Animal farming and environmental interactions in the Mediterranean region (European Association for Animal Production Book 131)

Livestock production systems are the result of an interaction between domestic animals and the environment, modulated by man, that dates back to Neolithic times. As a consequence of this interaction among the wide diversity of animal resources, natural habitats and population needs, very different farming systems have developed across the Mediterranean Basin. Understanding the mechanisms and effects of these relationships is key to design the farming systems best adapted to each condition, guaranteeing an adequate balance between target animal production and environmental outcomes provided by these systems. This is indeed a multidimensional topic, influenced by animal genetics, feeding resources, flock management, and economic and social aspects inside and outside the household. Therefore, this book focuses on the basis of the animal-environment interactions and the impact of human activities on the type and magnitude of these interactions. In this context, the issue of sustainability of livestock production is evaluated considering economic, social and environmental aspects. This book contributes to upgrade the state of the art in Mediterranean conditions, providing indicators and procedures of application across a wide range of systems, and hence of interest for researchers, students and professionals concerned with livestock production and the environment. Content: Front Matter....Pages 1-11 Front Matter....Pages 13-13 New approaches to investigate the genetic basis of animal adaptation to different environments....Pages 15-22 Investigation into the presence of genotype by environment (G×E) interactions in Scottish Blackface lamb weaning traits....Pages 23-31 Do plant secondary compounds induce epigenetic changes that confer resistance or susceptibility to toxicosis in animals?....Pages 33-44 Importance of plants with medicinal properties in herbivore diets....Pages 45-56 Ammonia and methane emissions from a dairy farm in Segovia (Spain)....Pages 57-61 Effects of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare L.) on consumption of two Mediterranean Juniperus species by goats....Pages 63-66 Effect of climate change on seasonal performance of feed-lot beef cattle in the west mediterranean region of Turkey....Pages 67-69 Influence of temperature-humidity index (THI) on daily production of dairy cows in Mediterranean region in Croatia....Pages 71-78 Front Matter....Pages 79-79 Extensive livestock production systems and the environment....Pages 81-88 Goat farming and landscape management: from controlled research to controlled grazing....Pages 89-95 Sheep production and conservation of wild birds in birds special protection areas in North East of Spain....Pages 97-100 Temporal and spatial simulation of vegetation dynamics in a Mediterranean protected mountain area under different farming management scenarios....Pages 101-107 The possibility of utilisation of forest pastures for sustainable animal production purposes in the West Mediterranean region of Turkey....Pages 109-113 Effect of water deprivation during pregnancy and lactation of Barbarine ewes on mammary secretions and lamb’s growth....Pages 115-120 Current aspects and recommendations in health management of organic sheep and goat farming in karst areas of Croatia....Pages 121-125 Front Matter....Pages 127-127 Sustainable intensive farming systems....Pages 129-137 Geographic indication of animal products and farm animal biodiversity: case of twelve Northern and five Mediterranean Member States of the European Union....Pages 139-143 Alpine dairy farming in connection with the Slovenian autochthonous Cika cattle....Pages 145-155 Comparison of two rearing systems on productive performance and welfare parameters in Limousine cattle....Pages 157-160 Front Matter....Pages 161-167 Clinical, productive and welfare parameters in Zerasca sheep treated with homeopathy....Pages 127-127 Carcass and lamb meat quality from improved Jezersko-Solčava flocks in Slovenia....Pages 169-176 Control of mycotoxins in feeds by novel more environmental friendly strategies....Pages 177-186 Front Matter....Pages 187-198 Sex ratio of Phoxinellus pseudalepidotus Bogutskaya & Zupančić 2003 (Teleostei: Cyprinidae), from Mostarsko blato area....Pages 199-199 Occurrence and antimicrobial susceptibility of aeromonads from maricultured gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata)....Pages 201-204 Front Matter....Pages 205-209 The farm model production in Mediterranean Croatia....Pages 211-211 An example of reproduction management in organic sheep farming....Pages 213-221 Milk production of crossbred Istrian × East Friesian dairy ewes in Mediterranean region of Croatia....Pages 223-227 Reproductive response of Barbarine ewes to supplementation with alternative feed prior to and during mating under semi-arid extensive conditions....Pages 229-234 Socio-cultural factors determining roles and responsibilities in traditional cattle production systems within rural communities of Upper Egypt....Pages 235-239 Variation of somatic cell count (SCC) of dairy cattle in conditions of Mediterranean region in Croatia....Pages 241-247 Lactation characteristics of Littoral Dinaric donkeys in an extensive pasture system....Pages 249-254 Some factors affecting piglet survival....Pages 255-260 Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) as partial replacement of corn and soy in the laying hen diet....Pages 261-266 Back Matter....Pages 267-273 ....Pages 275-276 "Livestock production systems as we know them today are the result of an interaction between domestic animals and the environment, modulated by human activities, that date back to Neolithic times. As a consequence of this interaction among the wide diversity of animal resources, natural habitats, and more recently, population needs, very different farming systems have developed across the Mediterranean Basin. The consequences of these interactions are different in arid, irrigated or mountain areas, in hot or cold climatic conditions, under intensive or extensive farming practices, etc., and may influence different animal characteristics and originate a large range of landscapes as a result of this long-term co-evolution. Understanding the mechanisms and effects of these relationships is key to design the best adapted farming systems in each conditions, guaranteeing an adequate balance between target animal production and environmental outcomes provided by these systems. This was the topic of the XI International Mediterranean Symposium ‘Animal Farming and Environment Interactions in Mediterranean Region’, jointly organized by the University of Zadar and the EAAP Mediterranean Working Group, in collaboration with FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), CIHEAM (International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies) and INIA (Spanish National Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology). Contributions from different countries across the Mediterranean and beyond showed that it is a multidimensional topic, as it is influenced by animal genetics, feeding resources, flock management, and economic and social aspects inside and outside the household. Papers were organized in four sessions, in a pattern followed in the present book. First, the basis of the animal-environment interactions were analyzed in different ecosystems, and the need to deepen the knowledge of pasture ecology and animal genetics and physiology was highlighted. It was concluded that preserving animal and forage biodiversity in Mediterranean environments is crucial for ensuring future fitness in situations of uncertainty and unstability. The influence of human activities on the type and magnitude of these interactions was also discussed, focusing on the design of adequate technical management of farming systems to match animal requirements and natural resources and fulfill further societal demands, namely taking advantage of livestock potential for landscape management purposes and providing high quality products. In this context, the issue of sustainability of livestock production was evaluated considering economic, social and environmental aspects, concluding that it can be achieved in both intensive and extensive systems, although through the implementation of different options. Finally, and for the first time in these Mediterranean symposia, aquaculture was included, due to the increasing importance of fish farming in the Mediterranean area and its high dependence on water conditions and susceptibility to environmental changes, and the basis for integrated management protocols were described. The papers presented in the symposium and included in this book constitute a significant contribution to upgrading the state of the art in Mediterranean conditions, although indicators and procedures will certainly be of application across a wide range of systems."-- Taken from Foreword, page 11