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Sustainable Management in Small/Medium Scale Animal Farms

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A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal System and Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2021) | Viewed by 44675

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Felice Adinolfi

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Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, Ozzano dell’Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy
Interests: agrifood policy; agricultural economics; risk analysis in agriculture
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Prof. Dr. Marcello De Rosa

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Department of Economics and law, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, 03043 Cassino, FR, Italy
Interests: sustainable rural development; rural entrepreneurship; agricultural knowledge and innovation systems; alternative food networks and rural development
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Prof. Dr. Jorgelina Di Pasquale

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Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Piano D'Accio, 64100 Teramo, Italy
Interests: agricultural economics; food security; food science; farm management; environmental science; common agricultural policy; consumer behavior; consumer perception, surveys; agrifood marketing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

It is a great pleasure to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue on Sustainable management in small/medium scale animal farms. Sound and sustainable management of small/medium scale farms is of paramount importance in a globalized and competitive scenario. Sustainable management can be achieved through a circular economy approach, which affects various dimensions of farming activity. Therefore, in order to cope with high complexity, “One Health” approaches may be effective, as they consider the environment, animals, and humans as elements of an interconnected eco-system. Such an important change involves a radical transformation of current management models. The single entrepreneur must address the challenges associated with the transition from a linear to a circular system, since the complexity of food systems requires a holistic and coordinated approach. This requires taking into account the interrelated dimensions of a sustainable management approach: economic, social, and environmental. The purpose of this Special Issue is to explore various dimensions of sustainability related to managing animal farms. Therefore, manuscripts from various disciplines are welcome, both from a theoretical and empirical perspective.

Topics

Economics sustainability

- Precision farming tools to boost sustainable management;

- Multifunctional animal farming: commodity and noncommodity output;

- Circular economy models to reduce costs in animal farming;

- Precision feeding strategies.

Social sustainability

- Social inclusion in animal farming;

- Animal welfare as an attribute is receiving increasing attention from citizens;

- Improving networking between different operators in the agro-food supply chain;

- Relaunching of rural areas.

Environmental sustainability

- Organic animal farming;

- Pest management in animal farming;

- The use of by-products to reduce the environmental impact of animal feed;

- The custody of landscapes suffering from hydrogeological instability.

Prof. Felice Adinolfi
Prof. Marcello De Rosa
Prof. Jorgelina Di Pasquale
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

economic sustainability
social sustainability
environmental sustainability
sustainable management
circular economy
innovation for sustainable development
animal nutrition
animal welfare
evolution of animal production systems
small/medium scale animal farms

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Published Papers (13 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 1601 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Theoretical Framework to Assess the Impact of Flooding on Dairy Cattle Farms: Identification of Direct Damage from an Animal Welfare Perspective

by Anna Gaviglio, Annafrancesca Corradini, Maria Elena Marescotti, Eugenio Demartini and Rosalia Filippini

Animals 2021, 11(6), 1586; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11061586 - 28 May 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5619

Abstract

For the economic sectors, the need to address the challenges posed by natural disasters due to climate change is an outstanding issue. To date, according to the European Commission (2019), there is still a gap in the estimation of the costs of flood in all European countries and the direct impact that these floods have on agricultural activities. More specifically, the damage to livestock has been minimally studied. The aim of this study is is therefore to identify the flood damage that affects dairy cattle farms, focusing on the damage to herds caused by a flood event; in fact, poor welfare conditions of dairy cattle directly affect production and thus farm revenue. To accomplish the aim of this study, a framework was first developed to identify possible damage types. Then, scientific literature focusing on the identification of flood damage to dairy herds was reviewed, and to quantify this damage to herds, literature sources providing information on the magnitude of variation in the identified damage types were used. Thus, our results provide relevant information on the variables that should be taken into account when assessing of the direct damage affecting the overall welfare of a dairy herd after a flood event. This evidence could then contribute to the development of tools aimed at assessing damage to dairy cattle on flood-affected farms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management in Small/Medium Scale Animal Farms)

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25 pages, 5596 KiB

Open AccessArticle

GIS-Based and Outranking Approach to Assess Suitable Pig Farming Areas in the Mediterranean Region: Valencian Community

by Consuelo Calafat-Marzal, Áurea Gallego-Salguero, Marina Segura and Salvador Calvet-Sanz

