Global Agricultural Market Structures and Livestock Systems

Global Agricultural Market Structures

The agriculture market is characterized by significant capital investment (mechanization, fertilizer use, etc.), the adoption of modern technology, and high productivity leading to output marketing. This market drives the development of strong transport infrastructure (roads, ports, etc.). It is practiced in developed and developing Europe, and parts of Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

Varieties of Agricultural Market Forms

• Modern Agriculture in Europe: Highlights flowers, horticultural products, and grains, notably in the Netherlands and Germany.
• Mediterranean Basin Agriculture: Features two main varieties:
  • Mediterranean rainfed agriculture: Primarily cultivates wheat, vines, and olive trees extensively.
  • Mediterranean irrigated agriculture: Includes extensive hortifruti-cultural crops.
• "New Country" Agriculture Planting.

Livestock Systems Based on Feeding

Livestock Not Stabled (Grazing)

Animals remain outdoors and feed on natural pastures. Grazing livestock is intended mainly for meat production. It takes place in sparsely populated areas and requires basic equipment: troughs, fences or barriers, and roads for the flocks. It is practiced in the western United States, northern Mexico, northeastern Brazil, La Pampa in Argentina, South Africa, East Africa, Australia, India, China, the Middle East, and Central Asia.

Stabled Livestock (Intensive Farming)

Cattle are concentrated in barns and farms and fed artificial feed. This is an intensive farming that uses advanced technology:

• Species selection.
• Preventive health practices.
• Reproduction controls, through artificial insemination, ensuring species improvement and high quality of products (milk, wool, meat, eggs, etc.) and higher productivity.

This type of farming is typical of developed countries in Europe and North America.

Maremma Livestock

This involves a mixed system of intensive mating. During the summer, cattle stay outdoors and feed on natural pastures, while in times of grass shortage, they are kept in stables and fed with feed. It is practiced in humid areas (the Atlantic coast of Europe and the United States, and New Zealand) and in high mountain regions (Swiss Alps).

Livestock Mobility Distinctions

Nomadic Livestock

This consists of the continuous mobility of herders and herds in search of native grasses. This livestock is mainly located in northern and sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East.

Transhumant Livestock

This is based on the seasonal movement of pastoralists with their herds from winter pasture to summer pasture and vice versa. It is common cattle property in the Mediterranean countries of Europe and North Africa.

Sedentary Livestock

This is where cattle do not move to get food, as the farmer provides natural forage or feed.