Intensification of New Zealand beef farming systems

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

Agricultural Systems, 2010, vol. 103, issue 1, 21-35

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 (

Keywords: Pastoral; systems; Feedlot; Maize; silage; Nitrogen; fertiliser; Simulation; modelling; Environmental; effects; Profitability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

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