Access To Pasture Research Articles

Preference of veterinarians to select an udder health programme for milk producers

BackgroundThis investigation was carried out to gain more insight about the preference of veterinarians on the implementation of an udder health programme (UHP) in a dairy farm.MethodsA choice experiment was...

Carcass and Meat Composition in F1 Crosses of Two Lines of Slow-Growing Chickens Reared in Conventional or Alternative System with Access to Pasture

The study was carried out to compare the carcass quality, meat chemical composition and its fatty acid profile in two slow-growing crosses obtained from La Belle (LB) and Bresse Gauloise (BB) parents, reared in conventional or alternative system with pasture access. At the age 12 weeks, male chickens (n=6) of each cross were slaughtered. Two-way ANOVA was used to assess the effect of the rearing strategies as well as the crossbreed on the carcass quality and meat chemical and fatty acid composition. The live and carcass weight of both crosses, as well as the dressing percentage were influenced mostly by the rearing system, showing advantage of the indoors grown birds. Despite the reduced values of these parameters, no deposition of abdominal fat was detected in the pastured birds from both crosses, which is a positive influence of the outdoors system observed in the particular crosses. In regard to the chemical composition of the meat, the pasture access decreased the protein content in both breast and thigh meat (P<0.001) but increased the moisture (P<0.001). The cross and the rearing system had different effect on the fatty acid composition of the meat and the related lipid indices, associated with its dietetic quality. While the thigh meat was mostly affected by the cross of the chickens, showing higher content of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) (P<0.01) but lower in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (P<0.05) in the ♂BBx♀LB birds, the fatty acid of the breast meat, showed different response according to the crossbreed and the rearing system. The differences were more pronounced in the ♂LBx♀BB, indicating certain advantage of the pastured chickens from this cross with lower content of saturated fatty acids (SFA) but higher of PUFA and improved values of the polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acids (P/S) and n-6/n-3 PUFA ratios.

Pastoral Practices and Common Use of Pastureland: The Case of Karakul, North-Eastern Tajik Pamirs.

This study describes pastoralism practiced in the Karakul village, Northeast of Tajikistan, and discusses its sustainability. Tajikistan introduced a market economy at independence in 1991, and pastoralism is now practiced on a family-unit basis. The families in Karakul graze livestock in their summer pastureland (jailoo) and move their livestock to winter pastureland around the village (kyshtoo). They make groups for pasturage with several families in jailoo and also in kyshtoo. Each group pastures their livestock every day, using a system called novad. In addition to jailoo and kyshtoo, they also practice pastoralism on two additional kinds of pastureland: küzdöö (spring pastureland) and bäärlöö (autumn pastureland). Still, now, the Karakul villagers use their pastureland as the commons: the Karakul village has not established private possession of pastureland even after a law enabled the division of common pastureland among individual families. Using the pastureland as the commons would be preferred by the local pastoralists. However, the free pasture access as the commons may result in a loss of sustainability as a trade-off. Regardless of privatization or the continued use of the commons, the possible development of the uneven use of the pastureland is inferred and should be avoided, and the introduction of a local management structure is urgently needed.

Deer farming in Switzerland - Current epidemiological situation with focus on husbandry, management and nutrition

Between September 2016 and February 2017 a survey in Swiss deer farms were conducted to gain information about their husbandry. Questions about the business, feeding, management, health and deworming strategies were asked. 98 (19%) out of 527 registered farms (2016) participated in the survey. The farms were often run on a sideline business, had an average used agricultural area of 7.3 ha with an average of 38 deer. Pasture access was the preferred feeding strategy followed by offering first and second cut hay. Between 2013-2015 the most common causes of death were sudden death and injuries. Parasites were classified as no or rather small problem by 91 out of 102 deer owner. Fecal parasitological examinations of fecal samples were conducted in 36 (35%) of the responding farms. Gastrointestinal roundworms (Trichostrongylidae) were identified as the most common pathogens (in 42-59% of sampled farms), in addition large lungworms (Dictyocaulus sp.) and coccidia were detected. 45% of the participating farmers conducted at least one treatment against parasites between 2013 and 2015.

