Systems of utilizing maize stover for feeding growing cattle

Systems analysis techniques were used to compare two selected maize stover systems with a conventional maize silage system for growing beef cattle. All systems were based on a 200 ha integrated farm currently utilizing 160 ha for a cash crop grain maize enterprise and 40 ha of maize silage for a cattle growing operation. The conventional maize silage system fed 423 cattle for an average gain of 160 kg liveweight per animal. Alternative systems fed an equal number of cattle and produced an equal gain per animal. One alternative (ammoniated system) involved harvesting wet maize stover with a forage harvester immediately after grain maize harvest and subsequent treatment with ammonia (4% dry matter basis) at storage. A second alternative (separated system) was designed to harvest and store mature whole-plant maize silage (50–55% H₂O) followed by separation into grain and stover fractions at feeding time. Cost per steer for the growing period was calculated using a cost simulation model for each system. The separated system had a lower mean cost per steer, while the ammoniated system had a slightly higher cost per steer than the conventional maize silage system, Can. $189, Can. $197 and Can. $195, respectively. Break-even shelled maize prices, representing the shelled maize price at which each alternative system had an equivalent cost per steer to the conventional system, were calculated. Break-even shelled maize prices were Can. $122 and Can. $140 t^?1 for the separated stover and ammoniated stover systems, respectively. The estimated reduction in cost per steer would appear to make the separated stover system feasible even at moderate shelled maize prices.     

青贮秸秆铡揉机的设计与试验

鉴于铡揉的青(干)玉米秸秆、麦秸等农作物秸秆及牧草物料适用于养殖牛羊牲畜及生物质能发电等领域,可有效推动粮改饲政策进一步实施,设计了一种青贮秸秆铡揉机。为此,提出了青贮秸秆铡揉机的设计方案,并对青贮秸秆铡揉机的输送喂入装置、铡揉装置及抛料装置进行优化设计,并通过试验数据计算得到青玉米秸秆的物料相对含水率平均值为55%,秸秆铡揉长度为1 060mm,秸秆破节率的平均值达91%,标准草长率为8 9%。设计的青贮秸秆铡揉机对于助推畜牧养殖业的产业化发展,提高畜牧养殖产品肉奶品质、避免秸秆资源浪费及减少环境污染具有重要的现实意义。     

Simulated effect of drainage water management operational strategy on hydrology and crop yield for Drummer soil in the Midwestern United States

The hypothetical effects of drainage water management operational strategy on hydrology and crop yield at the Purdue University Water Quality Field Station (WQFS) were simulated using DRAINMOD, a field-scale hydrologic model. The WQFS has forty-eight cropping system treatment plots with 10 m drain spacing. Drain flow observations from a subset of the treatment plots with continuous corn (Zea mays L.) were used to calibrate the model, which was then used to develop an operational strategy for drainage water management. The chosen dates of raising and lowering the outlet during the crop period were 10 and 85 days after planting, respectively, with a control height of 50 cm above the drain (40 cm from the surface). The potential effects of this operational strategy on hydrology and corn yield were simulated over a period of 15 years from 1991 to 2005. On average, the predicted annual drain flows were reduced by 60% (statistically significant at 95% level). This is the most significant benefit of drainage water management since it may reduce the nitrate load to the receiving streams. About 68% of the reduced drain flow contributed to an increase in seepage. Drainage water management increased the average surface runoff by about 85% and slightly decreased the relative yield of corn crop by 0.5% (both are not statistically significant at 95% level). On average, the relative yield due to wet stress (RYw) decreased by 1.3% while relative yield due to dry stress (RYd) increased by 1%. Overall, the relative crop yield increased in 5 years (within a range of 0.8-6.9%), decreased in 8 years (within a range of 0.2-5.5%), and was not affected in the remaining 2 years. With simulated drainage water management, the water table rose above the conventional drainage level during both the winter and the crop periods in all years (except 2002 crop season). The annual maximum winter period rise ranged between 47 cm (1995) and 87 cm (1992), and the annual maximum crop period rise ranged between no effect (2002) and 47 cm (1993).     

