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International audience; Crop-livestock integration is thought to increase system autonomy and resilience by transitioning system components into a circular economy. Like most agroecological practices, crop-livestock integration is considered time-and labor-intensive. We hypothesized that work characteristics (organization, duration, and arduousness) and subjective factors related to work with animals shaped the implementation of crop-livestock integration practices in mixed crop-livestock systems and vice versa. The Qualification and Evaluation of Work method (QuaeWork) was coupled with qualitative interviews. This framework was implemented on 14 farms selected from a typology of mixed crop-livestock systems in Guadeloupe (French West Indies), where the high cost of labor raises tension between work organization and agroecological practices. Three patterns of crop-livestock integration shaped work organization: family farms with strong crop-livestock integration (Pattern 1, 6 farms), farms with moderate crop-livestock integration (Pattern 2, 5 farms), and intensive productivity-oriented farms (Pattern 3, 3 farms). These patterns have different farm characteristics and work organizations. Pattern 2 spent more time using crop by-products as animal feed (on average 253 h/year) than Pattern 1 (on average 222 h/year), whereas Pattern 3 did not use crop-products to feed animals. Farms in Pattern 3 spent more time using crop excreta to fertilize crops (on average 29.8 h/year) than Pattern 2 (on average 19.6 h/year) and Pattern 1 (on average 13.4 h/year). In Patterns 1 and 2, the low availability of family labor, and lack of the presence of skilled employees, may hold back whole-farm crop-livestock integration development and increase in animal units, whereas, in Pattern 3, management of the nutritional value of crop by-products and the cost related to employing additional persons would do so. The subjective link to animals can be more relational (Pattern 1), practical (Pattern 2), or economic (Patterns 2 and 3) regarding farmers' objectives. Adapted mechanization, direct collection of feed and deposition of feces by animals, targeted supportive policies and market governance, and organizational innovation beyond the farm level are discussed as levers that can be operated depending on the pattern.

International audience

Extended abstract : Caribbean Science and Innovation Meeting 2019; International audience

Agroecology, see here as a set of practices, is a promising alternative to the new challenges facing agriculture. In this study an agroecological practices (PAE) indicator was constructed and a methoddeveloped to characterize farms based on their production factors and strategies, their performance and the implementation of PAE. This methodological framework was applied to 92 farms in Guadeloupe and123 farms in Martinique. In each of the 2 islands, 5 types of farms with different strategies towards agroecological practices were observed. It appears that 50% of the farms in the sample studied haveanimals. As a result, 48% of farms use crop by-products as animal feed and 46.5% fertilize their crops with manure. The rationale for crop livestock integration and the need for support and researches woulddepend on the type of farm.; L’agroécologie, vue ici comme un ensemble de pratiques, est une alternative prometteuse face aux nouveaux enjeux de l’agriculture. Dans cette étude un indicateur de pratiques agroéologiques (PAE) aété construit et une méthode a été élaborée afin de caractériser des exploitations à partir de leurs facteurs et de leurs stratégies de production, de leur performance et de la mise en place de PAE. Cecadre méthodologique a été appliqué à 92 exploitations de Guadeloupe et 123 de Martinique. Dans chacune des deux îles, 5 types d’exploitations ayant des stratégies différentes vis-à-vis des pratiquesagroécologiques ont été observées. Il apparait que 50% des exploitations de l’échantillon étudié ont des animaux. De ce fait, 48% des exploitations utilisent des co-produits des cultures comme aliments dubétail et 46,5% fertilisent leurs cultures avec du fumier. Les logiques d’intégration cultures élevage et les besoins en accompagnement et en recherches dépendent du type de ferme.

L’agroécologie propose un cadre théorique pertinent pour concevoir des systèmes agricoles à la fois productifs, autosuffisants, efficients et résilients. Dans ce travail, nous questionnons dans quelle mesure, les systèmes mixtes agriculture-élevage (SMAE) les plus intégrés sont-ils aussi plus performants. Par l’analyse comparative de dix-sept études de cas issues de trois territoires tropicaux contrastés (Guadeloupe, Amazonie brésilienne, Cuba), nous appliquons l’analyse de réseaux écologiques (cf. Ecological Network Analysis, ENA) pour en caractériser l’intégration agriculture-élevage (IAE) et en évaluer les performances agroécologiques à partir d’indicateurs comme l’efficience,la productivité, le recyclage des nutriments (azote), la dépendance et la résilience. Nos résultats, issus de la reconstitution du fonctionnement des exploitations sur une année donnée, montrent que les exploitations peu intégrées sont soit peu efficientes et peu résilientes, soit peu productives et fortement résilientes. En revanche, des exploitations fortement intégrées combinent un niveau élevé de productivité, d’efficience et un bon niveau de résilience.