Hot and bothered: Public attitudes towards heat stress and outdoor access for dairy cows.

On many dairy farms cows are kept indoors. Providing outdoor access is often considered desirable, but housing can protect animals from aversive climatic conditions. For example, by providing shade and fans, indoor housing can protect cows from heat stress they might otherwise experience on open pasture. This study tested how public attitudes to cattle rearing varied when participants were experimentally assigned to different scenarios using a 2 x 2 factorial design varying pasture versus indoor housing with or without heat stress. Participants (n = 581) were randomly assigned to a single scenario, and attitudes in response to the scenario were measured using a Likert scale (1 = “strongly disagree” to 5 = “strongly agree”). We also asked open-ended questions allowing participants to explain their responses. Participants responded most positively to the scenario that provided both pasture access and protection from heat stress (Likert 4.1±0.08), and least positively to scenario with indoor housing and heat stress (Likert 2.2±0.08). However, when the different animal welfare attributes were in conflict (i.e. naturalness as provided by pasture, and biological functioning/affective state as associated with protection from heat stress), participants placed priority on the latter: they were more supportive of the scenario providing indoor housing that protected cows from heat stress (Likert 3.5±0.08), than they were of a pasture rearing system that exposed cows to heat stress (Likert 2.4±0.08). Open-ended responses indicated that participants viewed the lack of protection from heat stress as a failure in the farmer’s duty of care towards the cow. We conclude that participants valued both access to pasture and protection from heat stress for dairy cows, but prioritized protecting animal from heat stress when these features were in conflict.

Morning and evening pasture access – comparing the effect of production pasture and exercise pasture on milk production and cow behaviour in an automatic milking system

Although pasture is low-cost feed, many farmers find it difficult to maintain high milk yield when using pasture for high-yielding dairy cows in automatically milked herds. Therefore, a seven-week experiment with 40 cows in early to mid-lactation was performed to evaluate a management model for including pasture in the diet without jeopardizing milk production. Within a part-time grazing system with morning and evening outdoor access, we compared a group with ad libitum grass silage indoors combined with access to a small grass-covered permanent paddock for exercise and recreation (group EX) with a group offered production pasture at a high allowance per cow and day combined with restricted grass silage allowance at night (group PROD). Both groups had the same outdoor access times and the same concentrate allowance based on pre-experimental milk yield. Milk yield and milking frequency were recorded daily in the automatic milking unit. Milk recordings and samplings for determination of milk composition took place weekly and outdoor behaviour of cows was recorded during pasture access hours on six observation days, evenly distributed over the experimental period. During the experiment, average metabolisable energy concentration was higher in the grass silage offered both groups than in pasture herbage. However, our results showed no significant difference in daily milk yield between treatments. Furthermore, no significant differences between treatments were found in energy-corrected milk, milk fat production, or body weight change. Milk protein production was, however, significantly higher in group PROD. In early lactation, no difference in milking frequency was observed between treatments while for cows in mid- to late lactation, milking frequency was significantly higher in group EX than group PROD. Over the entire experiment, group EX cows spent significantly less time outdoors than group PROD. In conclusion, offering high yielding dairy cows in automatic milking systems high-quality pasture at a high allowance for a few hours in morning and afternoon appears to be an interesting alternative to exercise paddock with full indoor feeding, as it can reduce costs for supplementary silage, facilitate natural behaviour, and encourage cows to spend more time outdoors, while maintaining milk production at a level comparable to that of full indoor feeding.

Let the cows graze: An empirical investigation on the trade-off between efficiency and farm animal welfare in milk production

To investigate whether farm animal welfare comes at the cost of dairy farm performance, and the role that pasture-access thereby plays, we analyse a rich sample of 45 dairy farms in Germany with a scientific measure of farm animal welfare. Based on directional efficiency measure that acknowledges sequential preferences such that farm animal welfare becomes relevant after technical efficiency, we cannot find a trade-off between farm animal welfare and technical milk efficiency. Pasture-based production systems can be at least as efficient or even more efficient compared to confinement systems, despite lower milk yields. Neglecting sequential preferences would bias efficiency in provision of farm animal welfare by pasture-systems. Farms from all types of dairy systems determine the efficient frontier, where efficiency increases with herd size, and is linked with higher profits. We conclude that pasture-access may help but does not guarantee higher levels of animal welfare. These results question governmental support for pasture access regarding the provision of farm animal welfare.

