Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, Vetagro Sup, UMR Herbivores, F-63122 Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France.
Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, HERBIPOLE, 63122 Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France.
Animal. 2023 Apr;17(4):100758. doi: 10.1016/j.animal.2023.100758. Epub 2023 Mar 7.
Numerous advantages of combining cattle and sheep have been demonstrated at the grazing-season level, but the effects of this practice on system self-sufficiency require system-level and longer-term studies. We established three grassland-based organic systems as separate farmlets: one mixed system combining beef cattle and sheep (MIX) and two specialised systems, beef cattle (CAT) and sheep (SH), to serve as reference points. These farmlets were managed for 4 years, to assess the benefits of combining beef cattle and sheep in promoting the production of grass-fed meat and strengthening system self-sufficiency. The ratio of cattle to sheep livestock units in MIX was 60:40. The surface area and stocking rate were similar across all systems. Calving and lambing were adjusted to grass growth to optimise grazing. Calves were pasture-fed from 3 months old on average until weaning in October, fattened indoors with haylage and slaughtered at 12-15 months. Lambs were pasture-fed from 1 month old on average until slaughter; if lambs were not ready for slaughter when the ewes mated, they were stall-finished with concentrates. The decision to supplement adult females with concentrate was based on the achievement of a target body condition score (BCS) at key periods. The decision to treat animals with anthelmintics was based on mean faecal egg excretion remaining below a certain threshold. A higher proportion of lambs were pasture-finished in MIX vs SH (P < 0.001) due to a higher growth rate (P < 0.001) which led to a lower age at slaughter (166 vs 188 days, P < 0.001). Ewe prolificacy and productivity were higher in MIX vs SH (P < 0.02 and P < 0.065, respectively). The levels of concentrate consumption and number of anthelmintic treatments in sheep were lower in MIX vs SH (P < 0.01 and P < 0.08). Cow productivity, calf performance, carcass characteristics and the level of external inputs used did not differ between systems. However, cow BW gain during the grazing season was higher in MIX vs CAT (P < 0.05). These outcomes validated our hypothesis that the association of beef cattle and sheep promoted the self-sufficient production of grass-fed meat in the sheep enterprise. It also promoted better ewe and cow BCS and BW at key stages of the reproduction cycle and better development of the females used for replacement, which may enhance animal and system resilience.
大量研究表明，在放牧季节层面上，牛羊混养具有诸多优势，但这种养殖方式对系统自足性的影响需要在系统层面和更长时间内进行研究。我们建立了三个基于草地的有机系统作为独立的农场：一个是混合系统，同时养殖肉牛和绵羊（MIX），另外两个是专门的系统，即肉牛（CAT）和绵羊（SH）系统，作为参考点。这些农场经营了 4 年，以评估在促进草饲肉类生产和加强系统自足性方面，将肉牛和绵羊结合起来的好处。MIX 中的牛和羊的牲畜单位比例为 60:40。所有系统的表面积和放牧率相似。产犊和产羔时间根据牧草生长情况进行调整，以优化放牧。犊牛平均从 3 个月大开始在牧场上吃草，直到 10 月断奶，然后在室内用干草青贮料育肥，12-15 个月后屠宰。羔羊平均从 1 个月大开始在牧场上吃草，直到屠宰；如果羔羊在母羊交配时还没有准备好屠宰，它们就会用浓缩饲料在畜栏中育肥。决定是否给成年雌性动物补充浓缩饲料是基于在关键时期达到目标体况评分（BCS）的情况。是否给动物使用驱虫剂的决定是基于平均粪便卵排出量低于某个阈值。由于生长速度较高（P<0.001），MIX 中的羔羊比 SH 中的羔羊更有可能在牧场上育肥（P<0.001），这导致屠宰年龄较低（166 天对 188 天，P<0.001）。与 SH 相比，MIX 中的母羊繁殖力和生产力更高（P<0.02 和 P<0.065）。MIX 中的绵羊浓缩饲料消耗量和驱虫剂治疗次数低于 SH（P<0.01 和 P<0.08）。牛的生产力、犊牛的表现、胴体特征和使用的外部投入水平在系统之间没有差异。然而，在放牧季节，MIX 中的奶牛体重增加量高于 CAT（P<0.05）。这些结果验证了我们的假设，即肉牛和绵羊的结合促进了绵羊企业中草饲肉类的自足生产。它还促进了母羊和奶牛在繁殖周期关键阶段更好的 BCS 和 BW，以及更好地发育用于替代的雌性动物，这可能增强动物和系统的弹性。