National audience

International audience

The analysis and quantification of the performance of small family agriculture (SFA) is an issue with regard to the agroecological transition. This article uses a methodology combining surveys with SFA farmers in Guadeloupe, typology and assessment, at the farm level, of the benefits associated with the use of agroecological practices in terms of biomass production, supply of calories for the family, nitrogen efficiency, input saving, or production of added value. It shows that SFA in Guadeloupe is diverse and uses both agroecological practices and chemical inputs. According to the number of agroecological practices they use and to the orientation of the production, synergies were observed between domestic specific diversity, input saving, and caloric self-sufficiency of the family; trade-offs were observed between these indicators and gross value added. However, synergies are possible between the majority of the indicators when farmers use species with high economic value, which makes it possible to identify ways for agroecological transition.

International audience

National audience; To our knowledge, there are few references on the pig production integrated into a mixed farming- system. In which farmers try to minimize inputs (in particular on feed purchase d). Feeding is one of the most important elements of the production cost. It is even more the case in tropical small countries, where the cost of the raw material included also the cost of transports. Farmers in these countries are looking for alternative solutions to reduce or replace the utilization of industrial concentrates, by the use of local resources (e.g. roots and tubers, sugar cane, banana). The main objective of this study was to compare fattening pigs’systems (outdoor vs. indoor, local vs. industrial feedings, local vs. exotic breeds). We performed two trials on a total of 54 fattening pigs, reared either in outdoor in a sweet potatoes field (n=18) or indoor with diet based on sweet potatoes (n=18) or indoor with industrial concentrates (n= 18). Our results show that the growth is significantly affected by the production system. The outdoor animals have a growth rate of 240 g/d, against 360 and 580 g/d for the indoor pigs fed with local or industrial feed, respectively (P < 0.001). Our findings on the physiological responses (blood profiles) highlighted the best adaptation of the local breed (Creole pig) when they passed from indoor to outdoor system. Indeed, adaptive hematologic response is faster in Creole pigs than in the exotic breed (Large White pigs). Unlike Creole pigs, the arrival of exotic pigs in outdoor conditions caused firstly a weakening of the hematologic status suggesting that Large White pigs are stressed by the change. Regarding the interaction between digging activities of pigs with macrofauna, in our experimental conditions (gradual discovery of plots and grazing period of 28 days), it seems that the presence of pigs on the plots (manure) is beneficial to soil macrofauna and thus the quality of the land from the farmer for future planting.The alternative systems (outdoor and/or diet based on local resources), although less powerful in a zootechnical point of view, should suit to mixed farmers who are looking for an economic gain on animal production by using crop residues and minimizing human interventions. These studies are the beginning of trials that aimed at meeting mixed farmers requirements in terms of techno-economic references on outdoor pig systems and alternatives to preserve and develop a niche market for the local pig breed.

Compléter avec les actes Compléter affilitation Compléter avec les actes Compléter affilitationCompléter avec les actesCompléter affilitation; One the aims of the multidisciplinary research project Gaia-Trop on viability and adaptive management of small tropical islands agro-systems, was to devise a new model of farm system using tools of the mathematical viability theory. It has been constructed in close cooperation with French West Indies farmers to take into account their needs and expectations. The main emerging points focused on soil degradation, pest disease and climatic risks and economic constraints. A specific software is being developed for the viability calculus that will be made available for this community. We present first insights of this model and results obtained for only one parcel and without taking uncertainties at this stage. lt highlights that the objective of restoring the soil quality in the long term can be unstainable for farmers facing with financial constraints. The issue of sharing the costs of the agro-ecological transition must be asked.

