Tech support for small ruminant farming systems

2021 ◽  
Vol 188 (10) ◽  
pp. 378-378
Keyword(s):  
Small Ruminant ◽  
Farming Systems

scholarly journals Caught in a Deadlock: Small Ruminant Farming on the Greek Island of Samothrace. The Importance of Regional Contexts for Effective EU Agricultural Policies

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 762 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominik Noll ◽  
Christian Lauk ◽  
Veronika Gaube ◽  
Dominik Wiedenhofer
Keyword(s):  
Social Factors ◽  
Small Ruminant ◽  
Small Ruminants ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Ecological Systems ◽  
Agricultural Policies ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Mediterranean Regions ◽  
Livestock Systems ◽  
Greek Island

Sedentary extensive small ruminant farming systems are highly important for the preservation of High Nature Value (HNV) farmland. Both the abandonment of grazing and overgrazing have led to environmental degradation in many Mediterranean regions. On the Greek island of Samothrace, decades of overgrazing by sheep and goats has caused severe degradation of local ecosystems. The present study highlights the importance of regional contexts for national and EU agricultural policies in regard to sustainable development of sedentary extensive livestock systems. By utilizing the conceptual framework of socio-ecological systems research, we analyze the interdependencies of environmental, economic and social factors on a local island level. Results show that between 1929 and 2016, the livestock and land-use system of Samothrace transformed from a diverse system towards a simplified system, solely used for small ruminant production. Total livestock units increased from 2200 in 1929 to 7850 in 2002, declining to 5100 thereafter. The metabolic analysis conducted for the years 1993–2016 shows that 80–90% of the feed demand of small ruminants was covered by grazing, exceeding available grazing resources for at least a decade. The regional implementation of CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) continues to support excessively high animal numbers, while farmers are highly dependent on subsidies and find themselves in an economic deadlock.

scholarly journals A questionnaire survey on diseases and problems affecting sheep and goats in communal farming regions of the Eastern Cape province, South Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gareth F. Bath ◽  
Mary-Louise Penrith ◽  
Rhoda Leask
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Small Ruminant ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Eastern Cape Province ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Livestock Farming ◽  
Business Skills ◽  
Support Programme

A questionnaire of 15 questions was completed by four categories of respondents with the aim of establishing the experience and opinions of these groups on the constraints including animal health problems for communal, small-scale sheep and goat farming in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The questionnaires were completed independently and categories were representative of the areas investigated. Analysis of responses was done by means, ranges, votes and clusters of responses. Comparisons between the responses of the four categories were made to identify similarities or contrasts. The results revealed that of non-veterinary concerns, stock theft was the major problem for these farms. Nutrition was a further major constraint. A third area of significant concern was the provision or availability of facilities like fences, water troughs, dips and sheds. Lack of marketing and business skills were also seen as important deficiencies to be rectified so as to promote profitable farming. Of the most important veterinary problems identified, the provision, availability, cost and care of drugs and vaccines were seen as major stumbling blocks to effective disease control, as well as lack of access to veterinary services. The most important diseases that constrain small-ruminant livestock farming in the farming systems investigated were sheep scab and other ectoparasites, heart water, enterotoxaemia, internal parasites and bluetongue. A lack of knowledge in key areas of small-stock farming was revealed and should be rectified by an effective training and support programme to improve the contribution of small-ruminant farming to livelihoods in these communities.

scholarly journals Livestock farming systems and conditions of sustainability in Cuba, the case of small ruminant production

2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 484-485
Author(s):  
Y. Alexandrine ◽  
X. Xandé ◽  
J. Arece-Garcia ◽  
M. Mahieu ◽  
J. L. Diman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Small Ruminant ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Livestock Farming ◽  
Livestock Farming Systems

Small ruminant production in smallholder and pastoral/extensive farming systems in Kenya

2008 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
I.S. Kosgey ◽  
G.J. Rowlands ◽  
J.A.M. van Arendonk ◽  
R.L. Baker
Keyword(s):  
Small Ruminant ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Extensive Farming

scholarly journals Sustainability os small ruminant population on the Adja Plateau (South Benin)

1994 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-76
Author(s):  
A. Van Den Broek ◽  
I.T. Gbégo
Keyword(s):  
Oil Palm ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Small Ruminant ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Small Ruminants ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Feed Production ◽  
Animal Feeding ◽  
On Farm

