Integrating animals into plant-based systems is a game-changer for sustainable agriculture. By combining trees, crops, and livestock, we create mutually beneficial relationships that boost productivity and animal welfare. It's like nature's dream team working together.
From to , these methods mimic natural ecosystems. Animals help with and , while diverse plantings provide food and shelter. It's a win-win that makes farms more resilient and eco-friendly.
Agroforestry Systems
Integrating Trees and Livestock
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Top images from around the web for Integrating Trees and Livestock
Silvopasture practices and perspectives in the Northeastern United States | Agroforestry Systems View original
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Agroforestry for Climate Change Resilient Landscapes | RECOFTC View original
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Frontiers | Integrating Animal Husbandry With Crops and Trees View original
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Silvopasture practices and perspectives in the Northeastern United States | Agroforestry Systems View original
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Agroforestry for Climate Change Resilient Landscapes | RECOFTC View original
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involves combining trees, forage plants, and livestock in an integrated system
Trees provide shade, shelter, and additional feed for livestock (acorns, leaves)
Livestock graze on the understory vegetation and help manage the land
Mutually beneficial relationship improves animal welfare and land productivity
Agroforestry systems incorporate trees into agricultural landscapes for multiple purposes
Trees can provide timber, fruit, nuts, or other products in addition to benefits for crops or livestock
involves planting rows of trees with crops or pasture in between
use trees along waterways to stabilize banks and filter runoff
Fodder and Polyculture Systems
involve growing specialized crops or trees to provide feed for livestock
(grasses, legumes) are grown and harvested to feed animals
(mulberry, willow) can be coppiced or pollarded to provide leaves and shoots for feed
Reduces reliance on external feed sources and can provide high-quality, nutrient-dense feed
involve growing multiple crops or forage species together in a diverse mixture
Increases biodiversity and compared to monocultures
Different plants provide complementary nutrients and benefits (nitrogen-fixing legumes, deep-rooted plants)
Diverse forage mix improves animal health and productivity
Integrated Livestock Management
Mobile and Rotational Grazing Systems
are mobile coops that allow chickens to graze in a controlled area
Chickens are moved regularly to fresh pasture, spreading manure and controlling pests
Provides chickens access to fresh forage and insects, improving their diet and welfare
Chicken manure fertilizes the soil, and their scratching and pecking helps control pests and weeds
Rotational grazing involves moving livestock through a series of paddocks or pastures
Livestock are allowed to intensively graze an area for a short period before being moved
Grazed vegetation is given time to recover and regrow before being grazed again
Improves forage quality and quantity, reduces overgrazing and soil degradation
Nutrient Cycling and Pest Management
Livestock play a key role in nutrient cycling in integrated systems
Consume plant material and convert it into manure, returning nutrients to the soil
Grazing stimulates plant growth, and trampling helps incorporate organic matter into the soil
Improves soil health, fertility, and water-holding capacity over time
Integrated livestock can help with pest control and management
Poultry consume insects and small pests, reducing damage to crops
Grazing can help control weeds and invasive plants, reducing competition with desired species
(IPM) combines biological, cultural, and physical controls to manage pests
Uses ecological principles to prevent pest outbreaks and minimize chemical interventions
Examples include encouraging beneficial insects, using pest-resistant varieties, and disrupting pest life cycles