, 6 138,4 Mcal/ha, and 7 580,2 Mcal/ha) supply reached significant values for the three treatments in order already mentioned. Utility net changes reported economic advanteges for the three assessed culture variantes, i.e., $7 087,80 for Vigna sinensis,$6 088,26 for Sorghum vulgare, and $11 194,88 for Sesamum indicum. Hence, these short-cycle cultures are translated into social and environmental benefits.Se evaluó las posibilidades bioeconómicas de integración de cultivos de ciclo corto (Vigna sinensis, Sorghum vulgare y Sesamum indicum) a Leucaena leucocephala, dentro de un sistema de producción ganadera, en el área experimental del Centro de Estudios para el Desarrollo de la Producción Animal, de la Universidad de Camagüey Cuba. Se simuló una finca productora de leche con un área de pastoreo de 100 ha y una carga de 1,2 unidades de ganado mayor/ha, en la que se sembraron 30 hectáreas con Leucaena leucocephala cv Perú. Los tratamientos estudiados fueron: vigna + leucaena, sorgo + leucaena, ajonjolí + leucaena y control (leucaena). Se realizaron balances forrajeros incluyendo los rendimientos del pasto, leucaena y los granos de cultivos intercalados. Se determinó el aporte potencial de energía y proteína de cada tratamiento. Se aplicó análisis de presupuesto parcial para calcular el cambio neto de utilidades en cada tratamiento. Se estimaron los beneficios sociales y ambientales resultantes de la aplicación de los tratamientos. Cuando se emplearon los granos para suplementar al grupo de animales afectados directamente por el establecimiento de leucaena, se logró cubrir las necesidades de materia seca en un 48,2 ; 40,1 y 32,0$ 7 087,80, sorgo: $6 088,26 y ajonjolí:$ 11 194,88. Estos cultivos aportan beneficios ambientales y sociales

Resources, Reproductive Performance, and Animal Management on Equine Breeding Farms in Azuay, Ecuador

Background: The general operations of horse breeding systems are seldom studied. The aim of this paper was to carry out a thorough characterization of horse farms in the province of Azuay, Ecuador. Methods: Out of the 63 breeding farms authorized by the state agency of Azuay with more than five animals, and operational for over two years, 45 were chosen for sample collection. The information considered variables area, pasture, animals, zootechniques, reproduction, health, and expenses. The analysis showed the basic statigraphs, principal components with Varimax rotation and k-mean cluster analysis, and the statistics for each cluster. Results: The first component explained more than a third of total variation, and related the determining variables of infrastructure, total area, pasture, and area for facilities. The second component is co-related to the number of parturitions and estrus repetition. The third component is co-related to management and greater animal wellbeing. Two clusters with differences in terms of area, number of animals, availability of resources, and reproductive performance, were found. Conclusions: Today, the main factors to tackle horse system improvements in the province of Azuay are grassland improvements, animal management, and reproductive performance.Background: The general operations of horse breeding systems are seldom studied. The aim of this paper was to carry out a thorough characterization of horse farms in the province of Azuay, Ecuador. Methods: Out of the 63 breeding farms authorized by the state agency of Azuay with more than five animals, and operational for over two years, 45 were chosen for sample collection. The information considered variables area, pasture, animals, zootechniques, reproduction, health, and expenses. The analysis showed the basic statigraphs, principal components with Varimax rotation and k-mean cluster analysis, and the statistics for each cluster. Results: The first component explained more than a third of total variation, and related the determining variables of infrastructure, total area, pasture, and area for facilities. The second component is co-related to the number of parturitions and estrus repetition. The third component is co-related to management and greater animal wellbeing. Two clusters with differences in terms of area, number of animals, availability of resources, and reproductive performance, were found. Conclusions: Today, the main factors to tackle horse system improvements in the province of Azuay are grassland improvements, animal management, and reproductive performance

Evaluación bioeconómica de alternativas ganaderas a la producción de leche en las sabanas infértiles del norte de Camagüey

Livestock alternatives to milk production were evaluated with the improvement of the native pasture from an association of Andropogon gayanus cv. CIAT 621 and Centrosema pubescens, which had shown good adaptation to the edaphic and climatic conditions of the savannas in the north of the province of Camagüey, Cuba, where Fersialitic Red Parduzco Mullido Ferromagnesial soils predominate, with low fertility. The alternatives were bovine fattening and dairy accompanied by sheep farming. The stage was a farm located in the area with typical characteristics of that place. Forage and food balances were carried out to obtain the productive response to the planting of grass and supplementation and the partial budget analysis for the net change of utilities of each variant. The calculations were made in USD according to the costs and prices in force in 2003. Within the variants of fattening the planting of the association in 25 and 40% of the area with or without supplement achieved the greatest net changes in profits with respect to Dairy activity, while in the case of diversified dairy with sheep farming, the greatest advantages are obtained for the 40% improvement of the native pasture in both cases. According to the results, for the region the best options of livestock exploitation and improvement of the native pasture from the association with respect to the dairy would be the bovine fattening with 25 and 40% improvement with and without supplementation and the diversified dairy with sheep breeding with a 40% improvement.Se evaluaron alternativas ganaderas a la producción de leche con la mejora del pastizal nativo a partir de una asociación de Andropogon gayanus cv. CIAT 621 y Centrosema pubescens, que había mostrado buena adaptación a las condiciones edáficas y climáticas de las sabanas del norte de la provincia de Camagüey, Cuba, donde predominan los suelos Fersialítico Rojo Parduzco Mullido Ferromagnesial, de baja fertilidad. Las alternativas fueron la ceba bovina y la lechería acompañada de la cría ovina. El escenario fue una finca ubicada en la zona con características típicas de ese lugar. Se realizaron los balances de forrajes y alimentarios para obtener la respuesta productiva a la siembra de pasto y suplementación y el análisis de presupuesto parcial para el cambio neto de utilidades de cada variante. Los cálculos se hicieron en USD de acuerdo a los costos y precios vigentes en 2003. Dentro de las variantes de ceba la siembra de la asociación en el 25 y 40 % del área con o sin suplemento lograron los mayores cambios netos de utilidades con respecto a la actividad lechera, mientras que en  el  caso  de  la lechería  diversificada  con la  cría  ovina  las  mayores  ventajas  se obtienen para el 40 % de mejora del pastizal nativo en ambos casos. De acuerdo con los resultados, para la región las mejores opciones de explotación ganadera y mejora del pastizal nativo a partir de la asociación con respecto a la lechería serían la ceba bovina con 25 y 40 % de mejora con y sin suplementación y la lechería diversificada con la cría de ovinos con un 40 % de mejora