Intensification: A Key Strategy to Achieve Great Animal and Environmental Beef Cattle Production Sustainability in Brachiaria Grasslands

Abmael da Silva Cardoso, Rondineli Pavezzi Barbero, Eliéder Prates Romanzini, Ronyatta Weich Teobaldo, Fernando Ongaratto, Marcia Helena Machado da Rocha Fernandes, Ana Cláudia Ruggieri and Ricardo Andrade Reis
Additional contact information
Abmael da Silva Cardoso: Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo 14884-900, Brazil
Rondineli Pavezzi Barbero: Departamento de Produção Animal, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro 23890-000, Brazil
Eliéder Prates Romanzini: Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo 14884-900, Brazil
Ronyatta Weich Teobaldo: Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo 14884-900, Brazil
Fernando Ongaratto: Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo 14884-900, Brazil
Marcia Helena Machado da Rocha Fernandes: Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo 14884-900, Brazil
Ana Cláudia Ruggieri: Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo 14884-900, Brazil
Ricardo Andrade Reis: Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo 14884-900, Brazil

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 16, 1-17

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.

Keywords: animal supplementation; beef cattle; grazing management; pasture fertilization; sustainable intensification (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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