The role and contributions of animals in alternative agricultural systems
Livestock are important components of agricultural systems. In the U.S., one-half of total agricultural receipts come from the sale of livestock. They are the harvestors of range plants, forages, and crop residues; they level out the effects of the seasonally and variability of rainfall; they cushion disruptions in the trade and marketing of feed grains; they counteract declining soil fertility and soil erosion; and they contribute to the efficient year-round use of farm labor. Unfortunately, farmers are often not inclined to adopt alternative animal agriculture systems despite the advantages they may offer. Constraints that may be encountered include possibilities of reduced short-term profits, difficulties in adapting available technology to alternative farming systems, difficulties in shifting from specialized crop or livestock farms to crop/livestock farms, and the increased needs for labor and management. Some actions needed in the U.S. to improve livestock production in alternative farming systems are: the establishment of government policies to promote the shift of marginal lands to soil and water conserving crops and the incorporation of pastures and forages in crop rotations; research to improve the utilization by ruminants of ligno-cellulosic feeds (pastures, forages, crop residues); and programs to improve range and forest management and to lead to the development of systems that optimize the use of forages for the production of nutritionally desirable lean beef.
Evaluation of the use of agricultural residues as an energy feedstock. Volume I
Since agricultural residues (crop and forest wastes and animal manures) constitute a potential supplemental source of energy, the authors examine the availability of such residues and evaluate their potential use as an energy feedstock. The report is presented in two volumes: the method of approach used in inventory development, the collection, harvesting, and conversion economics, and the overall concept assessment are presented in Volume I.
Diets of wild horses, cattle, and mule deer in the Piceance basin, Colorado.
daily gains appear to have been limited by the ability of the steers to consume enough forage. Had the available forage been of higher quality, increased rates of gain would undoubtedly have occurred since the forage was available. It appears that intake capacity of this size steer limits live weight gains on a deep hardland range site. For increased live weight gain, additional protein and energy would need to be provided as a supplement to the forage. When supplementation is economically infeasible, these data indicate that only about .45 kg/head daily gain can be expected from yearling steers grazing similar Texas High Plains range. Literature Cited