Efficiency in Cow-Calf Systems With Different Ages of Cow Culling
The bioeconomic efficiency of cow-calf systems was compared by a deterministic dynamic simulation. The simulation model considered stable cow-calf systems differentiated by the maximum age for culling cows, lifetime, culled at 4–13 years old. The necessary supply of metabolizable energy for the herd...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fvets.2020.00476/full |
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| author | Amir Gil Sessim Tamara Esteves de Oliveira Fredy Andrey López-González David Santos de Freitas Júlio Otávio Jardim Barcellos |
| author_facet | Amir Gil Sessim Tamara Esteves de Oliveira Fredy Andrey López-González David Santos de Freitas Júlio Otávio Jardim Barcellos |
| author_sort | Amir Gil Sessim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The bioeconomic efficiency of cow-calf systems was compared by a deterministic dynamic simulation. The simulation model considered stable cow-calf systems differentiated by the maximum age for culling cows, lifetime, culled at 4–13 years old. The necessary supply of metabolizable energy for the herd was established as natural grasslands, cultivated pasture in the winter/spring, and pre-dried pasture produced by the system. The biological efficiency of the systems was considered the ratio between the production of total live weight and the metabolizable energy consumed over one production cycle. Economic efficiency was determined by the ratio between gross margin and production area and the ratio between gross margin and number of cows. Bioeconomic efficiency was determined by a simple linear regression between biological efficiency, economic efficiency per area, and economic efficiency per cow. The efficiency of the animal unit, considering biological efficiency and economic efficiency per area were better in the system that culled cows at 4 years old, while economic efficiency per cow was better in the system that culled cows at 13 years old. In determining the bioeconomic efficiency of the systems, the best results were found in the system that culled cows at 6 years old, which suggests that the best efficiency of a cow-calf herd is reached when the adult age and mature weight of the cow are reached, and there is no more energy used for growing. The results indicate that stable cow-calf herds express their best biological efficiency and economic efficiency per area when the cow culling age is lower. However, economic efficiency per cow depends on cows that remain in the herd as long as possible. The culling age of cow that balances these biological and economic indicators is reached around 5 and half years. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T17:21:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-18a6ef11a2d24f2ab1e01b722b619c76 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-1769 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T17:21:04Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-18a6ef11a2d24f2ab1e01b722b619c762022-12-22T02:37:58ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692020-08-01710.3389/fvets.2020.00476556301Efficiency in Cow-Calf Systems With Different Ages of Cow CullingAmir Gil Sessim0Tamara Esteves de Oliveira1Fredy Andrey López-González2David Santos de Freitas3Júlio Otávio Jardim Barcellos4Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agronomy, Núcleo de Estudos em Sistemas de Produção de Bovinos de Corte e Cadeia Produtiva (NESPro), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, BrazilDepartment of Animal Science, Faculty of Agronomy, Núcleo de Estudos em Sistemas de Produção de Bovinos de Corte e Cadeia Produtiva (NESPro), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, BrazilDepartment of Animal Science, Faculty of Agronomy, Núcleo de Estudos em Sistemas de Produção de Bovinos de Corte e Cadeia Produtiva (NESPro), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, BrazilPlant Ecology Laboratory, University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS), São Leopoldo, BrazilDepartment of Animal Science, Faculty of Agronomy, Núcleo de Estudos em Sistemas de Produção de Bovinos de Corte e Cadeia Produtiva (NESPro), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, BrazilThe bioeconomic efficiency of cow-calf systems was compared by a deterministic dynamic simulation. The simulation model considered stable cow-calf systems differentiated by the maximum age for culling cows, lifetime, culled at 4–13 years old. The necessary supply of metabolizable energy for the herd was established as natural grasslands, cultivated pasture in the winter/spring, and pre-dried pasture produced by the system. The biological efficiency of the systems was considered the ratio between the production of total live weight and the metabolizable energy consumed over one production cycle. Economic efficiency was determined by the ratio between gross margin and production area and the ratio between gross margin and number of cows. Bioeconomic efficiency was determined by a simple linear regression between biological efficiency, economic efficiency per area, and economic efficiency per cow. The efficiency of the animal unit, considering biological efficiency and economic efficiency per area were better in the system that culled cows at 4 years old, while economic efficiency per cow was better in the system that culled cows at 13 years old. In determining the bioeconomic efficiency of the systems, the best results were found in the system that culled cows at 6 years old, which suggests that the best efficiency of a cow-calf herd is reached when the adult age and mature weight of the cow are reached, and there is no more energy used for growing. The results indicate that stable cow-calf herds express their best biological efficiency and economic efficiency per area when the cow culling age is lower. However, economic efficiency per cow depends on cows that remain in the herd as long as possible. The culling age of cow that balances these biological and economic indicators is reached around 5 and half years.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fvets.2020.00476/fullbeef cattleBritish breedingfeed restriction in cowsherd structurelongevitystayability |
| spellingShingle | Amir Gil Sessim Tamara Esteves de Oliveira Fredy Andrey López-González David Santos de Freitas Júlio Otávio Jardim Barcellos Efficiency in Cow-Calf Systems With Different Ages of Cow Culling Frontiers in Veterinary Science beef cattle British breeding feed restriction in cows herd structure longevity stayability |
| title | Efficiency in Cow-Calf Systems With Different Ages of Cow Culling |
| title_full | Efficiency in Cow-Calf Systems With Different Ages of Cow Culling |
| title_fullStr | Efficiency in Cow-Calf Systems With Different Ages of Cow Culling |
| title_full_unstemmed | Efficiency in Cow-Calf Systems With Different Ages of Cow Culling |
| title_short | Efficiency in Cow-Calf Systems With Different Ages of Cow Culling |
| title_sort | efficiency in cow calf systems with different ages of cow culling |
| topic | beef cattle British breeding feed restriction in cows herd structure longevity stayability |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fvets.2020.00476/full |
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