Livestock in Tropical Farming Systems
Overview
Description:
Livestock are the
cropsthatwalk in agrosilvopastoral, or farming,
systems throughout the world. The term agrosilvopastoral refers to land
use systems, including agroforestry, with livestock, crops and trees in
various rotational or spatial configurations. These systems represent a
sustainable alternative for improving animal production while promoting
crop yield, nutrient cycling and the accumulation of nutrient stocks,
biodiversity, and environmental conservation. Constraints on livestock
production in developing countries of the tropics are analyzed in this
context, including economic objectives, risk, and assessing production
methods.
Emphasis is on strategic use of animal and plant resources, animal performance with inputs (e.g., nutrients) restricted, decision making, and alternative production systems. Principles, real examples, group discussion, and independent projects are aimed at learning to identify research & other actions to improve food and economic security.
The 2006 and 2007 editions of this course are partnership activities with the Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán (UADY) under the USAID-funded US-Mexico TIES Initiative, Decision Support of Ruminant Livestock Systems in the Gulf Region of Mexico. This course is complemented by another joint course with UADY, IARD 602 Agriculture in Developing Nations II, Gulf Region of Mexico Edition.
Objectives:
Learn by exchanging information about
- the role or niche for animals in meeting food demands
- the complexities of economical livestock management with multiple constrain
- the basic science about animal performance and their ecologies
- systems of livestock production, especially dual-purpose cattle systems
- interactions between animal genetic resources and production environments
- potentials for certain technologies in livestock systems in developing countries, and
- policy issues about livestock and agricultural systems in developing countries.
Develop the ability to analyze and to critically evaluate information (research) needs and livestock production strategies suitable for developing countries, especially for the Gulf region of Mexico.