家畜智能养殖设备和饲喂技术应用研究现状与发展趋势

家畜智能养殖设备是智能农机装备的组成部分之一,是国际农业装备产业技术竞争的焦点。本文重点围绕家畜智能养殖设备与饲喂技术在实践中的应用,进行了系统的性能特点分析。目前家畜智能养殖设备的开发对象主要针对猪和奶牛,主要研发的系统包括妊娠母猪电子饲喂站、哺乳母猪精准饲喂系统、奶牛精准饲喂系统和挤奶机器人等。家畜智能养殖设备的工业化应用必须与养殖模式、畜舍结构布局结合起来,才能发挥设备的使用效率,同时从满足动物的福利出发,与动物生理、生长及行为结合起来,形成设备与动物的互作和相互适应。最后指出了智能设备的研究必须与畜牧业生产的理论、目标产品的功能驱动及养殖方式的创新协调一致,要不断地更新换代,才能助推畜牧业的转型升级。     

全国种粮养牛发展分析

1951—2010年全国的粮食总产量是波动性增长。波动原因是粮食种植面积的波动,增长原因是粮食种植技术的进步。2010年全国粮食供给已是“北粮南运”。东北地区是全国的“粮仓”,黄淮海地区次之,长江中下游地区人均粮食产量只略高于全国平均水平。全国秸秆养牛已由畜力生产转为肉、奶生产,但人均水平较低。全国种粮养牛今后发展的目标应是人均粮食产量适度、粮食产量结构合理和秸秆养牛规模适量,其实现途径是科学化种粮养牛、综合开发种粮养牛乡村以及保证开发方针政策的正确。      

自动化玉米移栽机送苗装置的运作试验研究

为进一步提升玉米移栽机的移栽效率与自动化水平,结合当前国内外玉米移栽机的研究现状,在玉米移栽机的工作原理与送苗装置的结构组成的基础上,对其展开优化研究。依据横纵向送苗机构的运动协调控制与结构参数设计,加入智能自调节控制程序、相应传感器装置及自动检测系统,实现设计目标并通过给定前置条件进行运作试验。试验表明:X、Y轴送苗方向上的参数均得到理想优化效果,最大提升值分别可达7%、15%左右;优化送苗装置作用下,整体移栽伤苗率小于8%,漏栽率控制在5%之内,成功取苗率达93%以上,符合送苗装置及关键机构的设计优化初衷,试验可靠有效,对玉米移栽机的进一步改进和类似作物移栽机械开发有一定的参考价值。     

黑土区玉米穗质量与影响因素的联合多重分形研究

为揭示黑土区玉米穗质量与影响因素相互关系的尺度效应,在分析玉米穗质量与影响因素空间变异的基础上,利用联合多重分形方法研究玉米穗质量与影响因素的多尺度相关性。结果表明:研究区玉米穗质量的变异程度为中等,茎粗的变异程度随时间变化由中等变为弱变异,其他影响因素的变异程度为弱变异;玉米穗质量与影响因素的空间相关范围介于7.15~66.51 m;玉米穗质量、叶绿素含量、土壤容重、土壤粒径分布体积分形维数具有强烈空间相关性,茎粗、土壤含水率、土壤饱和含水率具有中等空间相关性;单一尺度上茎粗和叶绿素含量对玉米穗质量的空间变异性有显著影响,多尺度上叶绿素含量、土壤粒径分布体积分形维数、茎粗、土壤含水率对玉米穗质量的空间变异性有显著影响;玉米穗质量与土壤特性、不同时期作物生长指标的多尺度相关程度绝大部分都大于单一尺度上的相关程度;随取样时间变化,玉米穗质量与茎粗在单一尺度和多尺度上的相关程度均先增后降,但开始降低的时间不同。     

The promising impact of ley introduction and herd expansion on soil organic matter content in southern Mali

