Corraling and Stalling

Environmental Issues Grouping livestock in closed spaces, corral, paddock, barn or stall during the night, in winter or in dry season allows the farmer to better control the areas grazed, utilization of the pastoral resources, and, consequently, to maintain the vegetation (rangelands or grasslands), the waterpoints and the surrounding area. This technique also helps in protecting livestock against predators. Faeces concentrated in small areas can be collected and used to fertilize soils or used as fuel. | Environmental Issues Objectives Techniques Costs Targeted Livestock System Impact Context of Application Monitoring: EIA, Indicators References

Objectives

- Improvement of performances and health of animals protecting them of harsh climatic conditions, of predators and thieves.
- Improvement of manure production and use.

Techniques

Choice of animals to be grouped in corral or stall - sometimes, all animals, often only small ruminants, or only the more productive or more fragile animals (e.g. females and young, males for reproduction, animals in feedlots, draught animals). Choice of habitat adapted to climatic conditions - simple area close to the camp, fenced corral, corral with windbreak, area covered with a roof, stall. Improvement of feeding carrying fodder or supplements. Health prevention techniques. Choice of techniques to collect manure reducing losses and pollution. Duration and frequency adapted to climate, type of animal, animal production and external conditions (cultural and social). |

Costs

- They include the cost of fittings (fences, buildings), the costs of work (to run and to tend herds, to feed and cure animals) and the costs of purchased feed.

Targeted Livestock System

Mainly the mixed systems. Also the grazing systems in specific situations, according to the forage availability in pastures and climatic conditions.

Grazing Systems

LGA | LGS1 | LGS2 | LGS3 | LGH1 | LGH2 | LGH3 | LGT1 | LGT2 | LGT3
Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y

Mixed System

MCG | MCR | MCC | MFF | MEF
Y | Y | Y | Y | Y

Industrial Systems

IFP | IPL | IPG | IRM | IDU | ISL | ITN | IMP
N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N

Impact

- Positive environmental impact

- Production of biologic fertilizer (manure).
- Improvement of soil fertility by manuring.
- Potentiual for produciton of biogas.

- Negative environmental impact

- Odour close to houses or camps due to animal concentration.
- Animal trampling and soil compaction.
- Pollution (water) caused by concentration of manure.
- Development of insect populations (e.g. flies, fleas, stomox).

- Impact on livestock productions

- Corraling and salling especially encourage the improvement of meat, milk and manure production and the working force of drought animals. This also allows the qualitative improvement of animal production.

Context of Application

Since Antiquity, stalling of drought animals is very common. This technique is a basic part of certain production systems, particularly in areas where the climate is very cold in winter. In warm countries, reduction of rangeland areas and increase of animal product demand (milk, meat, manure, work) have developed the stalling of livestock, mainly bovine and small ruminants.

- Favourable factors:

- Decrease of soil fertility.
- Increase of animal production demand from urban centers.
- Inadequacy of the transport means for people and goods.
- Insecurity linked to the cattle robbery.
- Insufficient productive rangelands, need to bring food to animals.
- Improvement of easiness for working.
- Reduction of labour needs.
- Improvement of animal health care.

- Unfavourable factors:

- Difficulty of supplying necessary inputs (e.g. feed, construction material).
- High cost of certain inputs.
- Labour competition.

Monitoring: EIA, Indicators

- Number of animals or herds concerned. Rate of animals concerned on the total number.
- Number of corrals or stalls among the livestock farms.
- Areas fertilized with manure.

References

Landais E., Lhoste P., Guerin H., 1991. Systèmes d’élevage et transferts de fertilité. In : Savanes d’Arique, terres fertiles ? Ed. Focal Coop, Ministère de la coopération et du développement, Paris France, pp. 219-270.

Powell, J.M., Fernadez-Rivera, S., Williams, T.O. and Renard, C. (eds). 1993. Livestock and Sustainable Nutrient cycling in Mixed Farming Systems of sub-Saharan Africa. Proceeding of an International Confernece, ILCA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 22-26 Novembre 1993.

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