Sustainable Agriculture >> Sustainable Food Animal Production

Sustainable food animal production includes rotational pasture feeding, integration of crop and animal production, use of organic feed crops, responsible use of antibiotics and abstention from hormone use. This system of production helps to conserve natural resources and promote animal and plant biodiversity, while offering meat and dairy products of superior quality and nutritional value.

Recommended resources on this topic:

Reports & Other Documents

People and Animals: traditional livestock keepers. Guardians of domestic animal diversity

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2007.

Greener Eggs and Ham: The Benefits of Pasture-Raised Swine, Poultry, and Egg Production

Union of Concerned Scientists, December 2006.

Greener Pastures: How grass-fed beef and milk contribute to healthy eating

Union of Concerned Scientists, March 2006.

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Peer-reviewed Journal Articles

Eco-efficient approaches to land management: a case for increased integration of crop and animal production systems

R.J. Wilkins. Phil Trans R Soc B, July 2007.

A study of the factors that influence consumer attitudes toward beef products using the conjoint market analysis tool

B.E. Mennecke et al. J Anim Sci, 2007.

Organic Dairy Production Systems in Pennsylvania: A Case Study Evaluation

C.A. Rotz et al. J Dairy Sci, 2007.

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Inverse association of farm milk consumption with asthma and allergy in rural and suburban populations across Europe

M. Waser et al. Clin Exp Allergy, December 2006.

Modifying milk composition through forage

A. Elgersma et al. Animal Feed Science and Technology, December 2006.

On-farm quantification of sustainability indicators: an application to egg production systems

H. Mollenhorst et al. Br Poultry Sci, August 2006.

Drought and grazing patch dynamics under different grazing management

W.R. Teague et al. J Arid Environ, July 2004.

Lipid and protein oxidation in vitro, and antioxidant potential in meat from Charolais cows finished on pasture or mixed diet

Y. Mercier et al. Meat Science, February 2004.

Methane Emissions of Beef Cattle on Forages: Efficiency of Grazing Management Systems

H.A. DeRamus et al. J Environ Qual, 2003.

Alpha-tocopherol concentrations and case life of lamb muscle as influenced by concentrate or pasture finishing

K.E. Turner et al. J Anim Sci, 2002.

Fatty acid analysis of wild ruminant tissues: evolutionary implications for reducing diet-related chronic disease

L. Cordain et al. Eur J Clin Nutr, 2002.

Producing tender and flavoursome beef with enhanced nutritional characteristics

A.P. Moloney et al. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 2001.

Spatial and Time Distribution of Dairy Cattle Excreta in an Intensive Pasture System

S.L. White et al. J Environ Qual, 2001.

Sustainable livestock production: methodological and ethical challenges

P.B. Thompson and A. Nardone. Livest Prod Sci, October 1999.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid Content of Milk from Cows Fed Different Diets

T.R. Dhiman et al. J Dairy Sci, 1999.

Effect of free-range feeding on n?3 fatty acid and ?-tocopherol content and oxidative stability of eggs

C.J. Lopez-Bote et al. Animal Feed Science and Technology, May 1998.

Modulation of Diversity by Grazing and Mowing in Native Tallgrass Prairie

S.L. Collins et al. Science, May 1998.

Relevant Organizations

American Grassfed Association

American Livestock Breeds Conservancy

The American Pastured Poultry Producers Association (APPPA)

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Additional Tools & Resources

National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service

Resources related to sustainable agriculture

A Campaign for Real Milk

Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems: Publications: Livestock/Pasture

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