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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #183796
Title: EVOLUTION OF INTEGRATED CROP-LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

Author
item ENTZ, M - UNKNOWN
item BELLOTTI, W - UNKNOWN
item Powell, Joseph
item ANGADI, S - UNKNOWN
item CHEN, W - UNKNOWN
item OMINSKI, K - UNKNOWN
item BOELT, B - UNKNOWN

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/15/2004
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

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".