Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
ment of organic production systems in other countries, such as in tropical countries. Many
systems can almost be regarded as 'organic by default' except for the relatively extensive use of
medical drugs in order to control vectorborne diseases (see
Animal
disease
treatment
in
organic
animal
husbandry
). Since many systems are based primarily on grazing, the possibilities from
changing from 'organic by default' to 'organic by principle' will be discussed brief ly below in
relation to grazing. However, it is also relevant to discuss and explore other systems in relation
to potential conversion to organic systems. In Box 7.1, we give an example of how a zero-
grazing smallholder dairy system can potentially develop into an organic production system,
using home-grown feed and developing from completely zero-grazing to partly pasture based.
The challenge in many existing systems is to change from the reliance on importing feed con-
centrates onto the farm and to initiate the production of improved pasture and legumes for
high production cows. Beside this, it is relevant to discuss the suitability of Holstein-Friesian
cattle in tropical farming systems in terms of 'naturalness', disease resistance, supporting the
local environment and recirculation.
The organic dilemma in monogastric animals: the protein sources
One particular area of concern is the feeding of protein to monogastric organic animals. In
conventional production, current production relies on providing supplementary synthetic
amino acids. Poultry has a high demand for sulfur-containing amino acids and pigs have a
Box 7.1 An example from East Africa: a well-balanced
feed ration from improved pasture results from changing
zero-grazing systems to grazing systems
Today's zero-grazing system
Zero-grazing systems are often placed in urban or periurban areas, or in villages where
land priority is a culture of cash crops and human food. Dairy cows are normally
crossbred between local zebu or boran and exotic breeds like Holstein Friesian.
Feed
ration
: Forage based on cut and carry grass is often poor quality from communal
areas such as river beds and road sides, and residues from cash crops or human food
crops (e.g. maize stover, rice straw and banana pseudostem). Concentrates are based on
local (national) residues like maize bran and cottonseed meal.
Possible future 'organic' system, with daytime grazing
Feed
ration
: Forage could be based on short daytime grazing on cultured paddocks with
a grass-legume mix, barn feeding with cultured (cut and carry) grass and leaves or twigs
from a legume tree (e.g.
Calliandra
), hedges and residues from cash crops and human
food (e.g. maize stover, rice straw, banana pseudostem, sweet potato vines). Depending
on seasons, forage conservation (e.g. hay) may be necessary. As a result of improved
forage quality, concentrate feeding can be kept to a minimum, and based on home-
grown concentrates and/or on residues from organic human food production.
Bottlenecks to changing from zero-grazing
Many current zero-grazing systems are urban or periurban, with no land for grazing.
Certified organic production makes the use of cut and carry forage from free 'communal'
areas impossible. There is a limited market for certified products. Grazing land is often far
away from the fresh milk market. Zero-grazing offers some advantages with regard to
disease prevention (e.g. freedom from some vectorborne and parasitic diseases).