In southern Mali, cultivated area and herd size increase together with population growth. Consequently, periods of natural fallow shorten and traditional farming and animal husbandry techniques lead to a decrease of soil organic matter (SOM) content. Between 20 and 45% of the land is cultivated while less than 60% is arable area. To increase efficiency of natural fallow, a reduction in livestock herds is often proposed. By means of a linear programming model, the feasibility of maintaining actual SOM content in two villages in different agro-ecological zones was investigated. By adjusting animal numbers and cropping pattern, the model maximized: (1) SOM content under the condition of positive farm labour income; or (2) farm labour income under the condition of a positive SOM content. The model results suggested that maintaining SOM content requires the use of cereal crop residues for animal feed and for manure through bedding in kraals, but also higher animal densities. The last was feasible only through: (1) herding cattle of several farms together to overcome labour constraints; and (2) introducing P-fertilized leys, for grazing in the dry season. Grazing of the leys together with crop residues allowed animal densities up to 44 tropical livestock units (TLUs) km⁻², while less than 16% of the produced rangeland fodder was grazed. In such conditions, a positive SOM balance and higher income was obtained with a minimum of 16.7% of ley in the crop rotation. Limiting the area cropped with cotton stabilized income and contributed to a positive SOM balance. Zero-grazing during the warm season allowed SOM surpluses to be achieved with 12.5% of ley. However, as income decreased, seasonal zero-grazing could only be adopted for high-producing animals and small herds.     

Incorporation of ridge and furrow method of rainfall harvesting with mulching for crop production under semiarid conditions

A plastic-covered ridge and furrow rainfall harvesting (PRFRH) system combined with mulches was designed to increase water availability to crops for improving and stabilizing agricultural production in the semiarid Loess region of northwest China. The system was built by shaping the soil surface with alternate ridges and furrows along the contour. The plastic-covered ridges served as a rainfall harvesting zone and furrows as a planting zone. Some materials were also used to mulch the furrows to increase the effectiveness of the harvested water. This system can make better utilization of light rain by harvesting rainwater through the plastic-covered ridge. The field experiment (using corn as an indicator crop) showed that grain yields in the PRFRH system with mulches in 1998 and 1999 were significantly higher than the controls, with an increase of 4010–5297 kg per ha (108–143%). In most treatments, the water use efficiencies (WUE) were in excess of 2.0 kg m⁻³. The WUE values of corn in this system were 1.9 times greater than the controls in 1998 and 1.4 times greater than the controls in 1999. The plastic-covered ridge led to a yield increase of 3430 kg per ha (92%) in 1998 and of 1126 kg per ha (21%) in 1999 compared with the uncovered ridge. On average, the additional mulches in the furrow brought about a yield increase of 8–25%. Based on the results of this study and other researches, this technique can increase corn grain yield by 60–95% in drought and average years, 70–90% in wet years, and 20–30% in very wet years. The PRFRH system had the potential to increase crop yield and produced greater economic benefit, therefore it could be used in regions dominated by light rainfall of low intensity where crops generally fail due to water stress.     

喂入角对玉米茎秆切碎效果的试验分析

搭建了喂入角可调式玉米摘穗切茎试验台,对影响玉米植株切碎合格率的主要因素进行了正交试验,较优组合为喂入角90°、行进速度0.7m/s、摘穗辊转速1 000r/min、动刀轴转速1 980r/min、喂入角对其有显著影响:喂入角0°时,玉米植株运动发生90°转向,出现严重喂入不畅,切碎合格率约为72.8%;喂入角30°时,在喂入过程中,依然有喂入不畅通,产生间歇性,影响了茎秆切碎效果,切碎合格率约为87.6%;喂入角90°时,摘穗辊旋转有助于玉米植株的喂入及切碎,切碎合格率约为97.6%。同时,通过分析玉米植株受切运动,推导出数学模型,并运用高速摄像技术对运动轨迹进行同步捕捉追踪,经MatLab拟合处理,找到了喂入角对切碎效果影响的关键因素。     

The expected utility of genetic information in beef cattle production

Scientific inquiry is increasing our knowledge of plant and animal genomics. The ability to specify heterogeneous production processes, to sort agricultural inputs by genotype, or to guide breeding programs to satisfy specific markets based on genetic expression may increase producer and consumer benefits. This research develops a decision analysis framework to assess the expected value of genetic information under risk aversion. Expected utilities are evaluated both with and without genetic trait information. Potential gains in the value of information can be quantified as research unravels the linkages between genetics and crop and animal performance and quality. An application to cattle feeding indicates potential gains to developing markets for specific animal genetic characteristics based on the amino acid sequence of the leptin gene.     

