Summary
This paper presents a novel approach to comprehensively assess economic-environmental trade-offs within pasture-based livestock systems using intensive on-farm instrumentation at the North Wyke Farm Platform in south-west United Kingdom. Analysis of primary farm-scale data suggests that soil health, ecological conditions, and livestock grazing interact systematically, with higher soil organic carbon stocks associated with improved animal performance and reduced nutrient losses, whilst higher stocking densities correlate with greater botanical diversity and elevated soil carbon. The authors argue that farm-scale trials combined with environmental monitoring provide a scientifically rigorous basis for developing sustainability guidance that simultaneously optimises economic and environmental outcomes.
UK applicability
The findings are directly applicable to UK pasture-based farming systems, as the research was conducted on a commercial UK farm and addresses the management of soils, water, pasture and livestock under British temperate conditions. The results challenge the traditional assumption of economic-environmental trade-offs and suggest that farmers can pursue profit and environmental stewardship simultaneously through informed soil and grazing management.
Key measures
Soil organic carbon (SOC) stock, animal performance metrics, nutrient losses into watercourses, stocking density, botanical diversity, economic profitability
Outcomes reported
The study assessed economic-environmental trade-offs in pasture-based cattle and sheep production systems using high-resolution data from an instrumented farm facility. It identified associations between soil organic carbon stock, animal performance, nutrient losses, stocking density, botanical diversity, and farm profitability.
Topic tags
Dig deeper with Pulse AI.
Pulse AI has read the whole catalogue. Ask about this record, its theme, or how the findings apply to UK farming and policy — every answer cites the underlying studies.