Decreasing the stocking rate by increasing areas: a means of improving the economic results of sheep farming in Montmorillonnais.

摘要

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of reducing the stocking density on the animal performances and the economic results of sheep farming systems, when this reduction is brought about by enlarging the farm area. The trialwas conducted on the farm of the Agricultural School of Montmorillon (Vienne, France), 1993-97. Two production units were studied and their results compared: the more extensive one (E) had a 40% larger area than the control (T), each unit supporting itsown flock of 100 ewes. The animal performances were similar in both units. In spite of a 40% reduction in fertilizer application, the pastures in E yielded 18% more. This extra production allowed more grazing (+7.5%), larger forage stores (+26%) and eventually a 22% reduction in outside feed purchase. Mainly because of the reduction in fertilizer and concentrate costs, the gross margin was 23% higher in E. This covered easily the excess of fixed costs brought about by the larger area in E, and the economic result was therefore in favour of this more extensive unit. This trial also backed up the idea that ley farming is compatible with extensification: in poor soils, the reseeding of pastures, properly used, is a means to produce more grass of good quality and to increase the proportion of herbage in the diet of the livestock.