Comparison of an integrated crop–livestock system with soybean only: Economic and production responses in southern Brazil

Abstract

In Brazil, as well as globally, land use has been increasingly addressed for environmental impacts and economic improvements. Integrated crop–livestock systems (ICLSs) are a potential strategy to optimize use of land, increase total production and reduce economic risk through diversification. We compared production and economic outcomes of a soybean-only system with ICLS differing in sward management. The study area was managed since 2001 using no-till in southern Brazil. Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] was rotated with a mixture of black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb) and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam) either for: (i) grazing (ICLS) or (ii) cover crops as cropping system only (CS) with no livestock grazing. Four sward height management methods (10, 20, 30 or 40 cm) were evaluated under put-and-take stocking. Across years, soybean yield (2516±103 kg ha−1) was not affected by treatment, but was affected by year (P<0.001), due to rainfall during crop development. Cattle average daily gain, gain per hectare (GPH) and gross margin were affected by treatments (P<0.001). Average daily gain was lower when pasture was managed at 10 cm than between 20 and 40 cm. With increasing sward height, a gradual reduction in cattle GPH was observed (P<0.05). Overall gross margin was lower in CS than in ICLS. Economic return with ICLS was greatest when sward height management was between 10 and 20 cm. Our study indicates that ICLS could be considered an alternative management strategy that improves economic performance and promotes balanced production in the long term.

Ecological and economic benefits of integrating sheep into viticulture production

“…Integrated systems can also increase profits for farmers through reduced costs (e.g. Bell & Moore 2012), labor (Neto et al 2014), or increased productivity compared with specialized systems (Oliveira et al 2013), but these outcomes are highly dependent on the region and systems implemented and the broader policy and market context (Garrett et al 2017a). Each type of integrated system confers different benefits depending on the types of crops and livestock being used and the level of integration (Moore et al 2016).…”

Steers production in integrated crop-livestock systems: pasture management under different sward heights

“…Therefore, the management of grazing intensity in the ICL-NT plays a fundamental role in systems function, since it influences both crop and animal production, as well as economic outcomes obtained in system (OLIVEIRA et al, 2013).…”

Social and ecological analysis of commercial integrated crop livestock systems: Current knowledge and remaining uncertainty

“…Southeast Australia, Brazil), ICLS with both pasture and oilseeds and grains can result in substantially higher profitability (Dove et al, 2015;Katsvairo and Cox, 2000;Lunardi et al, 2008). In some places they can also be more profitable than continuous cropping (de Oliveira et al, 2013;Ryschawy et al, 2012), but these results depend on the costs of external inputs and labor costs. Where (and when) fertilizers are very costly and labor costs are very low, integrated systems will be more attractive than systems that rely heavily on external inputs (all intensively managed specialized systems) or mechanization (specialized cropping systems in particular) (Janovick et al, 2003).…”