Cattle unit consuming roughage

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The roughage consuming cattle unit , also: roughage consuming cattle unit , (RGV or RGVE) is a unit of size that is used in agriculture and forestry and generally for ecological calculations. It enables animals of different species and ages to be added together. Under roughage fiber rich feed are understood.

Concept and application

Explanation of terms

Livestock unit

The cattle unit consuming roughage is derived from the more general term “cattle unit” (GV or GVE, see stocking ). A livestock unit corresponds to a live weight of 500 kilograms (in agriculture: if the animals stay on the farm all year round.)

Example cow:
A Holstein dairy cow weighs around 750 kilograms . In relation to 500 kilograms, this corresponds to 1.5 GV .

In order not to have to constantly weigh the animals, the calculation of their weight is based on empirical values ​​for the individual species, races and age groups.

Cattle unit consuming roughage

Livestock units are differentiated according to whether and in what proportions the animals in question eat roughage . In the broader sense, roughage is understood to mean all vegetable feed that is relatively rich in crude fiber and low in energy, e.g. B. grass, hay and straw. The energy-rich fruits of plants, for example, are not roughage: cereal grains, fruits, legumes, etc. a.

The animals that eat roughage at all (all ruminants, horses and a few others), in turn, differ in the proportion of the roughage in their diet. Cattle graze almost exclusively on roughage, while deer predominantly select plant species and parts that are more energy-dense. Red deer or horses occupy a middle position.

This different nutritional behavior results in the differentiation of livestock units into large livestock units that consume roughage . To do this, the livestock unit is multiplied by a conversion factor for the respective species and age group.

Example dairy cow:

One dairy cow corresponds to 1.5 GV . The conversion factor for adult cattle is 1. So a dairy cow also corresponds to 1.5 RGV .

Example sheep:

One sheep corresponds to 0.1 GV . 0.7 can (!) Be used as the conversion factor. This results in a value of 0.07 RGV .

Example lamb:

A lamb in the first month is equal to 0.04 GV . Since the lamb does not eat roughage, but drinks milk, the conversion factor is 0. One lamb therefore corresponds to 0 RGV .

Word field

The forms of roughage-eating cattle unit and roughage-cattle unit are used with the same meaning as the terminologically established forage-consuming cattle unit . In the case of cattle in particular, the term cattle unit (RiGV, RiGVE) is used, and in the case of fallow deer and red deer in cages, the term fallow deer production unit (PED) and red deer production unit (PER).

The term can also be found in other languages, e.g. B: unité de gros bétail-fourrages grossiers (UGBFG), grazing livestock unit (GLU), grazing livestock equivalent (GLE) grazing animal equivalent (GAE) u. a.

In the GDR, the term coarse feed-consuming cattle unit (RGV [sic!]) Was used for calculations relating to feed economics , which is not derived from the cattle unit , but from the feed demand-related cattle unit (fGV).

In the tropics and subtropics, the base unit is the tropical livestock unit (TLU), which refers to a live weight of 250 kg. The term grazing tropical livestock unit probably exists .

Relationship between GV and RGV

For different purposes and requirements, different conversion keys are used between livestock units and livestock units consuming roughage . For example, the Saxon State Ministry for Environment and Agriculture uses a simple GV key in which the RGV are only marked as such, while the Ministry of Agriculture of the Kingdom of Bhutan uses a refined key in which the different grazing pressures of the animal species are taken into account: cattle , Buffalo and mules are calculated with the factor 1, yaks and horses with 0.8, donkeys with 0.4, sheep and goats with 0.16.

A conversion key used in Germany to determine feed requirements is based on the following factors: 1 GV cattle = 1.0 RGV, 1 GV sheep, goat = 0.7 RGV, 1 GV horse = 0.5 RGV, 1 GV breeding pig = 0.2 RGV , 1 GV other pigs = 0.1 RGV.

It is also common not to measure pigs in RGV at all, but in pig livestock units (SGV).

Practical use

In the course of the scientification and economization of agriculture , cattle units of 500 kg (or 1000 pounds) were counted as early as the 19th century. In addition, the roughage eaters were also considered separately and their posture adapted to the size of the forage areas.

While in past epochs an increase in yield was always intended (more forage and cattle on the same area), today, at least in Europe, goals of extensification are also pursued and financially supported. A key figure for the intensity of grassland management is the ratio of cattle units consuming roughage to one hectare of main forage area (HFF). The benchmarks for state subsidies are often 0.3 RGV / ha HFF and 1.4 RGV / ha HFF. The higher value is intended to distinguish extensive grassland management from more intensive forms of farming. The lower value is also important outside of agriculture.

According to various ecological theories, e.g. B. the megaherbivore hypothesis and the mosaic cycle concept , it is assumed that a stocking of around 0.3 RGV / ha prevents complete dense forest cover. In forestry, a game density of less than 0.3 RGV / ha is aimed for in order to keep browsing damage in the forest low, and in agriculture a livestock of more than 0.3 RGV / ha so that the meadows and pastures do not scrub up.

The large livestock unit consuming roughage as a modern old wives' tale

The expression Rauhfutterverzehrende Großvieeinheitheit (in the official spelling of the time, Rauhfutterverzehrende Großvieeinheitheit ) gained popularity outside of specialist communication as a supposed example of official German and especially GDR German . In truth, the term was and is only common for the calculations described and is not used as a general synonym for beef or cow .

