Webinar on
World Agriculture and Applied Economics
Scientific Program
Keynote Session:
Title: Assessing Beef Cow-Calf Welfare in Namibia: The Impact Of Drought
Biography:
Dr. Yolande Baby Kaurivi is a veterinary lecturer at the University of Namibia mainly foranimal health, reproduction, welfare and ethology. She obtained a BSc. Biology degree (University of Namibia), a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (University of Zimbabwe) and a Masters of Veterinary Studies (Sydney University, Australia). She is currently a full-time Ph.D. Veterinary Student at Massey University, New Zealand, where she is researching the effect of animal welfare on the reproductive performance of beef cattle in New Zealand and Namibia.
Before the commencement of her Ph.D. studies, Baby has been a focal person for
Animal Welfare in Namibia, a focal person for Animal Disease Notification for Namibia and the country’s Assessor for Artificial Inseminators, Semen and Embryo Collectors and the National Livestock Policy Focal Person.
Abstract:
Namibian beef is of a sufficiently high standard to be exported to highly profitable markets, despite cattle being reared extensively on semi-arid vegetation. In the 2018-2019 period, the country experienced its worst drought in over 90 years, with devastating impacts not just on people, but also on the health, production, and welfare of cattle. Although welfare protocols have been developed for a range of systems, unforeseen environmental conditions could impact and distort the status quo of animal welfare standards in extensive beef production systems, like those that predominate in Namibia (e.g. semi-commercial villages and communal villages). The aim of the current paper was to assess the impact of the recent drought on beef cow-calf animal welfare assessment in Namibia.
During an animal welfare assessment visit to 55 Namibia beef farming herds (17 commercial farms, 20 semi-commercial farming villages and 18 communal farming villages) in autumn 2019 (March to April), cows were assessed in the yards (total 2459 cows) and at grazing and farm resources inspected. Stockmanship and yard designs were evaluated if it allowed easy flow and handling of cattle. A questionnaire guided interview with the fam manager aimed to assess the health and management of cattle. Reproduction performance indicators were also captured including pregnancy rate and rates of reproductive conditions. A follow-up visit in winter evaluated changes in animal health, welfare and cattle management. The impact of drought was evident from the average increased mortality rate (15.1% cf. 7.5% p<0.05) due to poor nutrition and
poor body condition (more than 40% cows classified as emaciated in the villages) as well as observed high predation and plant poisoning cases. Pregnancy rates were much lower than normal (45.5% average cf. 60.3% p<0.05) with even commercial herds only achieving 60% average (cf. 68% p<0.05). The discrepancy between the commercial farms and the villages was also evident in the total high cases of reproductive conditions (2.9% cf. 1.9% vs. 10.2% cf. 9.6% p<0.05), specifically abortion, retained placenta, dystocia, and vaginal prolapse.
Title: Integrated Crop-Livestock-Forestry: is it the new Brazilian green revolution?
Biography:
Bachelor in Animal Sciences (1999) and master’s in Applied Economics (2001), both at Viçosa Federal University/Brazil. PhD on Agricultural Management at Lincoln University, New Zealand (2011). Since 2001, she joined the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation – EMBRAPA, as a researcher, initially, working at the Strategic Management Secretary (SGE) and, from 2004, working at Embrapa Beef Cattle research unit. She also worked as a research assistant at the Agribusiness and Economics Research Unit (AERU), Lincoln University from 2007 to 2008, and is currently the representative of South America at the International Farm Management Association Council. Her major areas of expertise are Rural Economics and Farm Management, with emphasis on beef cattle systems and production costs, farm management and technology adoption. She is a member of two Management Committee for Environmental Protected Areas in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul state and is an ad hoc reviewer for several Brazilian and international journals.
Abstract:
Climate change is a world concern and reducing agriculture environmental impacts has become a major challenge, given the ever growing food and energy demands. Integrated farming systems (IFS), combining crops (C), livestock (L) and/or forestry (F), reached over 12 million hectares in Brazil, in 2016, becoming a sustainable alternative to large monoculture. IFS involves intercropping, rotation and/or succession, enabling the production of food, fiber and energy on the same area. “How promising are IFSs to promote production increase while reducing the environmental impact of agriculture, under climate change conditions” is the subject matter of this exploratory paper. Methodology: a literature review was carried out considering, particularly, the Brazilian context. It explored the research question, critically analyzing IFS benefits and challenges. Findings: Research has shown several benefits of IFS in Brazil, under different edaphic and climate conditions, arrangements, and others. In general, the synergisms occurring in IFS lead to greater production of biomass, improving soils conditions, which, in turn, results in better pasture and animal performance, and less weeds. Cover or cash crops lend pasture some residual fertilization, and receive back better physical and biological soil conditions that result in yield increase. The introduction of trees can represent additional source of farm income, while promoting animal welfare and ecological services, like carbon emissions mitigation. Additionally, IFS allows for good economic returns and reduced income risks. Brazilian government has been incentivizing IFS through specific credit program, but the adoption of such systems remains limited because of cultural aspects, lack of holistic understanding of IFS and structural and market constraints.
