5.2b Case study Nomadic cattle grazing and Charlois beef

Question 1

What is a RWE of subsistence farming?

Answer 1

Nomadic cattle grazing in Namibia

Question 2

What is a RWE of commercial farming?

Answer 2

Intensive Charolais beef production in France

Question 3

What are some inputs into nomadic cattle farming in Namibia?

Answer 3

• Nomadic grazing moving from place to place so land
• Cattle survive on low grade natural forage
• No supplements
• Cattle die during drought as grass disappears

Question 4

What are some outputs of nomadic cattle farming in Namibia?

Answer 4

• Meat
• Milk
• Fuel (dung)
• Owning cattle gives status in community
• Soil erosion

Question 5

What are some system characteristics of nomadic cattle farming in Namibia?

Answer 5

• All raised outdoors and move continuously to new places to graze
• Grass to graze is naturally grown (not fed by other means)
• No genetic modification of cattle nor growth hormones

Question 6

What are some environmental impacts of nomadic cattle farming in Namibia?

Answer 6

Less environmental impacts
–> No use of fertilizers, no impact on eutrophication
–> No fuel used for transport. All products are used to feed their own population
–> HOWEVER, does lead to soil erosion in the wild (during dry seasons the cattle compete with others and may overgraze!)

Question 7

What are some inputs into Charolais beef production in France?

Answer 7

• Energy and fuel for food distribution
• Indoor rearing
• Food supplements
• Fertilisers to maximise grass production
• Selective breeding and genetic engineering
• Antibiotics and hormones

Question 8

What are some outputs of Charolais beef production in France?

Answer 8

• Cheap meat
• Habitat destruction for larger fields
• Antibiotic resistance
• Eutrophication (fertilisers)

Question 9

What are some system characteristics of Charolais beef production in France?

Answer 9

• Many are raised indoors and don’t see grass
• Any field/ grass is grown using a lot of fertilizers
• Genetic modification of cattle takes place (faster growth)

Question 10

What are some environmental impacts of Charolais beef production in France?

Answer 10

Greater environmental impacts.
–> Fertilizers on fields can runoff into freshwater ecosystems (eutrophication)
–> More fuel and energy used in transport
–> Greater release of methane