Moving into more profitable beef production systems

Profitable beef production is a pathway out of poverty for smallholder cattle farmers. Current systems of production are often not profitable and growth rates of bulls under village production systems are low with low income over food costs (IOFC). An analysis of daily IOFC of several production systems suggests that growth rates can be increased and a system for formulating rations to supply a certain amount of nutrients or target a specific growth rate on a least-cost basis would increase IOFC. Growth rate can only increase if metabolisable energy (ME) intake of the ration can be increased. A least-cost ration (LCR) formulation system provides a way of formulating rations to increase the ME content at the least cost and can modify rations based on the local availability and prices of ingredients. Such an approach has been shown to increase IOFC. The choice of breed is also important. Potential for growth declines from EuroxOngole to Ongole to Bali cattle but the IOFC for bulls of different breeds may not differ very much. The bigger breeds may not be able to express their potential for growth if inadequately fed and IOFC is reduced. A LCR process which accommodates feed price fluctuations can be used to formulate rations which promote high growth rates to increase IOFC. Examples are given of the approach and the application of the LCR system to devise new feeding systems.