Advances in Pasture Management and Animal Nutrition to Optimize Beef Cattle Production in Grazing Systems

Abstract

The increasing demand of meat requires the adoption of sustainable intensification livestock systems, applying nutritional strategies to reduce any negative contribution from beef cattle to global warming and, at the same time, to increase animal performance and productive efficiency. The pasture management practices and feed supplementation, mainly using non-edible feed with less costs, could minimize environmental and social impacts, resulting in higher productivity with less inputs utilization. Tropical grass submitted to grazing management according to plant height present high soluble protein and low levels of indigestible neutral detergent fiber contents. Energy or rumen undegradable protein supplementation, associated to alternative additives to antibiotics effects, such as probiotics, tannin, essential oils and saponin, can help to fully exploit the animal genetic potential and nutrient utilization efficiency, which decreases greenhouse gases emissions and improves animal performance. Hence, more information about these tools can make the livestock systems in tropical pasture more efficient and eco-friendlier.

Challenges of Pasture Feeding Systems—Opportunities and Constraints

“…For reducing greenhouse gas emissions, grazing, and feeding, management strategies are essential. Rational grazing management harvests higher-value forage, allowing more efficient use of nutrients, which increases animal productivity [74]. Additional opportunities to reduce gaseous emissions associated with ruminant food production include improved livestock health, fertility, and productivity.…”

Impact of climate change on the dairy production in Fiji and the Pacific Island Countries and Territories: an insight for adaptation planning

“…Changes in the management system augment this effect leading to improvement in the favorable forage grasses and legumes. This management system includes soil fertilization, irrigation, and integrated grazing management system in the PICTs [81]. A rotation farming system with grass, hay, or pasture results to large impact on soil carbon stocks, with manure adding to soil organic matter build-up on the farmland [79].…”

Combined effects of nitrate and medium-chain fatty acids on methane production, rumen fermentation, and rumen bacterial populations in vitro

“…NT and MCFA are effective CH 4 inhibitors when used alone; however, their high concentrations have adverse effects on rumen fermentation and feed intake 10 . Caution must be taken when supplementing NT because of the risk of nitrite poisoning 10 and loss of high levels of nitrogen in urine 21 . Furthermore, high amounts of dietary lipids (8–9%), including MCFA, reduce dry matter intake (DMI), digestibility 22 , 23 , and consequently, production efficiency 24 , 25 .…”