Organic livestock production: an emerging opportunity with new challenges for producers in tropical countries

Abstract

Agrochemicals, veterinary drugs, antibiotics and improved feeds can increase the food supply while minimising production costs in various livestock production systems around the world. However, these days, quality-conscious consumers are increasingly seeking environmentally safe, chemical-residuefree healthy foods, along with product traceability and a high standard of animal welfare, which organic production methods are said to ensure. Organic production is not only a challenge for producers in developing countries, it offers new export opportunities as well. Organic agriculture is practised by 1.8 million producers in 160 countries, and production of organically grown food continues to increase steadily by 15% per year. Most tropical countries are now exporting organic agricultural products but, apart from organic beef from Brazil and Argentina, organic livestock products are yet to take off. Most trade in organic livestock products is restricted to the European Union and other developed nations. Nevertheless, tropical countries cannot afford to neglect this emerging system of animal production. Organic production is knowledge-and management-intensive. Producers must be well versed in organic production standards, principles and practices, which require a high degree of knowledge and skill. In organic production, it is not simply the final product but the whole production process that must be inspected and approved by the accredited certification bodies. Organic livestock farming is still evolving, and further research is needed to make it sustainable. In this paper, the authors review the prospects of organic animal husbandry and its possible constraints in developing and tropical countries.

Goat production system at Mymensingh district in Bangladesh

“…To collect the necessary information from the respondents in both interviewing and observation was applied. The interview schedule contained the following informations; A) Checklist for organic goat production: Origin of livestock, Livestock feed, Livestock breeding, Health care, Living conditions, Record keeping (Chander et al, 2011). B) Socio-economic factors related to organic goat production: Gender, Age of the farmers, Education level, Household size, Occupation, Land size, Training, Source of capital, Number of goats, Description of the goat like breed, age, sex, weight, Purchase time, Goat rearing until marketing/ slaughter.…”

“…The results of this study are similar to (Begum et al, 2007) where they reported that 83.3% farmers used vaccination, 80% farmers practiced deworming and 45% farmers removed sick animals from healthy animals. According to organic livestock production guidelines Chander et al, (2011) reported that 91%, 84% and 67% goats are considered to be organic on the basis of vaccination, antibiotic use and medication.…”

Analysis of Domestic Resources Cost Based on Farm Typology of Bali Cattle in Plampang Sumbawa Regency, West Nusa Tenggara

“…The research location was determined purposively in Plampang Sub-district on the consideration as one of the center producers of breeding cattle and beef cattle in the eastern region of Sumbawa Regency. The sample villages were chosen purposively, namely the villages of Plampang, Selante, and Muer on the basis of livestock density criteria, namely (1) low, (2) moderate, and (3) high (Chander et al, 2011) with the rural criteria were low, moderate, and high densities when the density of livestock were < 0.25, 0.25-1, and > 1 AU/ha of farm area range, respectively.…”

Socio-economic status of buffalo farmers and the management practices of buffaloes in plain land of subornachar upazila in Bangladesh

“…A) Check list for organic buffalo production (Chander et al, 2011). Origin of livestock feeds and feeding, breeding, health care, living condition and record keeping of animals for farmers.…”