Farming systems in mountain regions of NE Portugal: conversion from conventiona...

• Author(s): Fernández-Núñez, E. ; Moreira, Nuno ; Cabanas, J.E. ; Pires, João ; Aguiar, Carlos ; Bernardo, Adelino ; Rodrigues, M.A. ; Pires, Jaime
• Date: 2013
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10198/10728
• Origin: Biblioteca Digital do IPB
• Subject(s): Agroecosystems; Sustainability; Beef cattle
• Document Type: Article
• Language: English

Description

The energy efficiency of a mountain mixed-farming system in NE Portugal was analysed for the period 2002-2003. The energy calculation included the energy of all inputs (fertilizers, fuels, concentrates for cattle) on farm production and the energy of outputs (bovine meat). The energy values were calculated by multiplying the quantities of inputs, indoor system production and outputs by their energy content. The efficiency of the farm (output/input) was 0.12. The results showed a low efficiency of the farm. However, these results were not due to the high inputs required by the farm (as in intensive systems) but it was due to the low use of available feed.