Animals 2021, 11(4), 1151; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11041151 - 17 Apr 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2809

Abstract

The concentration of livestock production is problematic due to environmental concerns. European regulations are guiding the sector to become increasingly sustainable and, at the same time, maintaining the population in rural areas. The aim was to determine suitable areas in municipalities where livestock is presented as a market option. The methodology applied was based on the combination of multi-criteria methods and geographic information system (GIS) techniques, following three steps: removal of unsuitable zones by sectoral regulations (STEP 1); removal of unsuitable zones due to urban planning, and environmental recommendations (STEP 2); and evaluating the resulting areas depending on the importance of socio-economic, sectoral, and environmental characteristics. This study was based in a Spanish region with ongoing conflicts over land use on the coast but with a high number of rural municipalities at risk of depopulation in the interior. The results showed that 33% of the municipalities of the Valencian Community (VC) had suitable and outranking areas for the development of the swine sector. The 43 municipalities with the highest scores were because of the socio-economic factor and confirmed that suitable livestock development in municipalities with the highest risk of depopulation and low rural tourism activity was a key issue for development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management in Small/Medium Scale Animal Farms)

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13 pages, 700 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Performance Evaluation of Two Slow-Medium Growing Chicken Strains Maintained under Organic Production System during Different Seasons

by Ainhoa Sarmiento-García, Isabel Revilla, José-Alfonso Abecia and Carlos Palacios

Animals 2021, 11(4), 1090; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11041090 - 11 Apr 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2053

Abstract

A total of 160 1-day-old medium-growing male chicks (Gallus gallus domesticus) were raised for 120 days in a certified organic farming system. A total of two strains were studied (Coloryield, CY; RedBro, RB). Overall, two weather periods were considered based on the outdoor temperature, being S1 colder than S2. In total, 40 chicks per strain were assigned to each period (n = 80). Chickens were fed ad libitum with the same organic feeds. In the first month, chickens were kept indoors and, from day 30, they had access to the pasture. Slaughter live weight (LW), average daily gains, (ADG), the feed conversion ratio (FCR), and mortality rates did not differ between the two strains. LW was (p < 0.05) higher in the S1 and a trend (p = 0.084) was observed for ADG, which was higher in S1. No differences were found for feed intake, FCR, and mortality rates between weather periods. There were no differences for coefficient of variation (CV) between the strains studied, nevertheless, CV for LW in S2 was increased. Differences in the productive performance between these strains raised in organic production systems were slight. However, chickens raised in S1 had a better performance. It would be preferable to raise chickens in these weather conditions whenever possible. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management in Small/Medium Scale Animal Farms)

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12 pages, 275 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Milk Quality and Animal Welfare as a Possible Marketing Lever for the Economic Development of Rural Areas in Southern Italy

by Lorenzo Infascelli, Raffaella Tudisco, Piera Iommelli and Fabian Capitanio

Animals 2021, 11(4), 1059; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11041059 - 8 Apr 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2201

Abstract

The aim of the present work was to investigate the consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for dairy products obtained by grazing animals or fed with a high forage/concentrate ratio diet. To this aim, a survey was carried out on Italian consumers in the Campania Region and data collected were analyzed both by simple descriptive statistics and by an econometric model. Our results highlight that young age, knowledge of milk properties, and a healthy lifestyle are extremely important components in determining a higher WTP. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management in Small/Medium Scale Animal Farms)

12 pages, 1335 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Virtual Water and Water Sustainability of Dairy Production in Trentino Alto Adige (North-Eastern Italy)

by Pier Paolo Miglietta, Federica De Leo, Benedetta Coluccia, Yari Vecchio and Fabian Capitanio

Animals 2021, 11(4), 1047; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11041047 - 8 Apr 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3249

