Feeding Systems with Legumes to Intensify Dairy Farms - cgiar

Table 5. Use of a simulation model to compare the situation of dual-purpose
cattle farms in the dry tropics of Costa Rica versus the adoption of
new forage germplasm to eliminate the purchase of feeds and to
improve production efficiency.
Parameter Prevailing
situation
122
Level 1 a
Level 2 b Level 3 c
Adult cows (no.) 23 23 23 48
Land use (ha)
Native pasture 40.5 38.5 0 0
Sugarcane 0.3 0.7 1.0 4.9
Cratylia argentea 0 1.6 1.7 3.6
Brachiaria spp. alone 7.2 7.2 26.5 0
Bracharia spp. + Arachis pintoi 0 0 0 39.5
Total area (ha)
Additional investment for new
germplasm (US$)
48 48 29.2 48
Per farm NA* 872 5,730 15,960
Per cow NA 38 249 333
Stocking rate (AU/ha)
Use of purchased feed (kg/cow
per year)
0.75 0.75 1.23 1.56
Chicken manure 491 0 0 0
Feed concentrates 270 0 0 0
Total cost (US$/cow per year)
Net annual income
71 0 0 0
Per hectare 16 43 98 119
Per cow 34 89 124 119
Per farm 782 2,047 2,852 5,712
Milk production (kg/ha) 666 666 1,095 1,390
Use of labor (no. of cows/person)
Area released
17.3 15.9 18.5 17.6
No. of hectares NA 0 18.8 NA
Percent of livestock area NA 0 39.2 NA
Milk production cost (US$/kg) 0.21 0.18 0.16 0.16
a. Level 1 = Substitution of purchased feed.
b. Level 2 = Substitution of purchased feed + release of area.
c. Level 3 = Establishment of new forages on the farm.
* NA = Not available.