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Sustainable Husbandry
Sustainable animal husbandry represents one of the strongest growth areas in agriculture today as consumer demand for organic meat, milk and eggs continues to increase. Having animals on the farm also fosters an integrated system in which nutrients are cycled through the animals and manures are returned to pastures and fields to maintain soil fertility. In this section of New Farm you’ll learn about intensive rotational grazing, humane handling guidelines, holistic range management, natural animal care, optimizing traditional breeds and what the federal Organic Rule says about raising animals.
- Organic standards must continue to focus farmer attention on wellness, prevention and stress-reduction, but organic farmers need to consider a definable but rare use of an antibiotic when it’s the humane thing to do.
- Resistance to NAIS as integrated mega-database continues as smaller farmers question its cost, benefits and risks compared to improving livestock health at the farm level.
- The European-style farming American settlers brought with them was a method from which the VanDerPols needed to depart. Instead, they are striking a critical balance between animal health, human health and environmental health.
- For heritage breeds—and the small farmers who cherish their genes—the resurgence in show hogs and premium pork demand comes not a decade too soon.
