Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-r5fsc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T05:31:06.318Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Mixed crop–livestock farming systems: a sustainable way to produce beef? Commercial farms results, questions and perspectives

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 March 2014

P. Veysset ,
M. Lherm ,
D. Bébin  and
M. Roulenc
P. Veysset*
Affiliation:
INRA, UMR1213 Herbivores, F-63122 Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France
M. Lherm
Affiliation:
INRA, UMR1213 Herbivores, F-63122 Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France
D. Bébin
Affiliation:
INRA, UMR1213 Herbivores, F-63122 Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France
M. Roulenc
Affiliation:
INRA, UMR1213 Herbivores, F-63122 Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France
*
†E-mail: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

Mixed crop–livestock (MC–L) farming has gained broad consensus as an economically and environmentally sustainable farming system. Working on a Charolais-area suckler cattle farms network, we subdivided the 66 farms of a constant sample, for 2 years (2010 and 2011), into four groups: (i) ‘specialized conventional livestock farms’ (100% grassland-based farms (GF), n=7); (ii) ‘integrated conventional crop–livestock farms’ (specialized farms that only market animal products but that grow cereal crops on-farm for animal feed, n=31); (iii) ‘mixed conventional crop–livestock farms’ (farms that sell beef and cereal crops to market, n=21); and (iv) organic farms (n=7). We analyse the differences in structure and in drivers of technical, economic and environmental performances. The figures for all the farms over 2 years (2010 and 2011) were pooled into a single sample for each group. The farms that sell crops alongside beef miss out on potential economies of scale. These farms are bigger than specialized beef farms (with or without on-farm feed crops) and all types of farms show comparable economic performances. The big MC–L farms make heavier and consequently less efficient use of inputs. This use of less efficient inputs also weakens their environmental performances. This subpopulation of suckler cattle farms appears unable to translate a MC–L strategy into economies of scope. Organic farms most efficiently exploit the diversity of herd feed resources, thus positioning organic agriculture as a prototype MC–L system meeting the core principles of agroecology.

