Feeding Systems with Legumes to Intensify Dairy Farms - cgiar
Feeding Systems with Legumes to Intensify Dairy Farms - cgiar
Feeding Systems with Legumes to Intensify Dairy Farms - cgiar
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income was lower or equal <strong>to</strong> 6 months in all countries. In other words, the<br />
initial investment could be paid back in the following 6 months, once the<br />
improved forages had been established, before the onset of the dry season,<br />
when feed supplements would be needed.<br />
Table 9. Potential benefits of new forage germplasm at three levels of<br />
adoption in dual-purpose cattle farms in the dry tropics of Costa<br />
Rica, Honduras, and Nicaragua.<br />
Level of adoptiona Country<br />
1 2 3<br />
Costa Rica<br />
Investment/cow 38 249 333<br />
Increase in income/cow per yearb 71 90 85<br />
Investment at regional level (US$ millions) 6.4 41.7 55.7<br />
Increase in regional income/year (US$ millions) b 11.9 15.1 29.6<br />
Years <strong>to</strong> pay investment<br />
Honduras<br />
0.5 2.8 1.9<br />
Investment/cow 20 44 56<br />
Increase in income/cow per yearb 94 97 98<br />
Investment at regional level (US$ millions) 2.7 5.9 8.2<br />
Increase in regional income/year (US$ millions) b 12.6 12.9 14.3<br />
Years <strong>to</strong> pay investment<br />
Nicaragua<br />
0.2 0.5 0.6<br />
Investment/cow 16 168 256<br />
Increase in income/cow per yearb 31 53 49<br />
Investment at regional level (US$ millions) 5.1 53.8 82.0<br />
Increase in regional income/year (US$ millions) b 9.9 17.0 30.7<br />
Years <strong>to</strong> pay investment 0.5 3.2 2.7<br />
a Level 1 implied the adoption of new forage alternatives <strong>with</strong> the minimum area needed<br />
<strong>to</strong> eliminate the use of purchased feeds <strong>to</strong> maintain the same milk production and herd<br />
size. Level 2 implied the adoption of new alternatives <strong>to</strong> satisfy level 1 and <strong>to</strong> also<br />
release the largest area under pasture for other alternative uses. Level 3 implied the<br />
adoption of improved forages on the entire farm <strong>to</strong> achieve the highest production<br />
potential both on-farm and at the regional level.<br />
b Marginal increase regarding the average situation of farms surveyed in each country.<br />
Level 2. This level, as analyzed before, should be the next phase once<br />
Level 1 has been achieved because it demands a higher investment of<br />
capital, and is therefore not easy <strong>to</strong> adopt initially.<br />
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