Definition
of Mixed Systems
Mixed systems are defined as farming
systems conducted by households or by enterprises where crop cultivation
and livestock rearing together form integrated components of a single farming
system. They include the livestock systems of landless smallholders
that rely on the crop cultivation of neighbouring farms.
The main reasons for mixed farming
are:
-
spreading of risks over both crops (primary)
and livestock (secondary) production
-
complementarity between crops and livestock
-
a flexibility that allows the adjustment
of crop / livestock ratios in anticipation of risks, opportunities and
needs.
Within the setting of the farm / enterprise,
crop cultivation and livestock rearing can compete for the same scarce
resources as such as land, labour and capital. Consequently the production
performance of livestock is often lower than in specialised systems (grazing
or industrial). However, the combined total production, taking both crops
and livestock into account can under some circumstances be greater, and
mixed systems are appropriate in many circumstances where industrial systems
are not.
In general livestock plays a multiple
role in mixed livestock systems. It can serve:
-
as capital saving / security account;
-
income generation: traction services,
sale of animals and animal products;
-
home consumption of animal products,
including manure as source for fuel;
-
enhancement of crop cultivation: eg.
through traction and manure;
-
as means to exploit communal and fallow
vegetation for livestock and crop production.
The interaction of livestock and the
environment in mixed systems is particularly related to the principal role
of livestock in the system and the feed resource bases in use. Based on
principal feed resource base and potential risks and benefits the following
sub-systems have been defined:
-
Mixed, communal grazing
-
Mixed, crop residues
-
Mixed, cut and carry
-
Mixed, feed from farm
-
Mixed, external feed
These sub-systems are selected from the many
sub systems amongst a range of possibilities. At one end, the mixed communal grazing
system is a development of communal grazing systems under grazing
systems. At the other end, the mixed external feed systems are followed
by the industrial systems, with which they are
closely related. .
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