International audience; This work aimed to investigate the effects of 2 levels of N (low or high) and 2 energy sources (starch or fiber) on N partitioning, N ruminal metabolism, and digestion in dairy cows. Four Holstein cows were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square design. The 4 cows (on average, 662 +/- 62 kg and at 71 +/- 10 d in milk at the beginning of the experiment) were fitted with rumen, proximal duodenum, and terminal ileum cannula. The cows received 4 diets having the same forage proportion on a DM basis. The high level of N supply met 110% of the protein requirements of cows with an adequate supply in rumen-degradable N. The low level covered 80% of these requirements with a shortage in rumen-degradable N. Energy sources differed by their nature (i.e., starch from barley, corn, and wheat or fiber from soybean hulls and dehydrated beet pulp). Duodenal digesta flow was determined using YbCl3 as a marker. Microbial duodenal N flow was determined using purine and pyrimidine bases as markers from liquid-associated bacteria and mixed bacteria samples. Microbial N flow and efficiency of microbial protein synthesis, calculated using mixed bacteria as a reference microbial sample, were not significantly modified by the N level (P = 0.19 and 0.29, respectively) and the energy source of the diet (P = 0.11 and 0.08, respectively). Total tract apparent digestibility of OM and total tact digestibility of NDF were lower at the low N level (P = 0.006 and 0.007, respectively). Total tract apparent digestibility of OM tended to be greater (P = 0.08) with high-starch diets than with high-fiber diets. Total tact digestibility of NDF was greater (P < 0.001) with high-fiber diets than with high-starch diets. Duodenal N flow was less (P = 0.001) at the low N level than high N level and tended to be greater (P = 0.06) with high-starch diets than with high-fiber diets. Daily output of N in urine was less (P < 0.001) at the low N level than at the high N level. Daily output of N in feces did not differ between low and high N levels (P = 0.24) and between high-starch and high-fiber diets (P = 0.17). Milk yield and protein yield were less (P = 0.002 and P = 0.013, respectively) at the low N level than at the high N level. Milk fat yield tended to be less (P = 0.09) at the low N level than at the high N level and with high-starch than with high-fiber diets (P = 0.06). In conclusion, a large reduction in dietary N led to reduced N excretion in urine and decreased milk production but did not affect N excretion in feces or microbial protein synthesis.

To our knowledge, there are few references on the pig production integrated into a mixed farming- system. In which farmers try to minimize inputs (in particular on feed purchase d). Feeding is one of the most important elements of the production cost. It is even more the case in tropical small countries, where the cost of the raw material included also the cost of transports. Farmers in these countries are looking for alternative solutions to reduce or replace the utilization of industrial concentrates, by the use of local resources (e.g. roots and tubers, sugar cane, banana). The main objective of this study was to compare fattening pigs’systems (outdoor vs. indoor, local vs. industrial feedings, local vs. exotic breeds). We performed two trials on a total of 54 fattening pigs, reared either in outdoor in a sweet potatoes field (n=18) or indoor with diet based on sweet potatoes (n=18) or indoor with industrial concentrates (n= 18). Our results show that the growth is significantly affected by the production system. The outdoor animals have a growth rate of 240 g/d, against 360 and 580 g/d for the indoor pigs fed with local or industrial feed, respectively (P < 0.001). Our findings on the physiological responses (blood profiles) highlighted the best adaptation of the local breed (Creole pig) when they passed from indoor to outdoor system. Indeed, adaptive hematologic response is faster in Creole pigs than in the exotic breed (Large White pigs). Unlike Creole pigs, the arrival of exotic pigs in outdoor conditions caused firstly a weakening of the hematologic status suggesting that Large White pigs are stressed by the change. Regarding the interaction between digging activities of pigs with macrofauna, in our experimental conditions (gradual discovery of plots and grazing period of 28 days), it seems that the presence of pigs on the plots (manure) is beneficial to soil macrofauna and thus the quality of the land from the farmer for future planting.The alternative systems (outdoor and/or diet based on local resources), although less powerful in a zootechnical point of view, should suit to mixed farmers who are looking for an economic gain on animal production by using crop residues and minimizing human interventions. These studies are the beginning of trials that aimed at meeting mixed farmers requirements in terms of techno-economic references on outdoor pig systems and alternatives to preserve and develop a niche market for the local pig breed.

Evaluation des performances environnementales de systèmes d’élevage de ruminants en milieu tropical selon l’espèce animale et les pratiques. Journées d’Animation des Crédits Incitatifs du Département de Physiologie Animale et Systèmes d’Elevage (JACI Phase 2016)