A Longitudinal Study of the Pastures Grazed and Body Condition Scores of Pony Club Horses In one Region of Australia

A cohort of Pony Club horses was observed for 13 months with data collected from owner-kept diaries and monthly property visits. All horses studied had access to pasture for all or part of the day. Whilst paddock size was seldom limiting, pasture degradation was evident and observed pasture mass and composition varied greatly. Horses’ body weight indices and body condition scores also varied greatly, closely matching seasonal variations in pasture mass. Increments in bodyweight varied in a non-linear fashion with body condition score. Most horses experienced additional year-round hand-fed supplementation and half of the study horses recorded body condition scores greater than 3.5 out of 5. This suggests that the owners of Pony Club horses did not rely on pasture as the sole source of nutrition, even though, based on estimated energy demands, well-managed pasture can meet the energy requirements of Pony Club horses. Furthermore, the fact that owners appeared not to make horse feeding decisions based on body condition score resulting in obesity, raises health and welfare concerns due to obesity related health disorders in Pony Club horses. The inappropriate feeding of supplements observed during times of high pasture growth was a concern. Whilst the ideal pasture for Pony Club horses has not been described, it is likely to differ to those considered ideal for broodmares and other livestock because of these unique health risks associated with high levels of non-structural carbohydrate content in improved pasture species. This study highlights the need to educate owners about recognising unhealthy body conditions of horses and better managing pastures and pasture access to reduce the risk of obesity related disorders, whilst at the same time reducing pasture degradation and supplemental feed costs

Fatty Acid Composition of Thigh Meat in Two Lines of Slow-Growing Chickens as Affected by the Access to Pasture

The study was carried out to examine the effect of the pasture access vs. conventional rearing on the fatty acid composition an of the thigh meat in two lines of slow growing chickens - La Belle (LB) and Bresse Gauloise (BB). Additionally differences between the lines were also examined. The influence of both factors on the lipid profile were assessed through two-way ANOVA. The effect of pasture was more pronounced than the line and was associated with lower contents of the saturated (SFA) (P<0.001), and significant increase (P<0.001) of the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Such changes in the fatty acids of the thigh meat in the chickens having access to pasture induced considerably lower atherogenic (AI) and thrombogenic (TI) indices. Furthermore, the n-6/n-3 ratio was reduced (P<0.001), while the ratios between the poly- and saturated fatty acids (P/S), as well as the hypo- and hypercholesterolemic (h/H) (P<0.001) were increased in the pastured lines. Differences in the fatty acid composition of the thigh meat due to the line of the birds, were not observed, however the BB birds reared conventionally tended to have higher content of C18:2n-6 and C18:3n-3.

Meat quality characteristics of fast-growing broilers reared under different types of pasture management: Implications for organic and alternative production systems (Part II)

SUMMARY Currently, there is little scientific information regarding the effect of differing housing types and production methods on the final quality of broiler meat. The purpose of this study was to evaluate meat quality characteristics of commercial fast-growing broiler chickens when raised in portable vs. fixed housing, with or without access to pasture. Fast-growing broilers are being grown by many small farm poultry producers due to their favorable attributes, including greater breast meat yields, a more uniform carcass, and higher feed efficiency than heritage or slower growing breeds. The pasture land used in this study closely matched the lands common to this local area. It was a pasture composed of a mix of tall fescue, Bermuda grass, and a lesser amount of legumes and forbs. The experiment had 4 treatment groups: (1) small, portable hoop houses with access to pasture, (2) small, portable hoop houses without access to pasture, (3) a fixed house with access to the outdoors, and (4) a fixed house without access to the outdoors. The study was conducted during spring and fall within the same yr to evaluate if any seasonal effects on carcass or meat quality were present. Overall, the access to pasture did not alter meat quality parameters such as moisture, protein, fat percentage, pH, color, texture, cooking loss, or shear energy when compared to birds without pasture access. Since forages contribute to the nutritive value of the meat and may help in reducing costs, the type and quality of forage choices in pastures are important considerations for these production methods and need to be explored further for pasture production systems.

