Abstract

There is major risk that decoupling of EU income support for beef cattle will result in reduced beef production and a shortage of livestock for preservation of biodiversity in Swedish semi-natural pastures. Small, inefficient herds, high costs of grazing small, scattered pastures and expensive indoor wintering of beef cattle are important factors. However, decoupling of income support also for grain production and a conceivable abolition of the strict demand for replanting after clear cutting may create economic possibilities to re-establish large pasture-mosaics consisting of the present semi-natural pastures and arable land, and former pastures, which were afforested during the last century. Canadian experience and Swedish cost estimates suggest that large-scale beef production with outdoor wintering and grazing in such large pastures is economically sustainable even after decoupling. The risk of extinction of grassland species due to habitat isolation is lower in such mosaics than in small-scale pastures

Keywords

beef; economic sustainability; pasture-mosaics; biodiversity

Published in

Grassland Science in Europe
2005, Volume: 10, pages: 231-234
Title: Proc. of the 13th International Occasional Symposium of the European Grassland Federation
Publisher: European Grassland Federation

Conference

The 13th International Occasional Symposium of the European Grassland Federation

SLU Authors

• Kumm, Karl-Ivar

  • Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Animal and Dairy Science
Veterinary Science


Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/7272