Introduction

• Intensive system

  • Zero grazing on the veld
  • High input – High output
  • High management – labour, equipment, inputs, "Automation"
  • "Artificial environment" – suited to specific animals
  • Confinement in paddocks/houses
  • Special feeds, fed above maintenance
  • Disease control intense (Biosecurity)
  • Reduced land use –Infrastructure -closer to markets and labour
  • High stocking density
  • Animal health and welfare
  • High impact on environment e.g. feedlot, poultry, Environmental impact assessment
  • Land use patterns and population?
  • Production all year
• Semi-Intensive system


  • Limited grazing
  • Forage and concentrates provided in paddocks
• Integrated Systems


  • Mixture of crop and livestock production
  • Diversity
• Livestock production systems


  • Extensive
  • Intensive
  • Semi-Intensive
  • Integrated
• Extensive system


  • Large land
  • Low stocking rate: ha/Livestock unit
  • Low infrastructure/ capital
  • Low management
  • Low pollution
  • Less labour
  • Low turn-over
• Intensive system


  • Small land
  • High stocking rate: ha/Livestock unit
  • High infrastructure/ capital
  • High management
  • High pollution
  • High labour
  • High turn-over
• Commercial farming


  • Production for profit
  • High inputs/high production, low diversity
  • Sophisticated equipment's and techniques e.g. automated housing
  • Markets always available
  • Production throughout the year/planned
  • Labour intensive
• Subsistence farming


  • Production mainly for own consumption
  • May sell when they need money
  • Low inputs/low production
  • Old or no equipment used
  • No markets?
  • Production seasonal and rely on nature
  • Less labour intensive, family members
• General principles of comparison

  • Inputs vs Outputs (Cost/Benefit)
  • Production system specific
  • Region specific?
  • Animal standards? (breed norms)
  • Consumer and Societal standards - Welfare
• Constraints to livestock Production

  • High costs of inputs – feeds, land, fuel etc.
  • Land and land tenure systems (costs, access)
  • Animal health and welfare related issues
  • Environmental impact & sustainable farming
  • Low market prices
  • Natural disasters
  • Municipal Services- electricity and water
  • Labour costs
  • Infrastructure – roads
  • Demand
• Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR)

  Weight gained/kg feed – Efficiency
• Different species and breeds have different FCR.
• Production system and outputs affect FCR.
• Production cycle affects FCR.
• Feed – Digestive system affects FCR.
• Suitable diet, high production diet, efficient diet affect FCR.
• Duration on feed affects FCR.
• Growth rate (Average Daily Gain) changes affect FCR.
• Cost of feed – grazing, ration affects FCR.
• Farmers, veterinarian, consumer, Retailer are involved in future oriented animal farming for food production.
• Scheme of a future oriented sustainable livestock production includes: Animal health, Animal welfare, Occupational Health in the farms, Food safety, Food quality, Consumer expectation, Environmental protection, Ecology, Economy.