Risk factors associated with strongylid egg count prevalence and abundance in the United States equine population

Equine strongyle parasites are considered ubiquitous in grazing equids across the world, and cyathostomin parasites are known pathogens causing well-described disease complexes in horses. Decades of intensive anthelmintic treatments have led to anthelmintic resistance in cyathostomins, and current recommendations are to lower treatment intensity and base control strategies on fecal egg count surveillance. Little is known about risk factors associated with strongyle parasite egg shedding patterns in the United States equine population, as the most recent national survey was conducted 20 years ago. The present study was carried out as part of the National Animal Health Monitoring Systems (NAHMS) Equine 2015–2016 study. The aims were to describe strongyle parasite egg shedding patterns in the United States equine population and identify risk factors associated with prevalence and egg count magnitude. Data were collected from equine operations in 28 states via questionnaires and fecal samples submitted to a parasitology research laboratory for fecal egg count analysis and the data gathered underwent comprehensive statistical analyses. Though region and season were related, overall, the summer months and the fall in the southeast tended to have the greatest odds of presence of strongyles eggs on a FEC. Generally, equids resident in the Western region (Arizona, California, Colorado, Montana, Oregon, and Wyoming) had significantly lower strongyle prevalence, no matter the season, as well as a markedly different distribution between strongyle egg shedding levels (p = 0.0005). Overall, egg counts were over-dispersed with about 27% of equids (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 20–34%) contributing 80% of the egg output. Pasture history was significantly associated with strongyle egg prevalence (p = 0.0003) and egg shedding levels (p = 0.0063) with daily access in the previous 30 days being associated with higher odds of presence and greater median egg count levels. Equid gender was significantly associated with strongylid presence (p = 0.0081) and egg count level (p = 0.0008), with male equids having significantly lower odds and median egg counts than female equids, and age was significantly negatively associated with strongylid prevalence (p < 0.0001). Time since last deworming was significantly positively associated with prevalence of strongyle eggs, and this was dependent on the class of dewormer used (p = 0.0086), with equids treated with macrocyclic lactone class of drugs having lower odds of strongyle egg presence at 120 days since the last deworming. These data provide useful insights into strongylid egg shedding patterns in the United States equine population, and they can help refine parasite control recommendations depending on region, pasture access, and age distribution.

Risk factors associated with clinical signs of vesicular stomatitis and seroconversion without clinical disease in Colorado horses during the 2014 outbreak

Vesicular stomatitis (VS) is caused by a contagious rhabdovirus that affects horses, cattle, and swine. Clinical signs of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection in pigs and cattle are indistinguishable from foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), a foreign animal disease and reportable disease in the United States (Rodriguez et al., 2000). A VS epidemic occurred in the Rocky Mountain region in 2014–15. A study was conducted in Colorado to evaluate horse- and management-level factors associated with VS. For a horse to be considered a clinical VS horse, there were two requirements. First, clinical VS horses had to have clinical signs consistent with VS, including one or more of the following: vesicles, ulcers, erosions or crusting on the muzzle, nares, lips, oral or nasal mucosa, ears, ventrum, udder or penile sheath, or coronary band lesions. Second, clinical VS horses had to have laboratory confirmation of VSV exposure via virus isolation from lesions or a positive complement fixation test performed on sera. All non-clinical horses residing on VSV-affected premises enrolled in the study were evaluated for exposure (i.e., seroconversion) to VSV. Overall, management and housing data were collected from 334 horses on 48 premises in Colorado. Approximately one-third (31.4%) of enrolled horses were clinical cases and two-thirds (68.6%) were controls. Three premises-matched logistic regression models were constructed in SAS using backward elimination (P-value < 0.05) after univariate screening of a priori-selected variables (P-value < 0.20). Model outcomes included differences in characteristics and management of 1) clinical and nonclinical horses, 2) exposed and unexposed horses, and 3) exposed nonclinical and unexposed nonclinical horses. Overall, factors most strongly associated with risk of being a VS clinical horse were access to pasture (P-value = 0.002), and pregnancy status (P-value = 0.001). Factors most strongly associated with VSV exposure among horses were access to pasture (P-value = 0.003) and lack of any insect control (P-value = 0.001). The only factor associated with VSV-exposed nonclinical horses compared with unexposed VSV horses was contact with clinical horses (P-value = 0.013). There were no associations identified regarding clinical horses compared with exposed nonclinical horses. With regard to severity of lesions (severe vs. moderate or mild), no variables met the criteria for inclusion in the multivariable model. Results of this study provide evidence that pasture access and fly control are important factors associated with VSV exposure.

