Integrated crop/livestock systems with agroforestry to improve organic animal farming

Description

The International Federation of Organic Movements (IFOAM) has established four fundamental principles which underpin organic farming. One way of achieving these principles is the use of integrated crop-livestock systems, which is very common for well-balanced organic systems with animals. This chapter reviews types of such systems, with a focus on agroforestry systems, their potential environmental and economic benefits, their contributions to animal health and welfare, as well as challenges in implementing and managing such systems whilst ensuring a high animal health and welfare level.

Table of contents

• 1 Introduction
• 2 Types of ICLS
• 3 Environmental and economic benefits of ICLS
• 4 Agroforestry as an ICLS
• 5 Animals in agroforestry systems
• 6 Trees as a source of nutrition and medicine
• 7 Challenges in integrated livestock and forestry systems
• 8 Conclusion
• 9 Where to look for further information
• 10 References