Threshold rangeland condition for rangeland restoration investments and the financial equivalent of liveweight losses due to rangeland degradation

Abstract

In this paper, the relations between live weight (LW) gain of the grazing cows and rangeland condition (RC), LW gain and concentrate supplement and LW gain and genetics of the grazing cows were investigated to quantify LW and body condition score (BCS) losses driven by rangeland degradation to estimate the threshold RC over which rangelands can compensate these losses. This study was conducted in Erzurum Province, Turkey. LW gains were estimated using farmer- animal- and rangeland-related variables during June-August and June-October periods. RC was calculated employing the classical condition assessment method. Ordinary least squares (OLS) were used in data analyses. The results show that a 10% enhancement or setback in RC can result in about 10 kg LW gain or loss per head. The financial equivalent of these LW gain or losses was 314.6 Turkish lira (TRY) or 59.0 USD (I TRY = 0.1875 USD) per farm, which accounts 15.5 TRY or 2.9 USD per hectare of rangeland. It is concluded that rangeland with an RC value below 4.3 requires restoration and that cows of higher genetic merit more than crossbred genotypes are not suitable for extensive production in the study area and areas sharing similar agroecological conditions.