Since 1986 the RAMR project (Recherche Appliquee en Milieu Reel) has conducted on-farm research on the Adja Plateau in Mono Province (South Benin). In this article, technical and socio-economic aspects of small ruminant production systems on the Adja Plateau are described. Monitoring of small ruminant flocks showed that about 25% of the small ruminants were sold annually. Export of nutrients as a result of the sale of animals (85 g N. 23 g P. 12 g K and 46 g Ca per hectare) was low compared with export through crop production. In-depth studies at village level showed that farmers mainly collected oil palm leaves, constituting 75% of the small ruminant rations, to feed their animals. Nutrients in collected oil palm leaves represented a substantial fraction (about 10%) of available nutrients in fields under oil palm. Proposals for future research on small ruminant production systems have to contribute to the sustainability of farming systems. Emphasis will be put on animal feeding and feed production integrating small ruminant and crop production.

SMALL RUMINANT PRODUCTION IN TWO MIXED-FARMING SYSTEMS OF SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA: STATUS AND PROSPECTS FOR IMPROVEMENT

2008 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 399-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. LEGESSE ◽  
G. ABEBE ◽  
M. SIEGMUND-SCHULTZE ◽  
A. VALLE ZÁRATE
Keyword(s):  
Small Ruminant ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Small Ruminants ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Southern Ethiopia ◽  
Cash Income ◽  
Research Attention ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Mixed Farming ◽  
Entry Points

SUMMARYSmall ruminants are an integral part of mixed-farming systems throughout southern Ethiopia. Yet, they have received little research attention or institutional support. Characterizing the existing small ruminant production systems and analysing their production constraints are important tools to diagnose the status and trends of the systems, and thus to identify areas for future interventions. A survey was conducted between April and July 2004 in the Adilo and Kofele areas of the southern mixed-farming systems of Ethiopia to explore reasons for keeping small ruminants and to evaluate the existing status of and the prospects for the small ruminant sector. Additional information was obtained during discussions with key informants who had experience of small ruminant keeping. Small ruminants fill several roles in the study area. However, the principal purpose of keeping sheep and goats was to generate cash income. Sheep milk consumption was widespread around Kofele unlike most agricultural systems in the country. Nearly all respondents in Adilo reported fattening their sheep before sale, while such a practice was uncommon in Kofele. Informal insurance schemes were evolving among the sheep keepers in Adilo, and these can be considered as entry points for future interventions. The common problem identified from both individual interviews and group discussions was feed shortage. The identification of alternative feed resources and strategic feeding management might be options for development. Small ruminant disease was the major constraint in Kofele, where marshy areas are increasingly assigned for grazing in the rainy season as suitable land is more and more used for cropping. The growing demand for meat from small ruminants, the improving transportation infrastructure and the experience of farmers in small ruminant keeping are providing opportunities to enhance the contribution of the sector. A thorough monitoring of the productive and economic performance of small ruminants is required to capture the full picture of their contribution thereby directing possible intervention areas to maximize benefits to the farmers.

Nitrogen fertilizer value of cattle manure applied on soils originating from organic and conventional farming systems

Agronomie ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 789-800 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Langmeier ◽  
Emmanuel Frossard ◽  
Michael Kreuzer ◽  
Paul Mäder ◽  
David Dubois ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Fertilizer ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Cattle Manure ◽  
Conventional Farming ◽  
Fertilizer Value ◽  
Organic And Conventional Farming

Farmers' needs for management, research and extension, and policy - findings of a farmers' workshop and their implications

1992 ◽  
pp. 7-10
Author(s):  
A.F. Mcrae
Keyword(s):  
Technology Transfer ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Management Research ◽  
Business Objectives ◽  
Research Technology ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Farming Systems Research

Farmers' objectives, their circumstances and the constraints they face are central to any consideration of ways and means of improving farming systems. The management, research and extension, and policy needs of the farmers attending this workshop were diverse. This appeared to be linked with the (unexpected) degree of diversity in the business objectives and management structures on these farms. More formal research on these issues across the spectrum of farmers is required to ensure that research and technology transfer meet the industry's needs. Keywords farming systems, research, technology transfer, objectives

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