Abstract
Simple SummaryModels can play an important role in identifying and filling knowledge gaps related to sustainable resource use in (sub-)tropical livestock production systems. Yet, most simulation models used to study cattle production systems in the (Sub-)Tropics were developed using data that quantify and characterize biological processes of cattle kept in temperate regions, which may reduce the accuracy of predictions. Therefore, we adopted some published data that quantify and characterize biological processes of cattle kept in (sub-)tropical production systems to modify an existing ruminant livestock herd model. Then, the accuracy of predictions of feed intake and productive performance from the original and modified models were evaluated using meta data from (sub-)tropical stall-fed cattle. The modified model predicted voluntary dry matter intake and productive performance more accurately than the original model. Consequently, adopting relevant data that correctly describe the biological processes in (sub-)tropical cattle production systems is the way forward for improving simulation models for these systems.Ruminant livestock systems in the (Sub-)Tropics differ from those in temperate areas. Yet, simulation models used to study resource use and productive performance in (sub-)tropical cattle production systems were mostly developed using data that quantify and characterize biological processes and their outcomes in cattle kept in temperate regions. Ergo, we selected the LIVestock SIMulator (LIVSIM) model, modified its cattle growth and lactation modules, adjusted the estimation of the animals’ metabolizable energy and protein requirements, and adopted a semi-mechanistic feed intake prediction model developed for (sub-)tropical stall-fed cattle. The original and modified LIVSIM were evaluated using a meta-dataset from stall-fed dairy cattle in Ethiopia, and the mean bias error (MBE), the root mean squared error of prediction (RMSEP), and the relative prediction error (RPE) were used to assess their accuracy. The modified LIVSIM provided more accurate predictions of voluntary dry matter intake, final body weights 140 days postpartum, and daily milk yields than the original LIVSIM, as shown by a lower MBE, RMSEP, and RPE. Therefore, using data that quantify and characterize biological processes from (sub-)tropical cattle production systems in simulation models used in the (Sub-)Tropics can considerably improve their accuracy.
Highlights
Tropical livestock production systems are changing quickly in response to drivers, such as growing human population and increasing urbanization, that cause a rise in the demand for food, especially of animal origin [1]
The present paper focuses on cattle, because they produce most of the meat and milk among all domestic ruminant species in the (Sub-)Tropics [11] and have been widely studied using simulation models
We suggest that using such data in cattle simulation models for the (Sub-)Tropics could improve the accuracy with which feed resource use and productivity are simulated
Summary
Tropical livestock production systems are changing quickly in response to drivers, such as growing human population and increasing urbanization, that cause a rise in the demand for food, especially of animal origin [1]. Ruminant production systems in the (Sub-)Tropics differ from those in temperate areas, for instance, in terms of the species or breeds of animals and their nutritional requirements [6,7], the availability and nutritional quality of feeds [8], and the prevalent environmental conditions. These differences should be correctly represented in simulation models to accurately evaluate resource use and productivity in ruminant production systems in the (Sub-)Tropics.
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