Revue d’Elevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux (Mar 2016)
Evaluating grassland feed resource utilization by extensive livestock farming systems
Abstract
The economy of extensive livestock farming systems in rural areas of Southwestern Norway was investigated by replacing 10% of intensively-fed bulls with steers and expanding sheep production to reduce pasture encroachment. Meat production was kept stable. The analysis followed an approach with simple budgets and case studies. Low costs of concentrate feed and high meat prices favored intensive beef production, whereas the area and grazing premiums favored extensive steer and sheep systems, utilizing outlying and farmland pastures. Costs of concentrates would decrease by € 4.7–4.9 million and rural employment increase by 139–218 standard man years by the examined change. The risk in farming and community income was political as grazing-based systems were more dependent on governmental subsidies. Future development of livestock farming, governmental subsidies and other measures to enhance grazing were discussed in relation to a few policy scenarios for future meat and feed prices.
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