A livestock farmer is firstly a veld and pasture farmer. It is vital that the animals’ nutritional requirements are met, especially during breeding and when the cows are raising calves. Moreover, the cattle should be fully fed in a relatively short period of grazing. This implies that the farm’s fodder flow must be sufficient throughout the year.
Arguably the most crucial aspect of grazing management after establishing the correct stocking rate is to ensure that a portion of the veld and pasture is given a periodic rest period comprising a full growing season.
The foremost economic factor of a cattle farming enterprise is fertility. It is five times more important than growth performance, which in turn is five times more important than carcass quality. Obviously, it is better to have a poorly performing calf than no calf at all.
MANAGEMENT & GENETICS
Fertility has both a management and a genetic component.
The management component includes all those aspects, such as feeding correctly and maintaining animal health, that are your sole responsibility as a farmer. It also includes maintaining strict breeding seasons in order to establish which animals are not reproducing. Breeding seasons make it far easier for you to use a veterinarian to determine which cows have failed to conceive.
Good management enables animals to produce and reproduce optimally. The genetic component of fertility is limited to 10% heritability. However, it is highly repeatable, so make sure to identify the cow families that calve every year.
Bu hikaye Farmer's Weekly dergisinin December 13, 2019 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye Farmer's Weekly dergisinin December 13, 2019 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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