INTRODUCING TREES IN DAIRY AND POULTRY FARMS - Experiences dairy and poultry farmers' networks in The Netherlands

Summary

In the Netherlands networks of goat, cow and poultry farmers started to grow trees in their fields and outdoor runs. This was done for different reasons: animal welfare (shelter); production of fodder, biomass, litter or fruits; spread of minerals from manure; increase biodiversity; keep away certain wild animals that carry diseases. In this abstract we present the project activities and the first experiences from the farmers. The so-called ‘silvopastoral’ systems (= combination of trees and animals) are applied traditionally already long times in Africa and Mediterranean countries. Now we apply them in modern, relatively high input animal husbandry systems.