The effect of temperate or tropical pasture grazing state and grain-based concentrate allocation on dairy cattle production and behavior

Grain-based concentrate (GBC) supplement is of high cost to dairy farmers as a feed source as opposed to grazed pasture. Milk production response to GBC is affected by the composition and nutritive value of the remainder of the diet, animal factors, and interactions between forage type and level of GBC. In grazing systems, dairy cattle encounter contrasting pasture states, primarily because the social structure of the herd affects the timing of when each animal accesses a paddock after milking as a result of a relatively consistent cow milking order. However, the effect of feed management, namely pasture state and GBC allocation, on dairy cattle production and behavior is unknown. We examined the effect of varying GBC allocation for dairy cattle grazing differing states of kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum, a tropical pasture species; experiment 1) and annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L., a temperate pasture species; experiment 2) on dry matter intake, milk production and composition, and grazing behavior. For each experiment, 90 lactating dairy cattle were randomly allocated to 2 consistent (fresh-fresh and depleted-depleted) and 2 inconsistent (fresh-depleted and depleted-fresh pasture state treatments (defined as sequences of pasture state allocation for the morning and afternoon grazing events) and 3 GBC treatments [2.7, 5.4, and 8.1 kg of dry matter (DM)/cow per day], giving 12 treatment combinations for each experiment. The duration of each experiment was 14 d, with the first 7 d used as adaptation to treatment. In each experiment, 3 cattle were selected from each of the 12 pasture type × GBC treatment groups within the experimental herd to determine herbage intake and total DM digestibility using the n-alkanes method (n = 36). There was no interaction between kikuyu grass or ryegrass pasture state and GBC level for intake, digestibility, or milk yield or components. Dairy cattle offered fresh-fresh and depleted-fresh ryegrass produced 9% more milk yield, in line with greater pasture intakes, compared with fresh-depleted and depleted-depleted pasture states. Dairy cattle offered fresh-fresh kikuyu grass had 8% more milk yield and 14% more milk protein yield than other pastures states, but there was no effect of pasture state on milk composition. Milk yield increased with GBC level for both pasture species (∼0.7-0.8 kg of milk/kg of DM GBC) as GBC level increased from 2.5 to 5.4 kg of DM/cow per day. There was a poor response (0.3 kg of milk/kg of DM GBC), and no response, when GBC levels increased from 5.4 to 8.1 kg of DM/cow per day for kikuyu grass and ryegrass, respectively, in line with pasture DMD. Time spent grazing, lying, and ruminating were not associated with kikuyu grass pasture state, GBC, or their interaction. Despite this, there was a linear increase in grazing time in the afternoon coinciding with a linear decrease in lying and rumination time for both kikuyu grass and ryegrass pasture. Together these findings reveal the effect of pasture state and GBC allocation on dairy cattle production and behavior. Tailoring GBC allocation to the state of pasture accessed by cattle appears unwarranted, but there is an opportunity to alter the timing of pasture access to increase herd-level milk production efficiency.

Claw condition and claw health in dairy cows: how important is access to pasture?