Keywords

suckler cattlemixed crop–livestock systemorganic farmingeconomicsenvironment
Type
Research Article
Information
animal , Volume 8 , Special Issue 8: Agroecology: integrating animals in agroecosystems , August 2014 , pp. 1218 - 1228
Copyright
© The Animal Consortium 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abreu, LS, Bellon, S, Brandenburg, A, Ollivier, G, Lamine, C, Darolt, MR and Aventurier, P 2012. Relations between organic agriculture and agroecology: current challenges around the principles of agroecology. [Relacoes entre Agricultura Organica e Agroecologia: desafios atuais em torno dos principios da agroecologia]. Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente 26, 143–160.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
ADEME 2010. Guide la méthode complet Dia’terre. Version 1.0. ADEME, Paris, 523pp.Google Scholar
Agabriel, J, Farrie, JP, Pottier, E, Note, P and Pomies, D 2012. Conséquences zootechniques de simplifications de pratiques: exemples de la distribution des aliments et de la traite des vaches. INRA Productions Animales 25, 141–157.Google Scholar
Arrouays, D, Balesdant, J, Germon, JC, Jayet, PA, Soussana, JF and Stengel, P 2002. Contribution à la lutte contre l’effet de serre. Stocker du carbone dans les sols agricoles de France? Expertise scientifique collective. INRA, Paris, 334pp.Google Scholar
Bell, LW and Moore, AD 2012. Integrated crop-livestock systems in Australian agriculture: trends, drivers and implications. Agricultural Systems 111, 1–12.Google Scholar
Benoit, M and Veysset, P 2003. Conversion of cattle and sheep suckler farming to organic farming: adaptation of the farming system and its economic consequences. Livestock Production Science 80, 141–152.Google Scholar
Benoit, M and Dakpo, H 2012. Consommation d’énergie, performance économique et technique en production ovine allaitante. Rencontres Recherches Ruminants 19, 58.Google Scholar
Bonaudo, T, Bendahan, AB, Sabatier, R, Ryschawy, J, Bellon, S, Leger, F, Magda, D and Tichit, M 2013. Agroecological principles for the redesign of integrated crop–livestock systems. European Journal of Agronomy. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2013.09.010 Google Scholar
Chantry, E 2003. Le réseau d’information comptable agricole: un outil unique de connaissance des agricultures européennes. Notes et études économiques 18, 9–17.Google Scholar
Charroin, T, Veysset, P, Devienne, S, Fromont, JL, Palazon, R and Ferrand, M 2012. Productivite du travail et economie en elevages d’herbivores: definition des concepts, analyse et enjeux. INRA Productions Animales 25, 193–210.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chatellier, V and Guyomard, H 2011. Le bilan de sante de la PAC et le reequilibrage des soutiens a l’agriculture Francaise. Economie Rurale 323, 4–20.Google Scholar
Choisis, JP, Sourdril, A, Deconchat, M, Balent, G and Gibon, A 2010. Comprendre la dynamique regionale des exploitations de polyculture elevage pour accompagner le developpement rural dans les Coteaux de Gascogne. Cahiers Agricultures 19, 97–103.Google Scholar
Devendra, C and Thomas, D 2002. Crop–animal interactions in mixed farming systems in Asia. Agricultural Systems 71, 27–40.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dugue, P, Kone, FR, Kone, G and Akindes, F 2004. Production agricole et elevage dans le centre du bassin cotonnier de Cote d’Ivoire – Developpement economique, gestion des ressources naturelles et conflits entre acteurs. Cahiers Agricultures 13, 504–509.Google Scholar
Dumont, B, Fortun-Lamothe, L, Jouven, M, Thomas, M and Tichit, M 2013. Prospects from agroecology and industrial ecology for animal production in the 21st century. Animal 7, 1028–1043.Google Scholar
Dupraz, P 1997. La specialisation des exploitations agricoles: changements techniques et prix des facteurs. Cahiers d’Economie et Sociologie Rurales 45, 93–122.Google Scholar
EU 2007. Council regulation (EC) No 834/2007 of 28 June 2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing regulation (EEC) No 2092/91. Official Journal of the European Union L189, 23pp.Google Scholar
Franzluebbers, AJ 2007. Integrated crop–livestock systems in the Southeastern USA. Agronomy Journal 99, 361–372.Google Scholar
Franzluebbers, AJ and Stuedemann, JA 2007. Crop and cattle responses to tillage systems for integrated crop–livestock production in the Southern Piedmont, USA. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 22, 168–180.Google Scholar
Fraser, I and Cordina, D 1999. An application of data envelopment analysis to irrigated dairy farms in Northern Victoria, Australia. Agricultural Systems 59, 267–282.Google Scholar
Gac, A, Dolle, JB, Le Gall, A, Klumpp, K, Tallec, T, Mousset, J, Eglin, T and Bispo, A 2010a. Le stockage de carbone par les prairies. Institut de l’Elevage, Paris, 12pp.Google Scholar
Gac, A, Deltour, L, Carriolle, M, Dolle, JB, Espagnol, S, Flénet, F, Guingand, N, Lagadec, S, Le Gall, A, lellahi, A, Malaval, C, Ponchant, P and Tailleur, A 2010b. GES’TIM, guide méthodologique pour l’estimation des impacts des activités agricoles sur l’effet de serre. Version 1.2. Institut de l’Elevage, Paris, 156pp.Google Scholar
