Livestock Farming and Agricultural Land Use Practices

Livestock Farming Systems

Livestock farming involves the rearing of animals. Livestock systems are the techniques used by farmers in raising livestock, which include:

Livestock Systems Types

• Nomadic Herding: Herders constantly move with their herds in search of pasture. This is typical of dry regions and specializes in camels, goats, and sheep.
• Transhumant Livestock: Shepherds move seasonally between winter pastures (plains and valleys) and summer pastures (in the mountains).
• Extensive Livestock: Cattle graze outdoors in fields, meadows, and pastures. This requires little investment in manpower and capital.
• Intensive Livestock: Animals are housed and fed entirely with feed. The yields are high.
• Mixed Livestock: Combines animal life with outdoor feeding in the barn.

Forest Uses and Silviculture

Forest exploitation is dedicated to logging. The species with the highest yields are found in lush tropical forests and temperate conifers in cold areas.

Forest Types

Forest types can be:

• Forested: Consisting of tall trees.
• Scrub: Composed of shorter trees and bushes.

Silviculture is the cultivation of forests or mountains in order to prevent the degradation of natural forests.

Rural Settlement and Habitat

Rural settlement refers to the distribution of the farming population.

Settlement Patterns

• Scattered: Houses and buildings are spread out and surrounded by farmland.

Agricultural Landscapes Elements

Plots

These are the most basic divisions of agrarian space. They can be of various types according to:

• Size: Large, medium, or small.
• Shape: Irregular or regular.
• Boundaries: Open, closed, or surrounded by trees, etc.

Agricultural Uses and Cropping Systems

Agriculture is the cultivation of vegetables. Cropping systems are the techniques used for agricultural products:

Crop Variety

• Monoculture: When parcels are dedicated to one type of crop.
• Intercrop: When several crops are grown together.

Water Receiving Methods

We differentiate between:

• Rainfed Crops: If they receive water only from rain.
• Irrigation: If the farmer provides extra water.

Mode of Land Use

This may consist of continuous cultivation of land without letting it rest, or involve the regular rotation or succession of crops in the plots.

Harnessing the Earth

Agriculture can be:

• Intensive: Where output is maximized.
• Extensive: Otherwise.

Intensive Agriculture Note

Intensive agriculture gets high returns but employs a large workforce and technological input.

Extensive Agriculture Note

Traditional extensive agriculture does not cultivate all the land, leaving some fallow.