Integration of beef cattle and baby maize production
1995
Prucsasri, P. | Thanomwongwathana, S. (Kasetsarat University, Bangkok (Thailand))
Farmers in many parts of Thailand earn their living by growing baby maize ears and selling the leaves and stems to farmers who raise cattle. The baby maize farmers are faced with the problem of fluctuating selling prize and the irregular marketing of leaves and stems, as well as the depletion of soil nutrients. One solution to these problems is for the baby maize farmers to integrate beef cattle in their farm system. This research was undertaken to test the farmers' practice of cropping versus rotational cropping based on the size of cropping area, and to determine the period of time between each crop in the rotation system that is suitable to the number of beef cattle to be raised at the same time. Results indicated that the suitable crop size was 6 rai (0.16 ha) for growing 1 rai crop at an interval of 15 d, which was suitable for fattening 16 beef cattle or 6-7 cows. However, for farm efficiency, good irrigation, better soil preparation, and sufficient domestic labor are necessary
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