Improving Efficiency of Production in Pasture/Range Based Beef and Dairy Systems

Abstract Text: Despite overall advances in technology and livestock production systems in the last century, it is still critical for research to be focused on efficient nutrient and forage utilization in order to improve efficiency of grazing beef and dairy production systems.  Beef and dairy cattle have the advantage to capitalize on the ruminant’s ability to utilize these feed resources that are not usable for other production industries.  However, poor forage and subsequent energy utilization are often the primary limiting factors associated with decreased efficiency in range- and pasture-based beef and dairy systems.  Although forage remains the least expensive nutrient source to maintain productivity of the cow herd, energy utilization of converting forage to a marketable output can be relatively inefficient.  Thus, improving energy efficiency of pasture- and range-based grazing systems is essential to maintain long-term profitability and sustainability of livestock industry.  Increasing profitability by optimizing grazing management and reproduction requires a rapid adoption of grazing management practices and genetic selection criteria for animals that fit diverse environment.  The task of developing efficient production systems is biologically and economically complex and not easily achieved.  Forage production and utilization on pasture- and range-based grazing systems varies tremendously across regions in the United States.  This variation in forage production and utilization is due to differences in environmental conditions (e.g. temperature, precipitation, humidity, topography) and genetic makeup of the cow, which creates challenges in recommendations for specific genotype and grazing management schemes.  However, matching cow type or genetic potential to the production environment and grazing management scheme may provide opportunities to increase energy utilization efficiency.  In addition, pasture nutritive value and production varies within forage species across regions (e.g. cool-season vs. warm-season grass), and recommendations for grazing strategies leading to greater pasture utilization should factor differences in pasture composition.  Therefore, increasing ruminants’ efficiency of forage utilization through selection of energy efficient animals and/or grazing management decisions (i.e., supplementation, grazing management) would result in an increased profitability and sustainability.  

Keywords: pasture, range, energy efficiency