Intensive or Extensive Livestock: what are the advantages and disadvantages?

Livestock represents a large share of the Brazilian Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a market that is only growing. But to be part of that success, we need to understand some basic concepts.

Among the practices, you need to know to better understand the sector are Intensive and Extensive Livestock.

Understand the concepts of Intensive Livestock and Extensive Livestock

Intensive livestock is based on livestock farming in small areas. For this, more advanced technologies and techniques are used, as well as genetic manipulation and artificial insemination.

Extensive livestock farming is about raising animals in larger areas and grazing. The purposes are usually for marketing. The investment demand is lower, and it corresponds to 90% of agricultural activities in Brazil.

Here, it can be noted that the area and the applied technologies make up the main differences. Now regarding advantages and disadvantages, what are the main factors?

Know its main advantages and disadvantages

Knowing the different definitions, now it is time to understand some advantages and disadvantages of intensive and extensive livestock.

Disadvantages of Intensive Livestock

Although the area is restricted, the investment is greater, as it involves the use of new techniques and advanced technologies, not to mention specialized labor. This may also reflect the generation of fewer jobs.

Disadvantages of Extensive Livestock

Livestock management requires more work, and profitability also raises an issue. Because of the larger area, we are not maximizing results here.

We add to this the possibility of environmental degradation. Finally, there is also the question of mineral supplementation. The freedom and extension of the area can pose challenges to control animal nutrition.

Advantages of Intensive Livestock

The use of advanced techniques and technologies is an advantage since, through them, the rancher manages to obtain the best possible genetics.

Control is another important point. Intensive livestock works with a smaller area, allowing daily and approximate monitoring. Thus, the nutritional and medicinal needs of livestock are more easily met.

This also makes it easier to control livestock supplementation, choosing the ideal nutrients for the result you are looking for.

Advantages of Extensive Livestock

The large area for grazing acts as an advantage for extensive livestock. It becomes cheaper, as animals remove inputs from the land itself.

The freedom and space that the beef herd needs are found here. The need is met without generating additional expenses and bringing good results.

Learn even more about this and other subjects!

And, did you like to know more about the main differences between Intensive Livestock and Extensive Livestock? Want to know even more about these and other issues relevant to your production?

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