Lameness in dairy cows can be influenced by various factors, including nutrition, genetics, hygiene conditions and housing. Poor claw health in cows can lead to reduced productivity and also cause...

Does access to pasture affect claw condition and health in dairy cows?

The aim of this study was to examine effects of pasturing in dairy cows on claw condition (claw length, hardness) and on the prevalence of claw diseases. At claw trimming,...

A 100-Year Review: Animal welfare in the Journal of Dairy Science—The first 100 years

This paper outlines the history and development of research in the area of animal welfare as reflected in the 100 yr that the Journal of Dairy Science has been published. The first paper using the term "animal welfare" was published in 1983; since then (to May 2017), 244 papers that reflect growing interest regarding how farm animals are cared for have been published. Much of the scientific work to date has focused on issues related to cow health, such as lameness, and methodologically many papers use behavioral measures. In addition to this science-based research, the journal has taken on the role of publishing work of social scientists that addresses the role of the human factors relating to animal welfare, including research on citizen, consumer, and farmer attitudes toward welfare issues. We call for further research focused on societal perspectives and for new biological research focused on developing issues, such as cow-calf separation and pasture access.

Serial-omics characterization of equine urine.

Horse urine is easily collected and contains molecules readily measurable using mass spectrometry that can be used as biomarkers representative of health, disease or drug tampering. This study aimed at analyzing microliter levels of horse urine to purify, identify and quantify proteins, polar metabolites and non-polar lipids. Urine from a healthy 12 year old quarter horse mare on a diet of grass hay and vitamin/mineral supplements with limited pasture access was collected for serial-omics characterization. The urine was treated with methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and methanol to partition into three distinct layers for protein, non-polar lipid and polar metabolite content from a single liquid-liquid extraction and was repeated two times. Each layer was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography—high resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to obtain protein sequence and relative protein levels as well as identify and quantify small polar metabolites and lipids. The results show 46 urine proteins, many related to normal kidney function, structural and circulatory proteins as well as 474 small polar metabolites but only 10 lipid molecules. Metabolites were mostly related to urea cycle and ammonia recycling as well as amino acid related pathways, plant diet specific molecules, etc. The few lipids represented triglycerides and phospholipids. These data show a complete mass spectrometry based—omics characterization of equine urine from a single 333 μL mid-stream urine aliquot. These omics data help serve as a baseline for healthy mare urine composition and the analyses can be used to monitor disease progression, health status, monitor drug use, etc.

Major organic dairy farm types in Germany and their farm, herd, and management characteristics

Organic milk production varies due to topographical and structural farm conditions, but very little information is available about this variation in Germany. The aim of this study was to identify typical major farm types (MFTs) of German organic dairy farms and to describe their farm, herd, and management characteristics. Based on data from 204 organic dairy farms from previous studies with representative samples, four MFTs were identified by cluster analysis. Cluster-criteria were herd size, milk yield, region, and housing system. Identified MFTs were (A) medium-scale herds with low-to-medium milk yield, (B) small-scale herds with low milk yield, (C) large-scale herds with high milk yield, and (D) medium-scale herds in Southern Germany with medium milk yield. Descriptive measures of herd management obtained from interviews with 10–11 farms per MFT showed that the MFTs typically differ in more variables than the cluster-criteria. For example, small-scale farms with low milk yield provided the highest and large-scale farms with high milk yield the lowest pasture access, while the amount of concentrate fed showed an inverse association. No significant differences were found regarding herd health indicators. The results showed that different management strategies can lead to similar results regarding herd health and longevity. However, achieving high milk yields in organic dairy herds also requires high input, not only in terms of feed with a high-energy density like maize or concentrates but also in terms of preventive health measures. Thus, for research and recommendations variation between different dairy farm types should be taken into account.

