Multi-criteria evaluation of resources for livestock farming systems under tropics
Résumé
Plant resources consumed as feed on farms have potentially multiple uses. However, the evaluation of
these resources is primarily based on their potential to allow nutrients to maximize animal production.
This mono-criteria evaluation is not satisfactory in the context of sustainable agriculture, animal welfare
and bioenergy issues. To take into account these last evolutions in agriculture, the concept of multi-criteria
evaluation of feed appeared. It is an ongoing concept which raises many questions: What should be the
level of approach: territory, farm, animal? For a given level approach, which criteria have be taken into
account? These criteria must be a minimum representative of different functions and/or services and easy
to evaluate. Some concepts should also evolve. For example, concerning the classical feeding approach
‘input/requirements’ which tends to maximize animal production under economic constraint, it should
move towards the concept of multiple responses. The choice of methods is also an open question. Among
them, Life Cycle Analysis approaches as well as modeling seem adequate tools. It remains that the use of a
standardized multi-criteria evaluation similar for all resources is questionable. Potential uses and functions
of resources such as grasses, legumes, fodder trees, cereals, tubers, and byproducts are very different.
The main objective of this paper is to realise a state of the art on these issues and identify opportunities to
highlight. This analyse will be illustrated with field practices.