Modelling the effect of maize silage and oat winter forage crop on cow-calf systems in Argentina

Abstract

Cow-calf systems in the flooding Pampa - Argentina, are facing an increasing competence with cropping systems for resources and land. In this context, to be more competitive livestock systems require system intensification which demands an improvement on the feedbase; forage crops and feeding silage have been used widely on dairy and beef cattle finishing systems. The purpose of the study was to assess with a model the level of intensification that can be achieved in cow calf systems and its economic effects by incorporating maize silage and winter grazing oat crops.