The economic value of sustainability of the integrated crop-livestock system in relation to conventional systems

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of improving the economic value of integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS) compared to conventional systems specialized in monoculture. The experimental area was 16.02 ha, divided into 18 paddocks of 0.89 ha each, organized in a randomized block design, with three replicates and six models of production systems: crop system [corn ( Zea mays ) grain production], livestock system (beef cattle under grazing conditions), and four ICLS, identified as: ICLS-1, corn integrated with Marandu palisadegrass [ Urochloa brizantha (Hoechst. ex A. Rich.) R.D. Webster cv. Marandu (syn. Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu] sown simultaneously without herbicide; ICLS-2, corn and Marandu palisadegrass sown simultaneously with herbicide; ICLS-3, corn and Marandu palisadegrass with lagged sowing; and ICLS-4, corn and Marandu palisadegrass sown simultaneously, with herbicide in rows and between-rows of corn. We demonstrated the economic impact analysis combined with the risk optimization and discounted cash flow techniques based on Monte Carlo simulation, considering price and productivity uncertainties. The indicators of added value and return on investment of ICLS had an economic advantage compared with conventional systems. It was also found that ICLS needed a smaller operational area than conventional systems for the economic break-even point. Integrated systems provide lower financial and operational risk levels and greater economic value per hectare compared with conventional systems specialized in monoculture.(AU)

Effect of thermal stress on basic seminal characteristics of Gyr bulls.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of thermal stress indices and minimum temperature on the semen quality of dairy Gyr bulls and to determine whether the minimum night temperature is able to balance the thermal stress that occurred during the day. A total of 922 semen samples were collected from 391 bulls aged between 15 and 49 months, which participated in progeny pretest trials, from December 2011 to April 2017. Semen characteristics (ejaculate volume, gross motility, sperm motility, sperm vigor, sperm concentration, and percentage of total defects) and scrotal circumference were analyzed. Meteorological data were recorded daily by the National Institute of Meteorology. The analyses were carried out using mixed models. The following fixed effects were included in the model: test, month of sample collection, scrotal circumference, the age of the bull at sampling as covariate (linear regression), and the climatic variables (equivalent temperature index [ETI], temperature and humidity index [THI], or minimum temperature). The effect of the bull nested within the test was included in the model as a random effect. Two periods were considered to evaluate the effect of the climatic variables on sperm quality: 7 days before collection (period 1) and the day of collection (period 2). There was an effect of ETI on sperm vigor and concentration in both periods and on volume and percentage of total defects only in the second period. The THI exerted a significant effect on volume in both periods and on sperm motility and concentration only in the second period. There was an effect of the minimum temperature on ejaculate volume, sperm motility, sperm concentration, and percentage of total defects only in the second period, which corresponds to the day of semen collection. Taken together, the results show that there was sufficient thermal stress to negatively affect semen quality. However, the minimum temperature during the night was a significant factor that balanced these negative effects of THI and ETI on semen traits of Gyr bulls.

Economic gains from croplivestock integration in relation to conventional systems

The objective with this study was to calculate the total cost of maize production and beef cattle in permanent pasture activities in separate production systems (conventional) and integrated systems (maize production plus beef cattle), as well as to verify economic gains explained by the economy of scope. The first step for the development of the research was to obtain field experimental data. Six experimental treatments were studied: corn grain production, beef cattle in permanent pasture, and four integrated systems based on different crop and pasture sowings. The second step consisted in the collection, calculation, and allocation of variable and fixed costs to estimate costs of production in the systems. The crop-livestock integration showed economic gains in relation to conventional systems, which can be explained by the dilution of fixed costs and the presence of shareable inputs, resulting in economy of scope. It was also possible to demonstrate that total unit costs of both crop and livestock were lower in crop-livestock integration, showing that integrated systems resulted in economic benefits as compared with conventional ones.(AU)

Questões econômicas e gerenciais envolvidas na adoção e manutenção de sistemas de integração lavoura-pecuária / Economic and management issues involved in the adoption and maintenance of integrated crop-livestock systems

Os profissionais envolvidos nas cadeias de produção animal e vegetal se deparam com um cenário atual de contradições. De um lado, o aumento pela demanda de alimentos, de outro, as pressões sociais que questionam o modo como é conduzida a produção. Neste contexto, os sistemas integrados podem ser uma importante estratégia. A integração lavoura-pecuária (ILP) consiste na implantação de diferentes sistemas produtivos para a produção animal e vegetal na mesma área, em plantio consorciado, sequencial ou rotacional. Os benefícios mais divulgados em relação aos sistemas de ILP são os agronômicos ou produtivos, que são consequência da melhoria da qualidade do solo e maior controle de pragas. Contudo, para que os sistemas de ILP sejam adotados em escala comercial, representando de fato uma alternativa para a produção de alimentos, é necessário que a ciência aborde também questões econômicas e gerenciais envolvidas na adoção e manutenção dos sistemas de ILP.

Professionals involved in animal and plant production chains are currently confronted with a scenario of contradictions. There is a growing demand for food, on the other hand, social pressures question how food is produced. Within this context, integrated production systems could be an important strategy. Integrated crop-livestock systems (ICL) consists of the implementation of different systems for animal and agricultural production in the same area, planted concurrently, sequentially or in rotation. The most reported advantages of ICL systems are agronomic or productive benefits, which are the result of improved soil quality and better pest control. However, to implement ICL systems on large scale, representing an actual alternative for food production, scientific research must address the economic and management issues involved in the adoption and maintenance of these systems.

Questões econômicas e gerenciais envolvidas na adoção e manutenção de sistemas de integração lavoura-pecuária / Economic and management issues involved in the adoption and maintenance of integrated crop-livestock systems

Os profissionais envolvidos nas cadeias de produção animal e vegetal se deparam com um cenário atual de contradições. De um lado, o aumento pela demanda de alimentos, de outro, as pressões sociais que questionam o modo como é conduzida a produção. Neste contexto, os sistemas integrados podem ser uma importante estratégia. A integração lavoura-pecuária (ILP) consiste na implantação de diferentes sistemas produtivos para a produção animal e vegetal na mesma área, em plantio consorciado, sequencial ou rotacional. Os benefícios mais divulgados em relação aos sistemas de ILP são os agronômicos ou produtivos, que são consequência da melhoria da qualidade do solo e maior controle de pragas. Contudo, para que os sistemas de ILP sejam adotados em escala comercial, representando de fato uma alternativa para a produção de alimentos, é necessário que a ciência aborde também questões econômicas e gerenciais envolvidas na adoção e manutenção dos sistemas de ILP.(AU)

Professionals involved in animal and plant production chains are currently confronted with a scenario of contradictions. There is a growing demand for food, on the other hand, social pressures question how food is produced. Within this context, integrated production systems could be an important strategy. Integrated crop-livestock systems (ICL) consists of the implementation of different systems for animal and agricultural production in the same area, planted concurrently, sequentially or in rotation. The most reported advantages of ICL systems are agronomic or productive benefits, which are the result of improved soil quality and better pest control. However, to implement ICL systems on large scale, representing an actual alternative for food production, scientific research must address the economic and management issues involved in the adoption and maintenance of these systems.(AU)