Forty research issues for the redesign of animal production systems in the 21st century

Abstract

Agroecology offers a scientific and operational framework for redesigning animal production systems (APS) so that they better cope with the coming challenges. Grounded in the stimulation and valorization of natural processes to reduce inputs and pollutions in agroecosystems, it opens a challenging research agenda for the animal science community. In this paper, we identify key research issues that define this agenda. We first stress the need to assess animal robustness by measurable traits, to analyze trade-offs between production and adaptation traits at within-breed and between-breed level, and to better understand how group selection, epigenetics and animal learning shape performance. Second, we propose research on the nutritive value of alternative feed resources, including the environmental impacts of producing these resources and their associated non-provisioning services. Third, we look at how the design of APS based on agroecological principles valorizes interactions between system components and promotes biological diversity at multiple scales to increase system resilience. Addressing such challenges requires a collection of theories and models (concept-knowledge theory, viability theory, companion modeling, etc.). Acknowledging the ecology of contexts and analyzing the rationales behind traditional small-scale systems will increase our understanding of mechanisms contributing to the success or failure of agroecological practices and systems. Fourth, the large-scale development of agroecological products will require analysis of resistance to change among farmers and other actors in the food chain. Certifications and market-based incentives could be an important lever for the expansion of agroecological alternatives in APS. Finally, we question the suitability of current agriculture extension services and public funding mechanisms for scaling-up agroecological practices and systems.

Review: Towards the agroecological management of ruminants, pigs and poultry through the development of sustainable breeding programmes. II. Breeding strategies

“…While both research scientists and breeders agree on the necessity to maintain long-term genetic diversity at the population scale, opinions differ regarding the potential usefulness of managing a broad diversity of animal performance profiles within a herd. While adaptive management may offer opportunities to benefit from inter-individual variability within herds (Dumont et al, 2014), further experimental work is necessary to provide practical evidence of the value of increasing genetic and phenotypic variability at the farm level before relevant Sustainable breeding strategies for agroecology breeding strategies can be developed. Nevertheless, as has long been promoted for crops (Altieri et al, 2015), it is now recommended that livestock genetic diversity should be sustained or restored at a local level by maintaining groups of herds that host different genotypes, so as to provide a buffer against the risk of pathogen dissemination.…”

“…that are required by Global Change issues such as climate change, increases in human population, shifts in dietary preferences towards animal products in the developing world, or competition for arable land use (Dumont et al, 2014). In addition, fine tuning of the use of genetic diversity among breeding stock is recommended in order to maintain this diversity across herds, thus enabling adaptation to a broad range of farming systems and local conditions.…”

“…A wide-ranging study was recently conducted in several European countries on the sustainability of pig production systems, and covered traditional, organic and conventional farms (Bonneau et al, 2014a and2014b). Admittedly, breeding programmes are not really guided by the agroecological principles as presented by Dumont et al (2014), even if some current efforts based on economic considerations may help to ensure the sustainability of the pig industry: the limitations on inputs are quantitative and do not specifically incorporate the use of local and variable resources that might be less well suited to the genetic potential of the animals; the preservation of biodiversity is restricted to the management of inbreeding in selected populations, particularly in the case of local breeds; waste reduction is seen as a simple, positive consequence of improved feed efficiency, and the diversification/coexistence of production modes is not envisaged at a large scale. Rydhmer et al (2014) evaluated the sustainability of population management programmes for various husbandry systems, ranging from the traditional to the conventional and including organic farming systems.…”

“…A land-based approach in poultry and pigs means that animals have access to outdoor runs. The development of production systems with both high economic and environmental performance requires the selection of genetic resources that are capable of ensuring relatively stable production in a variety of less controlled environments (Dumont et al, 2014). To develop agroecological production systems, breeders may wish to choose stock with performance characteristics which differ slightly from those targeted in conventional breeding.…”

Des races localement adaptées et adoptées, une condition de la durabilité des activités d’élevage

“…Dans une perspective de durabilité des activités d'élevage et de transition agro-écologique, la caractérisation de l'adaptation des races et des compromis entre adaptation et production dans la gestion de ces races constitue un enjeu de recherche clé (Dumont et al, 2014). A partir de deux études de cas, cet article vise à comprendre comment des éleveurs font le choix des ressources animales qu'ils mobilisent pour répondre à des objectifs de durabilité des systèmes d'élevage.…”