Self-sufficiency for animal feed: a multi-level framework to promote agroecological farming systems

Faced to global change and negative externalities of agricultural systems, agroecology is a conceptual, methodological and operational framework using ecologic principles to redesign farming systems towards improved sustainability. Self-sufficiency of farming systems is a key principle of agroecology, and especially the self-sufficiency for animal feed in livestock systems. Although some farms combine livestock and crop production, the production of fodder and concentrates is usually insufficient to feed animals. Developing agroecological farming systems requires a better understanding of the stakes of feed self-sufficiency at different levels (farms, territory, supply chain). The purpose of this communication is to present a framework characterizing self-sufficiency for animal feed at farm level in order to discuss the issue of this self-sufficiency at different levels. The study was based on the analysis of data from 41 livestock farms in southern France. Farm data was collected for three types of livestock systems: dairy cattle, beef cattle and dairy sheep. First we developed indicators to calculate livestock farm self-sufficiency for animal feeding on a dry matter, energy and protein basis respectively. Three other indicators were calculated and provided information on livestock farm structures, intensification and performances (environmental, economic). Analysis of the results allowed distinguishing the different livestock systems according to their level of self-sufficiency. We showed relations between the different types of self-sufficiency and the farm performances: intensifying production and animal productivity increase energy and protein requirements for animals. Farmers need to supply animal feed with purchased concentrates, limiting the self-sufficiency at farm level. Results were aggregated at the regional level to assess the scope for self-sufficiency for animal feeding among farms. Secondly we interviewed different types of local actors involved in feed (farmers, agricultural network, and feed factories) to better understand the issues linked to feed self-sufficiency at farm and territory scales. We discussed constraints and levers which could be used to promote a located self-sufficiency for animal feeding.