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Robust animals for grass based production systems
- L. Delaby, F. Buckley, N. McHugh and F. Blanc
Robust animals for grass based production systems L. Delaby, F. - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Robust animals for grass based production systems L. Delaby, F. - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Robust animals for grass based production systems L. Delaby, F. Buckley, N. McHugh and F. Blanc The message to take home A robust animal is transparent The message to take home A robust animal is transparent Grass-based
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The message to take home … « A robust animal is transparent »
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10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Average 10 years 2008 2014
Grass growth (kg DM/ha/day)
Pasture-based systems are seasonal, less stable and more uncertain
Herd demand
[2.5 cows /ha]
Grass-based production systems
The ruminant’s natural ability to consume grass and forage is a chance and a challenge for the future A robust animal should be able to face all the constraints associated with grass-based systems
Good grazing management imposes low post grazing height
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- 1. The animal for the system
Ability to adapt to grazing
High level of intake in adverse conditions
(balance per animal and per hectare performance)
Large intake relative to their productivity potential Motivation : « agressive grazers »
Ability to cope with resource variability and to rebound
Easier to do if the nutrient demand is aligned with available resources Capability to adapt milk or growth without negative effect on reproduction (body reserves) Able to react (milk yield, fertility,…) when the feeding situation is improved
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Calving Breeding Drying off Dairy and beef cow - Two calving seasons Calving …ding Drying off Breed… Calving Breeding Drying off Dairy and beef cow - One calving season Lambing Mating Weaning Suckling ewe - One lambing season
J F M A J M J A O S N D
Drought period risk
Grazing season
To match herd & flock demand to the seasonality of grass availability
The key role of the breeding season
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Gestation Gestation Gestation
Re.calving / lambing Calving / Lambing Assume all the cascade
- f fertility to recalve/lamb
at the right period
- 2. The animal for the system
Late embryo mortality Non fertilisation /
Early embryo mortality
Fertilisation
Services
Commencement
- f luteal activity
Anoestrus
1st Ovulation
Abortion Fœtal mortality
Ovulation Ovulation Ovulation Ovulation Oestrus behaviour Oestrus behaviour Oestrus behaviour Oestrus behaviour
Age at puberty / 1st calving or lambing age
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- 3. The animal for the system
Ability for maternal care
Deliver a viable offspring with minimal (no ?) human assistance Limit calf and lamb mortality with a high maternal behaviour
Ability to stay healthy
Cope with parasite burdens – High resistance (less impacts, less anthelmintic treatments) Metabolic disorders due to inclement weather and/or nutrients imbalance (tetany, toxemia, bloat) Feet and legs diseases (grazing is walking …)
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Robustness is multi-functional traits
INRA – Le Pin-au-Haras / 2006 - 2013
- 40
- 20
20 40
MS in 150 days (average = 274 kg) BCS max loss in 150 days (average = - 0,9 pts) BCS at calving (average = 3.1 pts) In-calf (average = 64%)
MS 150 d (kg) Max BCS loss (pts) BCS calving (pts) In calf (%)
Relative proportion
- f average (%)
63 333
- 1.1
3.3 Milk Solids priority 267
- 0.6
3.5 37 BCS priority 237
- 0.6
3.1 99 Breeding priority 233
- 1.2
2.6 54 In difficulty
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To conclude …
In high input indoor systems, the entire farm system serves the animal requirements In low input and grass based systems, the animal has to be adapted to the specific environmental context and challenges
Better combine the genetic sub-indices available to select animal traits for grass-based systems Better understand the trade-off and more accurrently identify robust animals Develop research to define new traits of interest and imagine tools and methods to evaluate them
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