Sows-Gilts Stocking Rates and Their Environmental Impact in Rotationally Managed Bermudagrass Paddocks

Animals

MariaJesús Villamide¹  Silvana Pietrosemoli²  JamesT. Green³ 

[1] Departamento de Producción Agraria, E.T.S.I. Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7621, USA;Department of Crop and Soil Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7621, USA;

关键词: bermudagrass;    sows-gilts;    stocking rate;    ground cover;    soil nutrients;    pasture-based pig systems;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ani10061046

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Ground cover maintenance and nutrients management are key elements to reduce the environmental impact of outdoor swine production. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of sows-gilts stocking rates on vegetative ground cover and soil nutrient concentrations in rotationally stocked bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L. Pers) pastures. Three stocking rates (10, 15 and 25 sows-gilts ha⁻¹) were compared during three 8-week grazing periods. Increasing the stocking rate from 10 to 25 sows-gilts ha⁻¹ decreased the ground cover of the paddocks from 65 to 48%, and increased soil nutrient concentrations (ammonium 47%; nitrate 129%; phosphorus 53%; zinc 84%; and copper 29%).

【 授权许可】

Unknown