Integrating natural woodland with pig production in the United Kingdom: an investigation of potential performance and interactions

• Published in: Agroforestry systems Vol. 64; no. 3; pp. 251 - 263
• Main Authors: Brownlow, M.J.C, Dorward, P.T, Carruthers, S.P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01-01-2005; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: agribusiness and business economics; Agricultural and farming systems; Agroforestry; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal productions; Animal reproduction; bioeconomic models; Biological and medical sciences; cost benefit analysis; costs and returns; economic analysis; Feed conversion; forests; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agroecology. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development. Rural area planning. Landscaping; General agronomy. Plant production; Generalities. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development; Hogs; livestock production; Microclimate; Pasture; production economics; silvopastoral systems; swine; Swine production; Terrestrial animal productions; Vertebrates; Woodlands; United Kingdom; Europe; Western Europe; United Kingdom > UK; Economic analysis; Silvopastoral system; Silvopastoral; Farming animal; Forest zone; Financial analysis; Forest reared pork; Pig; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Artiodactyla; Animal production; Ungulata; Agroforestry
• ISSN: 0167-4366; 1572-9680
• DOI: 10.1007/s10457-004-0250-6

Although silvopastoral systems involving pigs were once widespread in Britain, the practice has largely died out. However, recent changes in pig production techniques, consumer demands and the economic climate within which farmers operate, have led to renewed interest in both traditional and novel tree-pig systems. This paper describes a financial spreadsheet model (MAST) that was developed to: provide a means of determining financial performance of integrating finishing pigs with natural woodland; identify the likely importance of different as yet largely unresearched animal-tree interactions; and, determine which interactions warrant attention in research and management. Preliminary analysis suggests that the financial performance of this agroforestry enterprise could be superior to that of a pasture-based enterprise. The most important factors in determining incremental performance are identified as sales premia for 'forest-reared' pork, changes to feed conversion ratios arising from the provision of a heterogeneous microclimate, and the availability of cheaper land rents.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]