García-Martínez, A, Olaizola, A and Bernués, A 2009. Trajectories of evolution and drivers of change in European mountain cattle farming systems. Animal 3, 152–165.Google Scholar
Gerdessen, JC and Pascucci, S 2013. Data envelopment analysis of sustainability indicators of European agricultural systems at regional level. Agricultural Systems 118, 78–90.Google Scholar
Hendrickson, J, Sassenrath, GF, Archer, D, Hanson, J and Halloran, J 2008a. Interactions in integrated US agricultural systems: the past, present and future. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 23, 314–324.Google Scholar
Hendrickson, JR, Hanson, JD, Tanaka, DL and Sassenrath, G 2008b. Principles of integrated agricultural systems: introduction to processes and definition. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 23, 265–271.Google Scholar
Herrero, M, Gerber, P, Vellinga, T, Garnett, T, Leip, A, Opio, C, Westhoek, HJ, Thornton, PK, Olesen, J, Hutchings, N, Montgomery, H, Soussana, JF, Steinfeld, H and McAllister, TA 2011. Livestock and greenhouse gas emissions: the importance of getting the numbers right. Animal Feed Science and Technology 166/167, 779–782.Google Scholar
INRA 1988. Alimentation des bovins, ovins et caprins INRA, Paris, France, 471pp.Google Scholar
Mazoyer, M and Roudart, L 1997. Histoire des agricultures du monde: Du néolithique à la crise contemporaine. Editions du Seuil, Paris, France, 534pp.Google Scholar
Mounier, A 1992. Les théories économiques de la croissance agricole. INRA, Paris, France, 427pp.Google Scholar
Paccard, P, Capitain, M and Farruggia, A 2003. Autonomie alimentaire et bilans mineraux des elevages bovins laitiers selon les systemes de production. Fourrages 174, 243–257.Google Scholar
Perrot, C, Caillaud, D and Chambaut, H 2013. Économies d’échelle et économies de gamme en production laitière. Analyse technico-économique et environnementale des exploitations de polyculture-élevage françaises. Rencontres Recherche Ruminants 19, 33–36.Google Scholar
Ripoll-Bosch, R, Joy, M and Bernués, A 2013. Role of self-sufficiency, productivity and diversification on the economic sustainability of farming systems with autochthonous sheep breeds in less favoured areas in Southern Europe. Animal, first published online 4 April 2013, doi: 10.1017/S1751731113000529.Google Scholar
Russelle, MP, Entz, MH and Franzluebbers, AJ 2007. Reconsidering integrated crop–livestock systems in North America. Agronomy Journal 99, 325–334.Google Scholar
Ryschawy, J, Choisis, N, Choisis, JP and Gibon, A 2013. Paths to last in mixed crop-livestock farming: lessons from an assessment of farm trajectories of change. Animal 7, 673–681.Google Scholar
Ryschawy, J, Choisis, N, Choisis, JP, Joannon, A and Gibon, A 2012. Mixed crop-livestock systems: an economic and environmental-friendly way of farming? Animal 6, 1722–1730.Google Scholar
Sere, C, Steinfeld, H and Groenewold, J 1996. World livestock production systems. Current status, issues and trends. FAO, Rome.Google Scholar
Simon, JC and Le Corre, L 1992. Le bilan apparent de l’azote a l’echelle de l’exploitation agricole: methodologie, exemples de resultats. Fourrages 129, 79–94.Google Scholar
Theodoridis, A, Ragkos, A, Roustemis, D, Arsenos, G, Abas, Z and Sinapis, E 2014. Technical indicators of economic performance in dairy sheep farming. Animal 8, 133–140.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tichit, M, Puillet, L, Sabatier, R and Teillard, F 2011. Multicriteria performance and sustainability in livestock farming systems: functional diversity matters. Livestock Science 139, 161–171.Google Scholar
Vermersch, D 2004. Cultures et elevage: entre echelle et gamme de production, quels enjeux economiques et ethiques? Oleagineux, Corps Gras, Lipides 11, 256–260.Google Scholar
Veysset, P, Bebin, D and Lherm, M 2005a. Adaptation to Agenda 2000 (CAP reform) and optimisation of the farming system of French suckler cattle farms in the Charolais area: a model-based study. Agricultural Systems 83, 179–202.Google Scholar
Veysset, P, Lherm, M and Bebin, D 2005b. Evolutions, dispersions et déterminants du revenu en élevage bovin allaitant charolais. Etude sur 15 ans (1989–2003) a partir d’un échantillon constant de 69 exploitations. INRA Productions Animales 18, 265–275.Google Scholar
Veysset, P, Lherm, M, Bebin, D, Roulenc, M and Benoit, M 2013a. Greenhouse gas emissions and fossil energy consumption in suckler beef production: variability and linkage to farm economics. 2-year longitudinal analysis of results from 59 farms. 5th Greenhouse Gases and Animal Agriculture Conference (GGAA 2013), Dublin, 318pp.Google Scholar
Veysset, P, Benoit, M, Belvèze, J, Patout, O, Reuillon, JL, Morin, E and Vallas, M 2013b. Autonomie alimentaire en élevages bovins et ovins biologiques du Massif Central: résultats, pratiques et perceptions par les éleveurs. Rencontres Recherche Ruminants 20, 295.Google Scholar
Villano, R, Fleming, E and Fleming, P 2010. Evidence of farm-level synergies in mixed-farming systems in the Australian wheat-sheep zone. Agricultural Systems 103, 146–152.Google Scholar
Wilkins, RJ 2008. Eco-efficient approaches to land management: a case for increased integration of crop and animal production systems. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences 363, 517–525.Google Scholar