The phenomenon was described by the philologist and influential language critic Horst Dieter Schlosser in the foreword of his work The German Language in the GDR between Stalinism and Democracy :

"Whether it is the roughage consuming livestock unit was allegedly the old German in the GDR cattle should have replaced, or the name Erdmöbel that the place of coffin would come - the language of the GDR was for some journalists a popular topic, with the they believed they could offer almost anything to a readership that was barely capable of their own examination. "

Birgit Wolf's dictionary of language in the GDR also writes :

"Forage-consuming cattle unit
In short: RVE word combination which meant nothing more than 'cow' and which provided an excellent example of linguistic derailments in the GDR bureaucracy. However, it never penetrated the general language, but only existed in official statistics. A livestock unit corresponded to 5000 kg live weight, i.e. H. the livestock were not recorded in terms of numbers, but of weight. ” (In the GDR, too, a GV was of course not 5000 kg, but 500 kg live weight.)

Franz Planatscher introduced the expression as a neologism in 1986 in Der Sprachdienst :

"[...] or it can be new compositions, e. B. the 'roughage-consuming cattle unit' (EG-German). How simple, how simple, on the other hand, is our good old cow (only three letters!). "

literature

  • Hans Herrmann, Ulrich Meyer-Ötting and others: Basic level of agriculture: specialist theory for soil, plants, animals, biology, chemistry, physics, ecology, economics, technology, business administration, bookkeeping, commercial fundamentals . New edition edition. BLV-Verl.-Ges., Munich 1998, ISBN 3-405-15092-2 , p. 407 f .
  • Economics: Economics, agricultural policy, market theory, environmental protection, agricultural law, bookkeeping, tax and social affairs, housekeeping, business administration . In: Association of agricultural consultants in Bavaria (ed.): Agriculture: Textbook for agricultural schools . 10th, completely revised edition. tape 4 . BLV-Verl.-Ges., Munich 1993, ISBN 3-405-14282-2 , pp. 506 .
  • Ekkehard Wiesner, Regine Ribbeck (Hrsg.): Dictionary of veterinary medicine . 2nd, revised edition. A – K. Fischer, Jena 1983 (Lemmata cattle unit ; cattle unit, coarse feed consuming (RGV) ; cattle unit, rough feed consuming (RGV) ).

Individual evidence

  1. The Interactive Terminology Database for the institutions of the European Union ( Inter-Active Terminology for Europe ) is not binding, but decisive .
  2. For detailed explanations see:
    Ekkehard Wiesner, Regine Ribbeck (Ed.): Dictionary of Veterinary Medicine . 2., rework. Edition. AK. Fischer, Jena 1983 (Lemmata energetic feed unit (EF) ; cattle unit ; cattle unit, coarse feed consuming (RGV) ; cattle unit, rough feed consuming (RGV) ).
  3. ^ Keya Choudhury, Louisa JM Jansen: Terminology for Integrated Resources Planning and Management . FAO, Rome 1998 ( fao.org [PDF]).
  4. ↑ No receipt.
  5. ^ Saxon State Ministry for the Environment and Agriculture (ed.): Program for Environmentally Friendly Agriculture . ( Environmentally compatible agriculture program ( Memento from January 26, 2004 in the Internet Archive ) [PDF; accessed on January 20, 2008]). Environmentally friendly agriculture program ( Memento of the original from January 26, 2004 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.smul.sachsen.de
  6. ^ [Ministry of Agriculture of the Kingdom of Bhutan] (Ed.): Renewable Natural Resources Development Indicators for 10th Five-year Plan Preparations . ( Renewable Natural Resources Development Indicators for 10th Five-year Plan Preparations ( Memento of August 27, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) [PDF; accessed January 19, 2008]). Renewable Natural Resources Development Indicators for 10th Five-year Plan Preparations ( Memento of the original dated August 27, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.moa.gov.bt
  7. For example in:
    Ekkehard Wiesner, Regine Ribbeck (Ed.): Dictionary of Veterinary Medicine . 2., rework. Edition. AK. Fischer, Jena 1983 (Lemma cattle unit, roughage consuming (RGV) ). Gerhard Niese u. a .: Small encyclopedia of land, forest, garden . Ed .: Josef Enzmann, Brigitte Krumbiegel; Ingeborg Zerling. Verlag Enzyklopädie, Bibliographisches Institut, Leipzig 1959, p.
     841 .
  8. Economics: Economics, agricultural policy, market theory, environmental protection, agricultural law, bookkeeping, tax and social affairs, housekeeping, business administration . In: Association of agricultural consultants in Bavaria (ed.): Agriculture: Textbook for agricultural schools . 10., completely reworked. Edition. tape 4 . BLV-Verl.-Ges., Munich 1993, ISBN 3-405-14282-2 , pp. 506 .
  9. The term livestock unit can be found e.g. B. in:
    Wilhelm Knop: The cycle of matter. Agricultural chemistry textbook . Haessel , Leipzig 1868, p. 894 .
  10. For a specific calculation see e.g. B:
    Johann Adam Schlipf: Schlipf's popular handbook of agriculture . 20. rework. Edition. Parey, Berlin 1918, p. 563 f .
  11. Most federal states have issued their own funding guidelines. They are based on Regulation (EC) No. 1698/2005 on the European Agricultural Fund (EAFRD).
  12. Horst Dieter Schlosser: The German language in the GDR between Stalinism and democracy: historical, political and communicative conditions . 2nd Edition. Verl. Wiss. und Politik, Cologne 1999, ISBN 3-8046-8861-6 , p. 9 (with an updating note vers.).
  13. Birgit Wolf: Language in the GDR: a dictionary . de Gruyter, Berlin, New York 2000, ISBN 3-11-016427-2 (Lemma forage-consuming cattle unit ).
  14. ^ Franz Planatscher: Documentation on contemporary German . In: The Language Service . No. 30 . Society for the German Language, 1986, ISSN  0038-8459 , p. 74 .

See also