Summary
This paper presents a novel, information-driven approach to assessing economic-environmental trade-offs in pasture-based ruminant systems, using data from the North Wyke Farm Platform in southwest United Kingdom. The research challenges the theoretical expectation of straightforward trade-offs between environmental and economic performance, instead identifying positive correlations between soil health metrics (particularly soil organic carbon), livestock productivity and reduced nutrient losses. The authors propose that integrated farm-scale trials with environmental instrumentation provide a scientifically robust framework for developing practical guidance to producers on sustainable management of soils, water, pasture and livestock.
UK applicability
The findings are directly applicable to United Kingdom pasture-based livestock production, as the research was conducted on a commercial farm platform in southwest England. The results suggest that UK farmers managing cattle and sheep systems can potentially achieve both economic and environmental benefits through soil health management, supporting the integration of profitability and sustainability objectives.
Key measures
Soil organic carbon stock, animal performance, nutrient losses to watercourses, botanical diversity, stocking density, economic profitability
Outcomes reported
The study assessed economic-environmental trade-offs in cattle and sheep production systems using high-resolution instrumental data. Key findings explored relationships between soil organic carbon, animal performance, nutrient losses, botanical diversity and stocking density.
Topic tags
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