Effects of pasture access regime on performance, grazing behavior, and energy utilization by Alpine goats in early and mid-lactation

Twenty-eight Alpine goats were used to evaluate the effects of different pasture access regimes on lactation performance, grazing behavior, and energy utilization in a 16-wk experiment with four 4-wk periods beginning at 26±2.5days in milk. Treatments were access to grass and (or) legume pasture continually other than during milking in the morning and afternoon (CG); from the time leaf surfaces were dry (measured by leaf wetness sensors) until afternoon milking and thereafter to sunset (ND-D); from the time leaf surfaces were dry until afternoon milking (ND-M); and between morning and afternoon milking (SET). The CG, ND-M, and SET goats were supplemented with approximately 1.5% body weight (BW; dry matter basis) of concentrate immediately following the afternoon milking and ND-D goats were supplemented at sunset. Organic matter digestibility, average daily gain, fecal egg count, and FAMACHA© score were not affected by treatment (P>0.05). Milk concentrations of protein, fat, and lactose and milk energy yield (5.41, 5.06, 5.34, and 5.55MJ/day for CG, ND-D, ND-M, and SET, respectively; SEM=0.340) were similar among treatments (P>0.05). Treatment affected (P<0.05) time spent grazing (7.43, 6.93, 5.86, and 6.18h for CG, ND-D, ND-M, and SET, respectively; SEM=0.351). Intake of metabolizable energy (ME) was similar among treatments (P>0.05; 1111, 1010, 1043, and 874kJ/kg BW0.75; SEM=89.1), daily heat energy was greatest among treatments for CG (P<0.05) (745, 684, 631, and 667kJ/kg BW0.75; SEM=17.9), and milk energy as a percentage of ME intake was greatest (P<0.05) for SET (30.2, 28.3, 27.9, and 36.3% for CG, ND-D, ND-M, and SET, respectively; SEM=1.52). In conclusion, there appeared potential to improve efficiency of milk production by pasture access between morning and afternoon milking compared with continuous grazing and there were no clear benefits from delaying pasture access until leaf surfaces were dry.

Niche pork: Comparing pig performance and understanding producer benefits, barriers and labeling interest

AbstractOpportunities for alternative swine production and marketing are emerging across the value chain. Given the developing nature of the differentiated pork industry, measurements of niche performance and success are not yet fully known. For this reason, the objectives of this study were to determine performance metrics across all major life phases for niche pork production and compare such metrics with national averages of conventional commodity pork production. Additionally, this study aimed to quantify producers’ reasoning and barriers to successfully raising niche swine. Niche meat producers in the USA self-identified for this study (n = 176); their swine production had alternative characteristics that included small- to mid-sized farms, farrow-to-finish operations, heritage breeds, housing with bedding and outdoor or pasture access, no use of antibiotics (sub-therapeutic for growth promotion or no antibiotics ever), vegetarian feed, diverse agricultural enterprises and alternative marketing avenues. This study focused on the metric categories regarding reproduction, mortality, culling and growth characteristics. The niche system produced approximately 15% fewer weaned piglets per bred sow per year than the conventional system due to fewer breeding cycles, smaller litters and higher piglet mortality in alternative production. Similarly, niche production finished 12% fewer hogs per bred sow per year than conventional production. Regarding age benchmarks of finishing and breeding, the niche system averaged 18 additional days to finish hogs at a standardized market weight of 124 kg. Likewise, niche production gilts were first bred at 283 days, whereas conventional production breeds gilts at 225 days. All directly comparable metrics were found to be statistically significant with 95% confidence for the one-sample test of means. Regarding farmer attitudes toward niche pork, survey participants shared personal reasons for raising swine and barriers to successful niche production. Choosing niche over commodity swine, participants’ reasons were grouped into three intra-related categories: (1) farm and producer viability, (2) animal and environmental welfare, and (3) consumer preference and taste. Despite these benefits, participants were faced with numerous challenges, which were organized into four intra-related categories: (1) alternative production requirements, restrictions and knowledge; (2) access and affordability of credit and inputs; (3) alternative supply chain for processing, marketing and customers; and (4) non-niche production competition and governmental policies. In sum, the success of these niche pork operations equates to high welfare for the pigs, economic viability for the operation, personal enjoyment for the farmer, customer satisfaction with meat flavor and quality, and responsible environmental practices, inclusive of many components of an alternative food system.