Mixed Farming

Defination
• growing crops and feed and livestock all
on the same farm
• Livestock used to be grazed on fallow land
or modern farms produce some, or all, of
their fodder crops
Example: Wheat-sheep farming
in Australia
 Wheat-sheep farming
• Extensive farming – average farm area:
>100 hectare
• Commercial farming – using of machines
& high technology, high capital input
• Low labour input, hire part-time workers in
busy period
 Production processes
Inputs:
Physical
1. Climate – summer temp.15-30℃,winter temp. >0
℃, annual rainfall 350-750mm
→favour for growth of wheat
2. Soil – well drainage
→avoid livestock getting foot-and-mouth disease
3. Relief – hillside & gentle slope area
→rearing in hillside & growing wheat in flat land
4. River – Murray river basin
→water for irrigation and provide fertile soil
Inputs(continue):
Human
1. Capital, well-developed transport
network, high technology, etc.
2. Oversea market, e.g. China, Japan
3. Skilled farmers / workers
(high education level)
Processes:
1. Planting – Wheat & sheep provide
manure for the wheat fields
2. Feeding – sheep feeds on the stalks of
wheat
→1&2 get benefits from each other
3. Sheep shearing( 剪羊毛 )
Outputs:
1. sheep's wool, mutton, lamb, etc.
2. sheep manure
3. wheat stalks
 Impacts
1. Soil degradation

the nine ABARE (2000) surveyed

degradation forms (Australia)
2. Reduction of special animals, e.g.
kangaroo

3. Water pollution
→chemical fertilizers may alter the habitats of
rivers & lakes
4. Growing of wheat lead to loss of natural
vegetation
→loss of species & lacks diversity
5. Poisonous land / water
→improper use of pesticides
6. Desertification
→overgrazing, overplanting, drought
because of unreliable rainfall
 Other mixed farming examples
• South Africa : chickens-algae farming
• China : integration of fishpond production
with ducks, geese, chickens, sheep, cattle
or pigs
• Malaysia : cattle and goats under oil palm