Silvopastoral Systems as a Strategy for Diversification and Productivity Enhancement from Livestock in the Tropics

Silvopastoral systems present important opportunities for increasing food production from animals. This is justified by the widening gap between production and consumer requirements, and the inability of domestic supplies to meet the projected demand up to year 2020 for foods of animal origin. Increasing productivity from animals thus necessitates the development of all possible avenues of food production. In South East Asia alone, this concerns potential use for animal production of an estimated 210 million hectares of land under permanent tree crops and forests. The livestock-tree-soil interactions include animal draught power for land cultivation, effects of dung and urine on soil fertility and crop growth, conversion of crop residues and agro-industrial by-products to useful animal products, use of native vegetation and reduced cost of weed control, the beneficial effects of shade from trees on animal performance. Case studies are presented from Asia, Latin America and Africa which clearly demonstrate positive economic and ecological impacts. Areas for future research and development include characterization of livestockbased silvopastoral systems in target agro-ecological zones, compatibility and complementarity of different livestock – tree systems. Appropriate choice of livestock species, production systems and optimum age of trees for integration with livestock, effects of dung and urine on soil fertility and crop yields, efficient use of crop residues and agroindustrial by-products in situ and assessment of the nature, extent and implications of the interactions. Attention to these areas, together with increased resource use and institutional support, can lead to improved efficiency in the management of natural resources and increased productivity from the land.