Aim of this research was to analyse some dairy cows breeding systems in NW Italy, so as to verify the sustainability of livestock production systems in relation to different feeding resources availability (e.g. concentrates, conserved fodders, pasture). Moreover, ethical aspects concerning feeding resources used in some different environments have been taken into account. From an ethical point of view, the competition between man and animal on feeding resources represents an increasingly important item. This is due both to the people’s awareness that natural resources are limited and to the increasing sensitivity for populations that are directly or indirectly suffering for these resources bad management. The considered breeding systems differed in terms of environment, breeds and feeding resources. The variation of peculiar qualitative milk parameters (e.g. fatty acids composition) showed to be strictly related to the animal feeding and to the environment. These parameters were then chosen to promote livestock management variations, particularly relevant to feeding systems. Recent researches on this subject put into evidence that some interesting nutraceutical properties of animal origin foods are strictly conditioned by animal feeding and may represent useful indicators of the possible sustainability of the productive system. In order to verify affinities between sustainability and the ethic in livestock production it is necessary to study qualitative characteristics of the final product according to the resources employed. Furthermore, it shall be considered that to orientate livestock systems in a more ethical way it is necessary to put into value the final food product by including in it the extra-productive functions (e.g. typical product peculiarities, traceability, healthiness, etc.).
Dairy cows systems and natural resources utilization for a sustainable and ethical production in NW Italy
BARBERA, Salvatore;BATTAGLINI, Luca Maria
2006-01-01
Abstract
Aim of this research was to analyse some dairy cows breeding systems in NW Italy, so as to verify the sustainability of livestock production systems in relation to different feeding resources availability (e.g. concentrates, conserved fodders, pasture). Moreover, ethical aspects concerning feeding resources used in some different environments have been taken into account. From an ethical point of view, the competition between man and animal on feeding resources represents an increasingly important item. This is due both to the people’s awareness that natural resources are limited and to the increasing sensitivity for populations that are directly or indirectly suffering for these resources bad management. The considered breeding systems differed in terms of environment, breeds and feeding resources. The variation of peculiar qualitative milk parameters (e.g. fatty acids composition) showed to be strictly related to the animal feeding and to the environment. These parameters were then chosen to promote livestock management variations, particularly relevant to feeding systems. Recent researches on this subject put into evidence that some interesting nutraceutical properties of animal origin foods are strictly conditioned by animal feeding and may represent useful indicators of the possible sustainability of the productive system. In order to verify affinities between sustainability and the ethic in livestock production it is necessary to study qualitative characteristics of the final product according to the resources employed. Furthermore, it shall be considered that to orientate livestock systems in a more ethical way it is necessary to put into value the final food product by including in it the extra-productive functions (e.g. typical product peculiarities, traceability, healthiness, etc.).
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