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Intensification of New Zealand beef farming systems

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  • White, T.A.
  • Snow, V.O.
  • King, W.McG.

Abstract

This study used whole-farm management, nutrient budgeting/greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and feed formulation computer tools to determine the production, environmental and financial implications of intensifying the beef production of typical New Zealand (NZ) sheep and beef farming systems. Two methods of intensification, feeding maize silage (MS) or applying nitrogen (N) fertiliser, were implemented on two farm types differing in the proportions of cultivatable land to hill land (25% vs. 75% hill). In addition, the consequences of intensification by incorporating a beef feedlot (FL) into each of the farm types were also examined. Feeding MS or applying N fertiliser substantially increased the amount of beef produced per ha. Intensifying production was also associated with increased total N leaching and GHG emissions although there were differences between the methods of intensification. Feeding MS resulted in lower environmental impacts than applying N even after taking into account the land to grow the maize for silage. Based on 2007/08 prices, typical NZ sheep and beef farms were making a financial loss and neither method of intensification increased profitability with the exception of small annual applications of N, especially to the 75% hill farm. These small annual additions of N fertiliser (

Suggested Citation

  • White, T.A. & Snow, V.O. & King, W.McG., 2010. "Intensification of New Zealand beef farming systems," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 103(1), pages 21-35, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agisys:v:103:y:2010:i:1:p:21-35
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    1. Basset-Mens, Claudine & Ledgard, Stewart & Boyes, Mark, 2009. "Eco-efficiency of intensification scenarios for milk production in New Zealand," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(6), pages 1615-1625, April.
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    2. Lieffering, Mark & Newton, Paul C.D. & Vibart, Ronaldo & Li, Frank Y., 2016. "Exploring climate change impacts and adaptations of extensive pastoral agriculture systems by combining biophysical simulation and farm system models," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 77-86.
    3. Z. Whitman & T. Wilson & E. Seville & J. Vargo & J. Stevenson & H. Kachali & J. Cole, 2013. "Rural organizational impacts, mitigation strategies, and resilience to the 2010 Darfield earthquake, New Zealand," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 69(3), pages 1849-1875, December.
    4. Duy X. Tran & Diane Pearson & Alan Palmer & David Gray, 2020. "Developing a Landscape Design Approach for the Sustainable Land Management of Hill Country Farms in New Zealand," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-29, June.
    5. John Rendel & Alec Mackay & Paul Smale & Andrew Manderson & David Scobie, 2020. "Optimisation of the Resource of Land-Based Livestock Systems to Advance Sustainable Agriculture: A Farm-Level Analysis," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-23, August.
    6. Samsonstuen, Stine & Åby, Bente A. & Crosson, Paul & Beauchemin, Karen A. & Bonesmo, Helge & Aass, Laila, 2019. "Farm scale modelling of greenhouse gas emissions from semi-intensive suckler cow beef production," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    7. Januarius Gobilik & Stephen Todd Morris & Cory Matthew, 2021. "Evolution in Configuration and Productivity of New Zealand Hill Country Sheep and Beef Cattle Systems," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-19, June.
    8. Alemu, Aklilu W. & Amiro, Brian D. & Bittman, Shabtai & MacDonald, Douglas & Ominski, Kim H., 2017. "Greenhouse gas emission of Canadian cow-calf operations: A whole-farm assessment of 295 farms," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 73-83.
    9. Lydia J. Farrell & Stephen T. Morris & Paul R. Kenyon & Peter R. Tozer, 2021. "Simulating Beef Cattle Herd Productivity with Varying Cow Liveweight and Fixed Feed Supply," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-16, January.
    10. Ash, Andrew & Hunt, Leigh & McDonald, Cam & Scanlan, Joe & Bell, Lindsay & Cowley, Robyn & Watson, Ian & McIvor, John & MacLeod, Neil, 2015. "Boosting the productivity and profitability of northern Australian beef enterprises: Exploring innovation options using simulation modelling and systems analysis," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 50-65.
    11. Olubode-Awosola, Femi, 2011. "Integrated Assessment Modelling of Complexity in the New Zealand Farming Industry," 2011 Conference, August 25-26, 2011, Nelson, New Zealand 115404, New Zealand Agricultural and Resource Economics Society.
    12. Herron, Jonathan & Curran, Thomas P. & Moloney, Aidan P. & O'Brien, Donal, 2019. "Whole farm modelling the effect of grass silage harvest date and nitrogen fertiliser rate on nitrous oxide emissions from grass-based suckler to beef farming systems," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 66-78.
    13. Vogeler, Iris & Vibart, Ronaldo & Cichota, Rogerio, 2017. "Potential benefits of diverse pasture swards for sheep and beef farming," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 78-89.

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