Abstract

Dairy products play a significant role in the human diet, but they are often associated with high freshwater resource depletion. In Italy, the dairy sector represents more than 12% of the total turnover of the agri-food sector. Trentino Alto Adige is the first Italian region in terms of number of dairy farms, but it does not register a quantitatively consistent dairy production. Notwithstanding, it is characterized mostly by small-scale farms whose strengths are the Protected Designations of Origin and typical mountain productions. The present study aims at: (i) accounting for the virtual water VW of the main dairy products (milk, butter and cheese) produced in Trentino Alto Adige; (ii) estimating the renewable water resources based on the water flow assessment of the study area; (iii) assessing water sustainability comparing the virtual water consumption of the dairy sector at a regional level to the water availability. The findings show that the consumptive virtual water related to dairy production represents about 1% of the water availability in Trentino Alto Adige. Italy’s domestic dairy production is expanding to meet the growing demand, but the expansion of dairy farming in water-stressed regions should be avoided, preferring instead suitable mountain regions where small-scale farms represent a lively entrepreneurial substrate. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management in Small/Medium Scale Animal Farms)

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17 pages, 328 KiB

Open AccessArticle

New Value to Wool: Innovative Garments for Preservation of Sheep Landraces in Italy

by Ruggiero Sardaro and Piermichele La Sala

Animals 2021, 11(3), 731; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11030731 - 8 Mar 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3204

Abstract

In Basilicata, southern Italy, a sheep landrace jeopardized of extinction is Gentile di Puglia due to low production levels, low market values of milk and meat, and replacement of wool with synthetic fibers. Due to these dynamics farmers progressively resort to intensive breeding systems, hence causing the gradual disappearance of the ovine sector, the withering of traditional breeding culture and the abandonment of internal and marginal territories. However, in changing climate, traditional agriculture is getting increased attention worldwide by the consumers who are embracing emerging sustainable food production. Thus, in the light of a possible conservation strategy, the study investigates the prospective market for a garment (pullover) produced with wool from Gentile di Puglia, and woven through traditional techniques. An integrated methodological approach based on choice experiments and Bass diffusion model was carried out in order to analyze the consumers’ preferences, the penetration market of this innovative product and the new wool value for farmers. The results pointed out a potential demand focused on women aged 50 years and more and a recognized wool value to farmers of 55 € animal⁻¹ (22 € kg⁻¹). This new revenue could allow the reduction of the difference in gross margin between the Gentile di Puglia and the non-autochthonous intensively-farmed Comisana from 57% to 3%. The production of further wool garments for a wider demand could increase the economic sustainability of Gentile di Puglia, making it even more preferable than other highly productive breeds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management in Small/Medium Scale Animal Farms)

15 pages, 976 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Farmers’ Preferences Regarding the Design of Animal Welfare Programs: Insights from a Choice-Based Conjoint Study in Germany

by Iris Schröter and Marcus Mergenthaler

Animals 2021, 11(3), 704; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11030704 - 5 Mar 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2777

Abstract

As more animal welfare is required in livestock farming, several approaches have been developed to improve the well-being of farmed animals on a voluntary basis. Since farmers’ acceptance is important for the success of these approaches, their preferences should be considered when developing farm animal welfare programs. We used choice based conjoint analysis to investigate the preferences of 242 German livestock farmers (147 cattle farmers; 95 pig farmers) regarding the design of farm animal welfare programs. The conditional logit regression models show that the measures serving as basis for remuneration and the compensation level were of decisive importance for the farmers’ choices. The most preferred measure for assessing animal welfare, and thus as the basis for remuneration, was animal health. As expected, a higher compensation level led to greater acceptance of an animal welfare approach. The commitment period was only of subordinate importance with the longer commitment period being preferred. Our study outlines aspects of farm animal welfare programs that might encourage farmers to participate in these programs. Future programs could consider our findings by emphasising health parameters and by creating planning security through longer commitment periods and sufficiently high compensations for farmers’ efforts to improve animal welfare. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management in Small/Medium Scale Animal Farms)

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13 pages, 614 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Market Opportunities for Hay Milk: Factors Influencing Perceptions among Italian Consumers

by Nadia Palmieri, Alessandra Pesce, Milena Verrascina and Maria Angela Perito

Animals 2021, 11(2), 431; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11020431 - 7 Feb 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2693

