2012-02-10
Creative consultation meeting on tomorrow's sustainable beef production
Beef production is a fragmented production sector with big differences between producers. Photo: iStockphoto.com
We eat more and more beef in Sweden, while domestic production is declining. Today, imports account for 50 percent of consumption. This trend needs to turn, particularly in view of getting animals on the approximately 500 000 hectares of natural grassland that exists today and which is only a tenth of the natural grazing land that once existed in the country.
On February 8th Future Agriculture along with Tillväxt Nötkött arranged a "council" to identify key research and development efforts that may promote sustainable beef production in Sweden.
During the day, participants worked in groups focusing on different issues such as forage and pasture management, breeding, animal health, production systems and feeding, housing, business and political conditions. In the final joint session the groups ideas and suggestions were discussed. It is clear that it is a very fragmented branch of production, with many different production systems. There are a number of very small producers with only a few animals and with other objectives and opportunities than the largest. The problems also look different in different regions. Hence the need for comprehensive research and development that brings out many different solutions.
More than fifty farmers, advisors, researchers and others in the industry attended. The day has been documented and will be published. Keep a lookout here on the Future Agriculture homepage!