International audience

Dans cet article, les auteurs exposent la démarche suivie pour concevoir un pilote en polyculture élevage adapté aux besoins des exploitations agricoles de Guadeloupe et au contexte particulier du lycée agricole de Guadeloupe où il a été mis en place. Ils rappellent le contexte de partenariat RFD dans lequel il s’insère. Ils exposent les déterminants et les différentes étapes ayant permis, à partir d’une analyse diagnostic de la réalité des exploitations de Guadeloupe, de dimensionner le système, de générer l’assolement, et d’estimer les flux de matière. Ils soulignent l’intérêt des études sur l’intégration des ateliers cultures et élevage. En parallèle, ils présentent comment ce système peut servir de support pour le test à l’échelle de l’exploitation d’innovations développées en station expérimentale., The paper describes the process used to design a pilot in mixed crop livestock system adapted to the needs of farms in Guadeloupe and to the particular context of the agricultural college of Guadeloupe where it was set up. It presents the context of RFD partnership in which it is inserted. It exposes the determinants and stages which allowed, from a diagnosis of the reality of operations Guadeloupe analysis, to size the system, to generate the rotation, and to estimate the material flows. It underlines the importance of studies on the integration of crops and livestock workshops. In addition, it shows how this system can be used to support the test of innovations developed in the experimental station at farm scale.

Faces aux nouveaux enjeux du développement durable, l’intensification raisonnée dessystèmes d’élevages est une voie allant vers l’augmentation de la production tout en minimisant leseffets négatifs sur l’environnement. Au pâturage, cette intensification prend la forme d’unaccroissement de la charge animale par hectare, ce qui n’est pas sans conséquences. En bovinsallaitants, la contrainte porte principalement sur l’augmentation du rendement des prairies. Lessolutions préconisées étaient l’augmentation de l’apport d’intrants (fertilisation, irrigation), et l’utilisationde fourrages à fort potentiel. Chez les petits ruminants, la principale contrainte est le parasitismegastro-intestinal. Une des solutions est l’association avec des bovins. Des systèmes contrastés visantà évaluer les performances de production de ces systèmes ont été mis en place en unitéexpérimentale. Pour les systèmes bovins allaitants, une base de données (BDD) a été construite àpartir du suivi d’un essaie conduit de 1999 à 2010 (Fanchone et al, 2012). Pour les systèmes mixtesbovins caprins, une autre BDD a été construite à partir d’un essaie conduit de 2007 à 2010 (Mahieu,2013). La promotion de tels systèmes auprès des éleveurs nécessite l’évaluation conjointe de leursperformances de production et de leurs performances environnementales. L’analyse de cycle de vie(ACV) a déjà été utilisée pour effectuer l’évaluation environnementale de tels systèmes en milieutempéré (Nguyen et al, 2012). Cependant, à notre connaissance, très peu de travaux sont disponiblesen milieu tropical. Par ailleurs, les données IPCC en milieu tropical proviennent pour la plupartd’adaptation de données mesurées en milieu tempérés. L’ACV a été appliqué à ces deux systèmes.Les analyses se sont limitées aux portes des systèmes, l’unité fonctionnelle était le kilogramme depoids vif. L’inventaire s’est basé sur les BDD ainsi que les nombreux travaux analytiques menéslocalement sur ces systèmes. Les équations locales ont été privilégiées relativement à celles issues dela bibliographie tropicale. Les données de l’IPCC ont été utilisées en dernier recours.

National audience

National audience

National audience

International audience

National audience

Session : Concilier environnement et production; International audience

National audience; The whole sugar cane plant and its byproducts (leaves, cane juice, molasses and bagasse) can be valorized by livestock. Ruminants can use all products of sugar cane while monogastrics use efficiently the fractions with lower fiber content (cane juice, molasses). Whatever the animal species and products, a high nitrogen supplementation is necessary. Whole cane and its different fractions are deficient in protein. The valuation of the whole cane after fractionning (juice, leaves and bagasse) is optimal when ruminant and monogastric animals are present on a farm. Works are still needed to develop livestock production systems based on sugar cane.; La canne à sucre plante entière et ses coproduits (amarres, jus de canne, mélasse, bagasse) peuvent être valorisés par les animaux d’élevage. Les ruminants peuvent utiliser tous les produits de la canne à sucre alors que les monogastriques n’utilisent efficacement que les fractions les moins riches en fibres(jus de canne, mélasse). Quels que soient l’espèce animale et les produits, une forte complémentation azotée s’impose. La canne entière et ses différentes fractions sont carencées en protéines. La valorisation de la canne entière, après son fractionnement (jus, amarres et bagasse) est optimale quand des ruminants et des monogastriques sont présents sur une l’exploitation agricole. Des travaux sont encore nécessaires pour développer des productions animales dans des systèmes de production à base de canne à sucre.

