Publication Date
1997
Description
The farming context for livestock production has changed in Central France for the last 15 years. There has been a release of land and a change in financial support that favoured extensive systems. The management and economical results of two experimental sheep farmlets are compared; the extensified has an area 45% larger than the control but the number of ewes are the same. The optimization of managements in both units leads to practices rather different for fertilising, fodder making and grazing. The effects are the achieving of similar animal performances and the reduction of expenditure on grasslands (-30% per ewe) & on animals fed (-9%) in the extensified. The gross margin is therefore 30% higher in this system which covers easily the extra fixed costs induced by the increase of area.
Citation
Chabosseau, J M., "Extensive Management of Grasslands in Central France: Effects on Animal Performances and Economical Efficiency" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 15.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1997/session29/15
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Extensive Management of Grasslands in Central France: Effects on Animal Performances and Economical Efficiency
The farming context for livestock production has changed in Central France for the last 15 years. There has been a release of land and a change in financial support that favoured extensive systems. The management and economical results of two experimental sheep farmlets are compared; the extensified has an area 45% larger than the control but the number of ewes are the same. The optimization of managements in both units leads to practices rather different for fertilising, fodder making and grazing. The effects are the achieving of similar animal performances and the reduction of expenditure on grasslands (-30% per ewe) & on animals fed (-9%) in the extensified. The gross margin is therefore 30% higher in this system which covers easily the extra fixed costs induced by the increase of area.