Herb'ITCF(R): a method of assisting grazing management.

摘要

The improvement of the grazing management is economically important for the reduction of production costs on cattle farms. Tools have been developed to facilitate the diagnoses, the forecasts and the adjustments of grazing so that it should be possible to have a better control of the utilization of pastures and to diminish the risks due to hazards, especially the weather risks. The studies on grazing management carried out by I.T.C.F. and its regional partners for over 20 years have led to the constitution of a set of references on pasture production and on criteria of utilization. Thanks to these data, models have been set up for the production of forage and for the relationship between grass and the animals. 'Herb'ITCF(R)' is a method of assisting grazing management that supplies forecasts of the areas to be grazed and rules for decision taking at the beginning of the farming year, and makes it possible later to adjust the grazing management to the actual weather conditions during the year. This method has been tested in situ and is now operational. The new application tools, 'Herbometre(R) and 'Herbopocket(R)' should facilitate its use.