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The role and contributions of animals in alternative agricultural systems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

Frank H. Baker  and
Ned S. Raun
Frank H. Baker
Affiliation:
Senior Associate, Winrock International, Route 3, Morrilton, AR 72110.
Ned S. Raun
Affiliation:
Regional Representative - Washington, Winrock International, 1611 North Kent Street, Suite 600, Arlington, VA 22209.
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Abstract

Livestock are important components of agricultural systems. In the U.S., one-half of total agricultural receipts come from the sale of livestock. They are the harvestors of range plants, forages, and crop residues; they level out the effects of the seasonally and variability of rainfall; they cushion disruptions in the trade and marketing of feed grains; they counteract declining soil fertility and soil erosion; and they contribute to the efficient year-round use of farm labor. Unfortunately, farmers are often not inclined to adopt alternative animal agriculture systems despite the advantages they may offer. Constraints that may be encountered include possibilities of reduced short-term profits, difficulties in adapting available technology to alternative farming systems, difficulties in shifting from specialized crop or livestock farms to crop/livestock farms, and the increased needs for labor and management. Some actions needed in the U.S. to improve livestock production in alternative farming systems are: the establishment of government policies to promote the shift of marginal lands to soil and water conserving crops and the incorporation of pastures and forages in crop rotations; research to improve the utilization by ruminants of ligno-cellulosic feeds (pastures, forages, crop residues); and programs to improve range and forest management and to lead to the development of systems that optimize the use of forages for the production of nutritionally desirable lean beef.

Keywords

conventional farmingfertilizershigh inputlivestockruminantsrotationspasture
Type
Articles
Information
American Journal of Alternative Agriculture , Volume 4 , Issue 3-4 , December 1989 , pp. 121 - 127
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

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