Abstract

Central and South Italy are characterized by small-scale dairy farms and growing abandonment by farmers for other, better-paid, off-farm jobs. New marketing concepts for milk can be one solution to remunerate mountain farmers for their efforts. This study investigates the potential market for hay milk in Italy. In particular, we want to understand which variables drive the people’s willingness to consume hay milk, and if the European food quality certification schemes impact on people’s willingness to consume milk from hay-fed cows. Data were collected from a sample of consumers from Central and South Italy (n = 331) using a web-based survey. Later, a discrete choice probit model was applied. The main results indicate that aspects as curiosity, the production place of food, the local culinary traditions, label, and environmental issues play an important role in the people’s consumption intentions for milk from hay-fed cows. Moreover, the survey highlights that the respondents had positive opinion towards hay milk and highlighted some important marketing implications for the Italian milk sector. The study findings could encourage discussion about a niche market to boost local growth, initiating a process of improving livelihoods, certification of products, and use of the marketing tools addressed towards a specific milk consumer’s profile. In other words, the study could provide useful implications for food manufacturers and facilitate the design of marketing strategies for hay milk produced in Central and South Italy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management in Small/Medium Scale Animal Farms)

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12 pages, 1992 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Structural Characteristics, Management, and Challenges of Backyard Poultry Farming in Residential Areas of Turkey

by Demir Özdemir

Animals 2020, 10(12), 2336; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10122336 - 9 Dec 2020

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3043

Abstract

The aim of this study was to collect, for the first time, comprehensive information about the backyard poultry sector in Turkey. This included a profile of the poultry owners, flock characteristics, husbandry, housing conditions, the owners’ biosecurity measures and the challenges of backyard poultry farming in residential areas of Turkey. An online semi-structured survey was fully completed by 1094 respondents. The majority of respondents (91%) owned fewer than 50 birds and reported raising other poultry species besides chickens (64%). Most of the participants indicated that they kept poultry as food for family use (83%) and had been involved in chicken-raising activities for less than 10 years (86%). Free-range coops were the type of housing most preferred by the respondents (86%). However, there was a lack of awareness about poultry diseases and poultry health care conditions. Respondents that confirmed wild bird and rodent access to their feeders and drinkers reported high rates of internal-external parasites, Escherichia coli infections and chronic respiratory diseases (p < 0.001). Lack of regional regulations (84%), animal theft (80%), lack of information on poultry management (79%), minimizing predation (75%), and the need for vaccination and veterinary services (73%) were the most cited challenges. The results highlighted the need for improved biosecurity measures and for a regulatory framework that takes into account the risks to commercial poultry flocks and public health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management in Small/Medium Scale Animal Farms)

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12 pages, 1256 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Litter Size at Birth on Productive Parameters in Guinea Pigs (Cavia porcellus)

by Angela Edith Guerrero Pincay, Raúl Lorenzo González Marcillo, Walter Efraín Castro Guamàn, Nelson Rene Ortiz Naveda, Deyvis Angel Grefa Reascos and Santiago Alexander Guamàn Rivera

Animals 2020, 10(11), 2059; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10112059 - 7 Nov 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3414

Abstract

A study was conducted at the Escuela Superior Politècnica de Chimborazo, Ecuador, to evaluate the influence of litter size of guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) on their development and to establish the economic profitability of the production system. Forty-eight animals were used, distributed into litters of two, three, and four rodents per litter, with a balanced diet and green fresh alfalfa for the weaning, growth, and fattening stage, the rodents and litters were randomly selected, applying the statistical model completely randomly and evaluating different variables across 120 days. The litters of three guinea pigs obtained the best productive responses and economic profitability. With respect to sex, the males presented better productive behavior, greater economic increase, and less cost, evidencing that mixed feeding influences the number of guinea pigs per birth in terms of growth and development. The results serve to improve guinea pig meat production for the rural population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management in Small/Medium Scale Animal Farms)

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Review

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13 pages, 251 KiB

Open AccessReview

Extension and Advisory Organizations on the Road to the Digitalization of Animal Farming: An Organizational Learning Perspective

by Chrysanthi Charatsari, Evagelos D. Lioutas, Marcello De Rosa and Afroditi Papadaki-Klavdianou

Animals 2020, 10(11), 2056; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10112056 - 6 Nov 2020