秸秆成型燃料系统经济性分析

概述了农作物秸秆成型系统,指出了系统经济性分析的主要费用项目,结合技术经济的主要评价指标,以2万t/a的秸秆成型系统为例,进行了经济效益分析和其敏感性分析。结果表明:秸秆成型系统盈利情况较好,内部收益率大于财务基准收益率,回收期较短;秸秆成型燃料售价是影响系统经济性的最主要因素,成型燃料售价越高,其系统的经济效益越好。但秸秆原料价格对系统经济性的影响很大,秸秆价格增高,系统经济效益降低。     

Ruminant feeding systems in West Java,Indonesia

Data collected from 350 ruminant rearers are presented in relation to four altitude strate in West Java. In each stratum and sample village, further selection of rearers was made on the basis of main land-use type and livestock species reared. The study was conducted in the dry season of 1982.Sixteen existing systems of feeding ruminants were identified. These comprised different combinations of hand feeding, full grazing, tethering and free range grazing practices. Further simplification resulted in four main systems—full grazing, full hand feeding, mainly grazing and mainly hand feeding.Characteristics and prevalence of these feeding systems are described and related to altitudinal strata and seasons.Hand feeding was the most common system above 100 m in altitude and was especially prevalent in the wet season. However, below 100 m (where 50% of livestock units are located) combinations (mainly grazing) were most common in the wet season and grazing was predominant in the dry season.This study is intended to provide a sound background for planning research on feeding, and for village livestock development in West Java.     

The variable response of dryland corn yield to soil water content at planting

Farmers in the central Great Plains want to diversify crop rotations from the traditional monoculture system of winter wheat-fallow. Corn (Zea mays L.) could work well as a rotation crop, but inputs are expensive and farmers would like to know the chances of producing a certain yield before investing in seed, fertilizer, herbicides, etc. Information on the yield response of corn to available soil water at planting could help guide the crop choice decision regarding corn. This study was conducted to determine if a predictive relationship exists between dryland corn yield and available soil water at planting time and, if such a relationship exists, to use it to assess the risk in obtaining profitable yields. Yield and soil water data from 10 years of a dryland crop rotation study at Akron, CO were analyzed by linear regression to determine predictive relationships. The yield-soil water content production function was highly variable, with values ranging from 0.0 to 67.3 kg ha⁻¹ per mm of available soil water in the 0 to 1.8 m soil profile at planting. The differences in yield response to soil water were related to the amount and timing of precipitation that fell during the corn growing season. Because dryland corn yield is highly dependent on precipitation during reproductive and grain-filling stages, soil water content at corn planting cannot be used alone to reliably determine whether corn should be planted in a flexible rotational system. The predictive relationships developed in this study indicate that under typical amounts of available soil water at corn planting, profitable corn production under dryland conditions is a risky and speculative activity in the central Great Plains of the United States.     

A mathematical model of the United States beef production system

Dynamic linear programming was used to model the US beef production system, to determine the cattle cycle effects on feeder cattle supplies and to select feeding options that would maximise USDA choice and prime quality grade beef production. The model represented the US as a five-region beef production system with inter-regional transportation of offspring for feeding purposes. Cow weights, offspring weaning weights and feed efficiency were different for each region, but the feeding activities were the same in each region except for region two. In region two the feeding of grain to steer and heifer offspring was not an industry practice. Dynamic properties of the model were achieved through constraints that transferred animals from year zero (initial condition) to year five using calving, cow culling, replacement heifer and death loss rates as controlling parameters. The results of model exercises that used historical parameter values indicate that there will be a significant decrease in the supply of beef at all grade levels over the next five years. They also suggest that it is more economically efficient to feed calves from the southeastern and northern parts of the USA if they are transported to the southwestern region.     

Mitigating environmental externalities in livestock production through feed biotechnologies

New low phytate crop varieties have been heralded for their potential to assist animal producers manage phosphorus (P) as both an input cost and as an environmental externality. This paper investigates the economic viability of such biotechnologies under regulations that attempt to minimize fecal P pollution by limiting land application of manure. Such restrictions often require animal feeding operations to spread manure over larger areas, thus increasing cost. To assess the economics of P mitigation, the production, handling, spreading, and vegetative uptake of manure nutrients for a variety of livestock growing operations was simulated. The simulation concludes that low phytate crops can be effective at mitigating P in situations where manure spreading geography is significantly restricted. However, alternative technologies such as phytase appear to offer a lower cost mechanism for mitigating P in most situations.     

