The use of grazing pastures in goat production: An approach to combine the optimized use of forage resource and the control of related risks

• Main Authors: Napoleone , Martine (INRA , Avignon (France). UR 0767 Unité de recherche Écodéveloppement), Hoste , Herve (INRA , Toulouse (France). UMR 1225 Interactions hôtes-agents pathogènes), Lefrileux , Y. (Plateforme d'Expérimentation et de Progrès Rhône-Alpes, Mirabel(France).)
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: caprin; conduite du troupeau; développement durable; GESTION DE PRODUCTION; gestion de risques; gestion des ressources; GOAT FARMING; GRAZING MANAGEMENT; MILK PRODUCTION; modélisation; parasite; PARASITE INFECTION; production laitière; prévention des risques; pâturage; RESOURCES MANAGEMENT; ressource fourragère; strongle; SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT; zone méditerranéenne; élevage caprin

This article aims at describing an approach to accompany changes in herd management to increase the proportion of grazed forage in the diet of dairy goats. This research has been developed through collaboration between researchers, extensionists and farmers. The use of grazed forage introduces many sources of uncertainty for the farmers (fluctuating resource, risks of drought or parasite infestations). Therefore, it is difficult to propose a robust technical model that is reliable in a variety of circumstances. This article proposes an approach aimed at making a progressive adaptation of herd management feasible. It is based on a formalisation of farmer practices according to time and space scales and makes it possible to analyse combinations of the various grazed resources in relation to indoor feeding, production management and the epidemiology of gastrointestinal nematodes, used as a model of parasite infections. These representations help in diagnosing the system, identifying the possibilities of adaptation and in discussing corrective actions. In supporting and guiding these innovative processes, researchers and extensionists have to modify the angle from which they observe the situation. This tool was initially developed from data acquired in Mediterranean conditions. However, it might be of interest for other production systems and/or in other regions, in particular for farmers currently involved in intensive systems, who have lost the know-how for managing a grazing herd, but who are concerned by a return to less intensive systems of management in order to fulfil the criteria of sustainable development