ARS | Publication request: EVOLUTION OF INTEGRATED CROP-LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: December 15, 2004
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Changes in integrated crop-livestock systems were explored for several regions of the world. The evolution of integrated crop-livestock systems was explained using a "state and transition" model. It was concluded that many factors contribute to changes in the crop-livestock systems, and that no logical end-point in the evolution process exists. While benefits of integrated crop-livestock systems over specialized crop and livestock systems are well documented (and recorded here), there has been a move to specialized crop and livestock production. However, sustainability issues (manure nutrient concentration, soil quality maintenance, salinity, herbicide resistance, economic instability) have created renewed interest in integrated crop-livestock systems. The concept of crop-livestock integration at a regional scale (area-wide integration) was explored and examples from heavily and lightly populated regions were presented. Farmer adaptability was presented as an important link in the evolution between "states of integration".