Are there alternative paths towards more self-sufficient and resilient systems in dairy farms?

Bijeenkomst: EGF2015
Auteur: Peeters A., Delobel V. and Van der Ploeg J.D.
ISBN: 978-9090-289-61-8
Jaar van uitgifte: 2015
Producttype: Paper
This paper synthesizes a selection of socio-economic studies from France and the Netherlands, and an ethnographic study in Belgium. It compares grassland-based farms with ‘more intensive farms’. The first ones use less concentrates, crop less green maize, manage grasslands better and can be smaller (surface, quotas) than the intensive farms. The grassland-based farms of these studies have similar or better economic performances per farm than more intensive farms. They are also more resilient; they can better survive periods of low milk price and high price of concentrates. These studies show that alternative paths to scale enlargement and spurred intensification are feasible.