Intensification: A Key Strategy to Achieve Great Animal and Environmental Beef Cattle Production Sustainability inBrachiariaGrasslands

Author(s)

Cardoso, Abmael da Silva ^[1] ; Barbero, Rondineli Pavezzi ^[2] ; Romanzini, Elieder Prates ^[1] ; Teobaldo, Ronyatta Weich ^[1] ; Ongaratto, Fernando ^[1] ; Machado da Rocha Fernandes, Marcia Helena ^[1] ; Ruggieri, Ana Claudia ^[1] ; Reis, Ricardo Andrade ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Paulista Unesp, Dept Zootecnia, BR-14884900 Jaboticabal, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Rural Rio de Janeiro UFRRJ, Dept Prod Anim, BR-23890000 Seropedica, RJ - Brazil

• Document type: Review article
• Source: SUSTAINABILITY; v. 12, n. 16 AUG 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 5

Abstract

Intensification of tropical grassland can be a strategy to increase beef production, but methods for achieving this should maintain or reduce its environmental impact and should not compromise future food-producing capacity. The objective of this review was to discuss the aspects of grassland management, animal supplementation, the environment, and the socioeconomics of grassland intensification. Reducing environmental impact in the form of, for example, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is particularly important in Brazil, which is the second-largest beef producer in the world. Most Brazilian pastures, however, are degraded, representing a considerable opportunity for the mitigation and increase of beef-cattle production, and consequently increasing global protein supply. Moreover, in Brazil, forage production is necessary for seasonal feeding strategies that maintain animal performance during periods of forage scarcity. There are many options to achieve this objective that can be adopted alone or in association. These options include improving grassland management, pasture fertilization, and animal supplementation. Improving grazing management has the potential to mitigate GHG emissions through the reduction of the intensity of CO(2)emissions, as well as the preservation of natural areas by reducing the need for expanding pastureland. Limitations to farmers adopting intensification strategies include cultural aspects and the lack of financial resources and technical assistance. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/09924-2 - Evaluation of the finishing system of sheep grazing on tifton-85 grass swards submitted by the rotational stocking intensities
• Grantee: Ana Cláudia Ruggieri
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/11274-5 - Decomposition of litter and greenhouse gases emission in Brachiaria grasses with increasing nitrogen fertilizer rates
• Grantee: Abmael da Silva Cardoso
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 12/20264-0 - Productive, environmental and economic impacts of strategies supplementation in beef cattle diet under grazing heights and finishing strategies
• Grantee: Ricardo Andrade Reis
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 15/16631-5 - Management strategies to reduce environmental impacts of beef cattle production systems
• Grantee: Ricardo Andrade Reis
• Support Opportunities: Research Program on Global Climate Change - Thematic Grants