National audience; The leaves, pseudostems of banana and non-marketed fruits can be valued by the livestock. Ruminants can use all the products of banana plant while monogastrics use efficiently only the fruits. Whatever the animal species, the fruits have an energy value similar to cereals. The fruits and the speudostems are deficient in protein. Leaves eaten by ruminants have the same nutritional value as a medium-quality grass. Optimizing value of banana products needs a change in banana plantations, from a monoculture to mixed farming systems. Work is still needed to develop these new production systems.; Les feuilles et faux tronc (stipe) du bananier, les fruits non commercialisés (écarts de triage) peuvent être valorisés par les animaux d’élevage. Les ruminants peuvent utiliser tous les produits du bananier alors que les monogastriques n’utilisent efficacement que les écarts de triage. Quelque soit l’espèce animale, les fruits ont une valeur énergétique proche de celle des céréales. Les écarts de triage, ainsi que les stipes, sont par contre carencés en protéines. Les feuilles consommées par les ruminants ont la même valeur alimentaire d’une herbe de qualité moyenne. L’optimisation de la valorisation des produits du bananier passe par l’évolution des bananeraies, aujourd’hui en monoculture, en unités de production de type polyculture élevage. Des travaux sont encore nécessaires pour développer ces nouveaux systèmes de production.

National audience; The whole sugar cane plant and its byproducts (leaves, cane juice, molasses and bagasse) can be valorized by livestock. Ruminants can use all products of sugar cane while monogastrics use efficiently the fractions with lower fiber content (cane juice, molasses). Whatever the animal species and products, a high nitrogen supplementation is necessary. Whole cane and its different fractions are deficient in protein. The valuation of the whole cane after fractionning (juice, leaves and bagasse) is optimal when ruminant and monogastric animals are present on a farm. Works are still needed to develop livestock production systems based on sugar cane.; La canne à sucre plante entière et ses coproduits (amarres, jus de canne, mélasse, bagasse) peuvent être valorisés par les animaux d’élevage. Les ruminants peuvent utiliser tous les produits de la canne à sucre alors que les monogastriques n’utilisent efficacement que les fractions les moins riches en fibres(jus de canne, mélasse). Quels que soient l’espèce animale et les produits, une forte complémentation azotée s’impose. La canne entière et ses différentes fractions sont carencées en protéines. La valorisation de la canne entière, après son fractionnement (jus, amarres et bagasse) est optimale quand des ruminants et des monogastriques sont présents sur une l’exploitation agricole. Des travaux sont encore nécessaires pour développer des productions animales dans des systèmes de production à base de canne à sucre.

National audience; The research works conducted since the middle of last century in animal production science make it possible to offer a technical approach to ruminant farming systems, which provides elements to achieve the best balance between production objectives, climate and health constraints, and plant and animal resources brought into play in the Antillo-Guyanese context. Although several options are possible depending on the type of production and the farm size, rearing system design must take into account all aspects related to feeding, health, reproduction, or breed choice; Les résultats des recherches menées depuis le milieu du siècle dernier en zootechnie permettent de proposer une approche bio-technique des systèmes d'élevage de ruminants qui fournit des éléments pour réaliser la meilleure adéquation entre les objectifs de production, les contraintes climatiques et sanitaires, les ressources végétales et animales mises en jeu dans le contexte Antillo-Guyanais. Bien que plusieurs options soient possibles en fonction du type de production et de la taille de l'élevage, la conception du système d'élevage doit en prendre en compte toutes les dimensions, qu'elles se rapportent à l'alimentation, à la santé, à la reproduction, ou aux choix génétiques.

National audience; The research works conducted since the middle of last century in animal production science make it possible to offer a technical approach to ruminant farming systems, which provides elements to achieve the best balance between production objectives, climate and health constraints, and plant and animal resources brought into play in the Antillo-Guyanese context. Although several options are possible depending on the type of production and the farm size, rearing system design must take into account all aspects related to feeding, health, reproduction, or breed choice; Les résultats des recherches menées depuis le milieu du siècle dernier en zootechnie permettent de proposer une approche bio-technique des systèmes d'élevage de ruminants qui fournit des éléments pour réaliser la meilleure adéquation entre les objectifs de production, les contraintes climatiques et sanitaires, les ressources végétales et animales mises en jeu dans le contexte Antillo-Guyanais. Bien que plusieurs options soient possibles en fonction du type de production et de la taille de l'élevage, la conception du système d'élevage doit en prendre en compte toutes les dimensions, qu'elles se rapportent à l'alimentation, à la santé, à la reproduction, ou aux choix génétiques.

International audience

International audience

National audience

International audience