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3277

Abstract

Agricultural digitalization emerged as a radical innovation, punctuating the gradual evolution of the agrifood sector and having the potential to fundamentally restructure the context within which extension and advisory organizations operate. Digital technologies are expected to alter the practice and culture of animal farming in the future. To suit the changing environmental conditions, organizations can make minor adjustments or can call into question their purposes, belief systems, and operating paradigms. Each pattern of change is associated with different types of organizational learning. In this conceptual article, adopting an organizational learning perspective and building upon organizational change models, we present two potential change and learning pathways that extension and advisory organizations can follow to cope with digitalization: morphostasis and morphogenesis. Morphostatic change has a transitional nature and helps organizations survive by adapting to the new environmental conditions. Organizations that follow this pathway learn by recognizing and correcting errors. This way, they increase their competence in specific services and activities. Morphogenetic change, on the other hand, occurs when organizations acknowledge the need to move beyond existing operating paradigms, redefine their purposes, and explore new possibilities. By transforming themselves, organizations learn new ways to understand and interpret contextual cues. We conclude by presenting some factors that explain extension and advisory organizations’ tendency to morphostasis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management in Small/Medium Scale Animal Farms)

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10 pages, 2017 KiB

Open AccessHypothesis

The Root towards More Circularized Animal Production Systems: From Animal to Territorial Metabolism

by Marcello De Rosa, Jorgelina Di Pasquale and Felice Adinolfi

Animals 2021, 11(6), 1540; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11061540 - 25 May 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5078

Abstract

This paper deals with a relevant topic in the literature on sustainable management of animal farms, concerning the transition towards circular methods of animal production. The paper aims to put forward an original analytical multilevel perspective overlapping different dimensions at either micro, meso, and macro level. Starting from the Malthusian analysis on depletion of natural resources, with risks of the fragility of the natural and economic systems, the paper points out the importance of moving away from intensive methods of production, by adopting more circularized approaches based on resources efficiency. The application of circular economy approaches to animal production is theorized through the concept of territorial metabolism involving not only internal resources (at the animal farm level) but also territorial resources. The paper underlines the critical points of the transition, which is labeled as a socio-technical transition in that it involves not only technical issues but also social aspects. Critical points are addressed through consumers’ acceptance of products drawn on circular approaches and political support to transition, through political tools which are boosted in recent documents of the European Union, like the Green Deal and Farm to Fork strategy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management in Small/Medium Scale Animal Farms)

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12 pages, 286 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

Dairy Cows’ Health during Alpine Summer Grazing as Assessed by Milk Traits, Including Differential Somatic Cell Count: A Case Study from Italy

by Giovanni Niero, Tania Bobbo, Simone Callegaro, Giulio Visentin, Cristina Pornaro, Mauro Penasa, Giulio Cozzi, Massimo De Marchi and Martino Cassandro

Animals 2021, 11(4), 981; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11040981 - 1 Apr 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2872

Abstract

Extensive summer grazing is a dairy herd management practice frequently adopted in mountainous areas. Nowadays, this activity is threatened by its high labour demand, but it is fundamental for environmental, touristic and economic implications, as well as for the preservation of social and cultural traditions. Scarce information on the effects of such low-input farming systems on cattle health is available. Therefore, the present case study aimed at investigating how grazing may affect the health status of dairy cows by using milk traits routinely available from the national milk recording scheme. The research involved a dairy herd of 52 Simmental and 19 Holstein × Simmental crossbred cows. The herd had access to the pasture according to a rotational grazing scheme from late spring up to the end of summer. A total of 616 test day records collected immediately before and during the grazing season were used. Individual milk yield was registered during the milking procedure. Milk samples were analysed for composition (fat, protein, casein and lactose contents) and health-related milk indicators (electrical conductivity, urea and β-hydroxybutyrate) using mid-infrared spectroscopy. Somatic cell count (SCC) and differential SCC were also determined. Data were analysed with a linear mixed model, which included the fixed effects of the period of sampling, cow breed, stage of lactation and parity, and the random effects of cow nested within breed and the residual. The transition from barn farming to pasture had a negative effect on milk yield, together with a small deterioration of fat and protein percentages. Health-related milk indicators showed a minor deterioration of the fat to protein ratio, differential SCC and electrical conductivity, particularly towards the end of the grazing season, whereas the somatic cell score and β-hydroxybutyrate were relatively constant. Overall, the study showed that, when properly managed, pasture grazing does not have detrimental effects on dairy cows in terms of udder health and efficiency. Therefore, the proper management of cows on pasture can be a valuable solution to preserve the economic, social and environmental sustainability of small dairy farms in the alpine regions, without impairing cows’ health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management in Small/Medium Scale Animal Farms)

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