EXTENSIVE LIVESTOCK: CHARACTERISTICS, ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES - ENVIRONMENT - 2025

The extensive livestock is one that seeks to exploit the land in the most efficient way possible, giving priority to sustainability and specializing in the most appropriate space for which there are races.

There are researchers who argue that this type of livestock concentrates its efforts on offering welfare to animals; Furthermore, it seeks to use resources in a conscious way and preserve the natural heritage of a region.

In extensive livestock farming, the natural resources of the area used are used. Source: pixabay.com

However, other scholars indicate that extensive cattle ranching is less productive (considering the hectares used) and produces a larger carbon footprint. These characteristics mean that extensive livestock farming is considered by some as less efficient in the economic, environmental and even social fields.

Among those who defend this position is Raúl Molina, who has a doctorate in Agricultural Sciences from the National University of Colombia. According to this researcher, the most intensive systems (those that produce more in less space) offer better returns in terms of the carbon footprint that is generated.

Faced with these arguments, other personalities such as the biologist Redd Noss have indicated that intensive livestock farming is a threat, as it implies invasion of non-native flora, a higher frequency of fires due to the confined spaces it uses, elimination of animals from the place and, ultimately, a significant damage to the biodiversity of the area.

characteristics

- One of the main emphasis of extensive livestock is to use the natural resources of the space in an efficient way.

- Livestock feed on the grass and meadows found in the area used. It is possible that it complements its diet with other foods, but it is mainly based on the local herbs that it obtains through grazing.

- Investments in machinery, labor, capital and infrastructure are low. This also implies that the economic benefits obtained are not as high as those offered by intensive livestock farming.

- Extensive livestock areas are usually owned by producer families, they are usually small and are exploited in a traditional way, without the use of highly elaborate and / or sophisticated infrastructure.

- It is common to find extensive livestock in spaces with lower productivity, such as mountainous areas or those in which few people live.

- Cattle are used that adapt very well to the geographical area. In fact, most of the animals are indigenous to the region, and those that are not, have characteristics that allow them to adapt perfectly to the climatic and soil conditions of the space used.

- Sheep and cattle are commonly used. Pigs may also be included, although the first two are the most common.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantage

- Although production is lower, the products generated as a result of extensive livestock farming may have better receptivity from the public because they are food produced in nearby areas, unlike those imported from other cities or even more distant countries.

- Extensive livestock farming contributes directly to the maintenance of landscapes; In addition, it participates in the enhancement of the biodiversity of the area.

- Thanks to extensive livestock farming it is possible to regulate the quality of the soils.

- Since it uses the resources of the space used, extensive cattle ranching is practically independent of inputs from outside the region.

- By developing in open spaces, they greatly reduce the risks of fires.

Disadvantages

- Since it offers little profitability in relation to the space it covers (compared to intensive livestock), the carbon footprint that is generated is higher. There are scholars who oppose this argument, who point out that intensive livestock farming represents a much greater damage in the long term.

- As a consequence of the above, some experts point out that extensive livestock farming implies loss of biodiversity and deforestation.

- It usually generates low economic profits for the farmers.

- The areas in which extensive livestock farming is carried out are usually isolated and small, so they have little possibility of competing with the large producers; this makes it difficult for them to access a larger audience.

Differences with intensive livestock

Food source

The most relevant difference between extensive and intensive livestock has to do with the fact that the former involves feeding livestock based on the grass found on the land occupied by the animals. The resources of the area are used in such a way that the cattle can feed without problems in the meadows of the area.

On the other hand, intensive livestock farming does not take advantage of the land used to feed livestock, since it is a very small space in relation to the number of animals that live there.

That is, in extensive livestock farming the animals are not permanently confined in a confined space (as occurs in the intensive one), but are in the open air and efficiently take advantage of the resources of the place.

Number of cattle

In extensive livestock there is a low density of animals per hectare; on the other hand, intensive livestock farming seeks to use as many livestock as possible in a given space.

Landscape maintenance

Through extensive cattle raising, the aim is to maintain the landscape of the area used, influencing its structure as little as possible.

In contrast, intensive livestock farming tends to generate more simplified landscapes, with less openness and, therefore, greater vulnerability to fires.

Type of gas produced

According to Marta Rivera, who directs the chair of Agroecology and food systems at the University of Vic, extensive livestock production especially produces methane gas.

In contrast, intensive livestock production generates N2O and CO2, which arise as a result of the effort to produce cereals and feed that are used to feed livestock. The latter are more harmful to the planet.

Quality of space used

Rivera also points out that the space for growing food consumed by animals in intensive livestock farming could serve for human production, thus generating unnecessary competition.

On the other hand, the lands used by extensive cattle ranching are not suitable for cultivation for humans; In other words, if it were not for this type of livestock, these lands would not be used.

References

1. "Extensive livestock" in Plataforma for extensive livestock and pastoralism. Retrieved on October 15, 2019 from Platform for extensive livestock and pastoralism: ganaderiaextensiva.org
2. "Extensive livestock in the least sustainable" at the National University of Colombia. Retrieved on October 15, 2019 from the National University of Colombia: palmira.unal.edu.co
3. Cattan, P. "Livestock and conservation" in the TecnoVet extension magazine. Retrieved on October 15, 2019 from TecnoVet Extension Magazine: web.uchile.cl
4. Ruiz, J., Herrera, P., Barba, R., Busqué, J. "Situation of extensive livestock in Spain" in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and Environment. Retrieved on October 15, 2019 from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and Environment: mapa.gob.es
5. "Extensive livestock system" at the National Institute of Agricultural Research of Uruguay. Retrieved on October 15, 2019 from the National Institute of Agricultural Research of Uruguay: inia.uy
6. "Extensive ranching destroys tropical forests in Latin America" ​​in FAO Press room. Retrieved on October 15, 2019 from FAO Press room: fao.org
7. Cerrillo, A. "'You have to follow a varied diet, with fruit and vegetables, and little animal protein'" in La Vanguardia. Retrieved on October 15, 2019 from La Vanguardia: láguardia.com
8. Surbih, S. "Difference Between Intensive and Extensive Farming" in Key Differences. Retrieved on October 15, 2019 from Key Differences: keydifferences.com