Document type: scientific Document type: published in Agricultural Systems
Authors: Mysko, Claire Mosnier, Patrick Veysset, Isabelle Veissier, Jean-Joseph Minviel
Abstract in French (translation): Managing trade-offs between economic, environmental, and animal welfare performance on French suckler cow farms through feeding practices
BACKGROUND Economic, environmental, and animal welfare performance goals are often not achieved simultaneously due to conflicting relationships related to livestock management practices. OBJECTIVE Our objectives here are 1) to understand which performance goals conflict in suckler cow operations and 2) to examine how these conflicts can be managed. METHODS We first determine the relationships between the various performance indicators using a bioeconomic model focused on variables influencing feeding, and then we analyze the conflicts between these indicators. We then explore how these trade-offs can be managed using a trade-off analysis approach. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS The trade-off solutions obtained show that, compared to an optimization focused on feed margin, environmental and animal welfare performance can be significantly improved, with feed margins reduced by approximately 15% relative to optimal values. These trade-offs can be achieved by reducing herd size and animal fattening, increasing the proportion of pasture in agricultural land, and reducing the purchase of concentrated feed. IMPORTANCE The combination of bioeconomic modeling and trade-off analysis represents a promising first step toward providing farmers with guidance on how to achieve strong performance across multiple objectives and empowering policymakers to develop policies that support these goals.
Preview: CONTEXT Economic, environmental and animal welfare performance objectives are often not achieved simultaneously due to antagonistic relationships related to farming practices. OBJECTIVE Here, we aim to 1) understand which performance objectives are in conflict on suckler cattle farms and 2) examine how these conflicts can be managed. METHODS We first determine the relationships between the different performance indicators via a bioeconomic model focusing on variables impacting feeding and analyse the conflicts between performance indicators. We then explore how the trade-offs can be managed via a compromise programming approach. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS The obtained compromise solutions show that, compared with feed margin-driven optimisation, environmental and animal welfare performance can be substantially enhanced, with foregone feed margins of approximately 15% of the optimum values. These compromises can be achieved by reducing herd size and animal fattening, increasing the share of grassland in farmland and reducing the purchase of concentrate feed. SIGNIFICANCE Combining bioeconomic modelling with compromise programming is a promising first step in providing farmers with guidance on how to ensure good performance in multiple objectives and in providing public policy-makers with the means to develop policies along these lines.
