Scholarly record
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF STOCKING DENSITY ON LIVESTOCK FARMS IN LATVIA
Abstract
Nowadays, sound grazing management is an essential prerequisite for efficient use of agricultural land. As it facilitates the preservation of plant biodiversity, soil properties and natural habitats, grazing management contributes to sustainable agriculture through maintaining ecological sustainability and environmental quality. Grazing (stocking) density of livestock has a profound impact on soil health, including its overall biochemical and microbial properties. If its chosen level is higher than the -carrying capacity-, this overgrazing will negatively influence the long-term sustainability of local ecosystems such as meadows and grasslands. This study aims to carry out a comparative analysis of the trends in stocking density practices adopted by livestock farms of various economic sizes and specialization in Latvia since its accession to the EU in 2004.Our calculations are based on statistical data obtained from SUDAT - a national system of data collection in Latvia that forms an integral part of the Farm Sustainability Data Network (FSDN) previously known as Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN). In our analysis, stocking density is used as an environmental indicator of sustainable agriculture and biodiversity preservation. By examining the dominant trends, this study attempts to report on a wide range of approaches to running livestock farms in Latvia where conventional farming coexists with environmentally friendly practices of agricultural production.
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