Sustainability of a beef cattle production system in Mediterranean marginal areas

M., Sitzia; L., Salis; G.M., Marrosu; M., Acciaro; M., Decandia

Sustainability of a beef cattle production system in Mediterranean marginal areas

2012

M., Sitzia | L., Salis | G.M., Marrosu | M., Acciaro | M., Decandia

The aim of this work was to evaluate the strategic role of Sardinian marginal areas in the sustainability of beef cattle production systems. The study was conducted between April and November 2011 in an experimental area (24 ha, 670 m a.s.l.) of North-West Sardinia, dominated by woody vegetation, mainly oak species, with an herbaceous cover limited to the 12 per cent of the surface. Twenty-four calves, divided in 4 groups according to the breed: Sarda, castrated Sarda, Sardo-Modicana and a progeny by Charolaise bull and Sarda cow, were used. The animals after weaning, at 6 month of age and 168.5 kg plus minus 16.2 of live weight (LW, means plus minus SE), were raised at pasture (0.4 LU ha-1) receiving a supplementation from the end of summer. Monthly animals were weighted and the herbage availability was monitored. The farm meteorological data were registered daily. The pattern of LW and growing rate (kg head-1day-1) show a strong dependence from herbage availability, the latter becoming negative during the summer. The studied system shows a shortness of feed during summer and beginning of autumn, due to the delay of autumn rain, confirming the strong relationship between animal performance and seasonal changes in Mediterranean conditions.

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