地面灌水技术优化组合节水高产机理研究

对不同地面灌水技术进行优化组合应用,根据全年作物连作的需水特点实施调亏灌溉使土壤水分消长过程在节水高产调控范围内,提高了水分效应,小麦和棉花水分生产效率达１．５３ｋｇ／ｍ３和０．４１ｋｇ／ｍ３的较高水平。同时还对其节水高产机理进行了探讨,为节水高产的地面灌水技术优化组合应用提供了科学依据。     

一种种苗移栽机自动取苗送苗装置

在了解国内外旱地栽植技术和移栽机的发展现状及存在问题的基础上,研制了一套种苗自动取苗送苗机构。该装置采用PLC程序进行控制,使分苗系统和送苗系统按照各自的要求实现其动作,完成所需要的功能。该机构是一种集自动取苗、送苗、放苗于一体的多功能机电气一体化装置,可在种苗移栽的过程中代替人力来实现取苗、送苗的操作,且可应用于棉花、番茄、玉米等作物穴盘育苗的种苗移栽。     

Crop yield and soil water restoration on 9-year-old alfalfa pasture in the semiarid Loess Plateau of China

The alfalfa pastureland in the semiarid Loess Plateau region of Northwest China usually has dry soil layers. A field experiment was conducted from October 2000 to October 2004 to examine soil water recovery and crop productivity on a 9-year-old alfalfa pasture. This experiment included six treatments: alfalfa pasture for 10-14 years, a conventional farming system without prior alfalfa planting, and four alfalfa-crop rotation treatments. For the rotation treatments, after 9 years of alfalfa selected crops were planted from 2001 to 2004 in the following sequence: (1) millet, spring wheat, potatoes, peas; (2) millet, corn, corn, spring wheat; (3) millet, potatoes, spring wheat, corn; (4) millet, fallow, peas, potatoes. The results showed that dry soil layers occurred in alfalfa pasture. We then plowed the alfalfa pasture and planted different crops. The soil water gradually increased during crop growth in the experimental period. The degree of soil water recovery in the four alfalfa-crop rotation treatments was derived from comparison with the soil water in the conventional system. After 4 years, the soil water recovery from the alfalfa-crop rotation systems at 0-500 cm soil depth was 90.5%, 89.8%, 92.2% and 96.7%, respectively. Soil total N content and soil respiration rate were high in the alfalfa-crop rotation systems. The yields of spring wheat in 2002, peas in 2003 and potatoes in 2004 in the alfalfa-crop rotation systems were not significantly different from yields in the conventional system. In the alfalfa-crop rotation systems, the yields of spring wheat and peas were greatly influenced by rainfall and were lowest in the dry year of 2004; the yields of corn and potatoes had a direct relationship with water use and were lowest in 2003. In summary, soil water in dry soil layers can recover, and crop yields in the alfalfa-crop systems were equal to those of the conventional system.     

喷杆式施药机对行喷雾控制系统设计与试验

针对现有大田喷杆式施药机喷雾过程中喷头无法精准对行喷施造成农药浪费的问题,基于机器视觉技术设计了喷杆式施药机对行喷雾控制系统。该系统包括作物行中心线位置提取上位机软件和电动喷杆控制系统,利用工业相机获取作物行RGB图像,采用G-RTG-BT算法及形态学处理实现作物行分割,基于改进的垂直投影法获取作物行中心线,利用坐标系转换实现将作物行中心线位置信息转化为喷杆横向偏移量,并经RS2 3 2串口传输至ATMega1 6控制器,控制推杆电机带动喷杆在滑轨上左右移动,借助位移传感器实时监测喷杆移动距离,以实现作物行追踪和对行喷雾控制。实验室和田间试验表明:改进的作物行中心线提取算法平均耗时12.51ms,喷杆横向偏移量计算误差小于0.44cm;电动喷杆右移最大误差0.3cm,左移最大误差0.5cm;小车速度为0.26m/s时,对倾角为5°、10°、15°模拟作物行的最大对行误差分别为3.22、2.86、2.51cm;小车速度为0.2 4 m/s,最大偏移1 4.0 2 cm时,对田间玉米幼苗的对行喷雾最大误差为4.8 6 cm,为实现作物行追踪和对行喷雾控制提供了一种有效的解决方案。