Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
of livestock in the developing countries have also been addressed by Nicholson et
al. (2001). Naylor et al. asserted that “A re-coupling of crop and livestock systems is
needed—if not physically, then through pricing and other policy mechanisms that
reflect the social costs of resource use and ecological abuse,” and that for the sys-
tems to work, there must be physical preservation of the environment. Naylor et al.
stressed that policy measures should not compromise improving the diets of those
in the developing countries or prohibit trade. Some of these issues are addressed in
Chapter 23.
It has been predicted that increasing the supply of animal source foods in devel-
oping countries can be achieved by combining an increase in the number of animals
with improvement in productivity and processing/marketing efficiency (Steinfeld,
2003). Limited land availability can curtail the expansion of extensive livestock
production systems in some regions, but major improvements in the productivity of
extensive systems without increasing land area devoted to it are possible in others.
Most of the increase in livestock production will come from increased productiv-
ity by intensification and wider adoption of improved technologies in production
and marketing. Steinfeld suggested that there is a danger that livestock production
and processing may become dominated by integrated large-scale operations, which
may displace small-scale farmers. On the other hand, well-managed and dynamic
livestock enterprises may be a catalyst for improved rural economies and increased
affordability of animal source food. The comparative advantage of grain-based beef
production systems combined with the use of safe and highly effective growth-pro-
moting substances in feedlots for finishing beef was described in the previous sec-
tion. This new knowledge provides a strong incentive for development of supportive
public policies and education of consumers concerning the compatibility of environ-
mental stability with adequate and sustainable animal source food production.
r
a m i f i C at i of n s
of f
i
n t e g r a t e D
L
i v e is t of C k
P
r o D u C t i o n
s
y s t e m s
The shift from traditional to large-scale, integrated animal production has significant
ramifications. Advantages and disadvantages of integrated CAFOs include those dis-
cussed next.
Advantages
High-volume production
. Large units can use volume buying of feed ingredi-
ents at lower cost per unit. They can afford to hire specialists such as vet-
erinarians and nutritionists whose expertise is not generally affordable to
small farm owners unless provided by governments with effective agricul-
tural policies. Such expertise contributes to more efficient feed utilization,
better herd health, superior genetics, and closer control of the environment
in which animals are kept, whether provided by the private or public sec-
tor. Public university research/extension network has been responsible, to
a large degree, for modernization, as in U.S. agriculture for more than a
century. Large numbers of animals justify investment in mechanized feed-
ing and waste removal to reduce labor costs. The opportunity to maximize
