Water footprint of milk production systems in semi-arid plains of North Africa
| Autor: | Yerou Houari, Belguerbi Benamar, Homrani Abdelkader, Benabdeli Kheloufi |
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| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: | |
| Zdroj: | Biotechnology in Animal Husbandry, Vol 37, Iss 1, Pp 27-43 (2021) |
| Druh dokumentu: | article |
| ISSN: | 1450-9156 2217-7140 |
| DOI: | 10.2298/BAH2101027Y |
| Popis: | Water resources are becoming scarce and must be preserved. The significant use of water is linked to agriculture in general and to livestock in particular. Very little research in semi-arid regions has been devoted to assessing the contribution of ruminants to water scarcity. This contribution explores the relationships between dairy farming and the various water resources available in an ecosystem with climatic constraints. To meet future food demand while sustainably managing the available land and water resources, dairy farm systems in semi-arid regions must adapt in response to climate and socioeconomic change. In this study, we focus on the south Mediterranean region to analyze the key factors influencing water productivity in dairy farming, especially in context characterized by water scarcity. In order to characterize the relationship between dairy cattle breeding and water resources, a monitoring of 40 dairy cattle stables has been carried out in a semi-arid region. The technical and economic parameters of each farm were evaluated: the use of water according to their origins to the production of fodder by source, the contribution of virtual water off the farm, the total fodder biomass, feeding system practiced on the farms and the performances achieved. Analysis of the data indicates that productivity of fodder in dry matter differ between the two systems with values of the order of 12520 to 17188 kg/ha (p |
| Databáze: | Directory of Open Access Journals |
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