Livestock Flashcards
Conventional Livestock (Focus)
technologies for increased productivity (ie. gh yielding breeds, modern feeding techniques and veterinary health products, and (synthetic) fertilizers and pesticides)
Organic Livestock (Focus)
cultural, biological and mechanical methods to ensure environmentally safe and chemical residue-free foods
Conventional Livestock (Benefits)
- lower labour requirements per unit product
- Higher production per animal per time unit
- lower land use
- lower feed conversion ratio
Organic Livestock (Benefits)
- higher income per animal or full time employee
- lower impact on biodiversity
Co-Evolution (Livestock + Humans)
animals become more domesticated –> humans intensify management practices –> plant species eaten by animals develop more desirable characteristics in response to management
Integrated Farm
Livestock incorporated specifically to capture positive synergies among enterprises. Moves nutrients/energy from crop component to animal component.
- Forage grown on farm
- Crop residues incorporated into animal feed
- animal waste = fertilizer
4 Integrated System Examples
- Grazed Forage (Crop rotation)
- Agropastoral Systems (mountains)
- Agroforestry
- Aquaculture
Integrated Farm Benefits (WAM)
Livestock transforms energy from plant biomass into:
- Animal biomass
- Work
- Manure
Grazed Forage
Type of integrated system. Rotate field between crops for human consumption &forage crop for livestock
Integrated Farm Benefits (Extended)
WAM+
- use of crop by-products
- income diversification
- reduced labour (weed management)
- reduceexternal inputs (fertilizer)
Rumination
cow regurgitates previously consumed feed and masticates it a second time
Fodder
dried hay or straw, for cattle and other livestock
