Manure compost on pastures grazed by young beef bulls.

摘要

The organic matter produced on the farm can be made profitable use of by substituting it to the mineral fertilizers applied to the grazed pastures. A trial was set up at Libramont (Belgium) to compare the effects of two fertilizing systems (exclusively organic or mineral) on the grassland ecosystem and on the animal performances of young bulls of a beef breed (Blue-white Belgian and various French breeds). No significant differences were detected between the two fertilizing systems, whether in palatability, in feeding value, or in average daily gains. However, the mineral and micro-element contents were slightly larger in the grass having received compost. The large genetic variability made it impossible to detect the superiority of any cattle breed.