♻️ Integrated Farming Systems
Integration of livestock with crops and allied enterprises to improve income, recycling, and resilience.
This lesson covers core livestock production and management concepts for practical farm application and exam-oriented preparation.
Integrated Farming
CLASS 3: INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEMS- ROLE OF LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY, MANURE
MANAGEMENT METHODS, DUCK/FISH/RICE CULTURE.
Integrated Farming system
CLASS 6 Integrated farming system – (IFS)
Component of farming system research a change farming techniques for maximum
production – optimum utilisation of resources Defects of mixed farming is overcome – proper planning, monitoring and execution of work according to size of the farm, farm resources, Agro climatic etc.
Focused on a few selected, interdependent and interrelated systems Type of livestock species or poultry enterprises -selected
availability of feed, fodder, water resources of the farm. Quantity – Availability : No. of animals maintained
GOALS
Four goals
Maximizing of yield of all components- steady and stable income Rejuvenation of systems productivity-ecological equilibrium Control pest, weed and diseases by stable management. Reducing the use of chemicals and other harmful agro chemicals
Advantages
Productivity Profitability Potentiality and sustainability Balanced food Pollution free environment Recycling Adoption of new technology Solve energy crisis Employment generation Improves the standard and literacy
Different systems
Lowland farming system Irrigated upland farming system Upland farming system
Lowland farming system
Cropping + poultry + duck + pigeon + fishery + mushroom in all possible combinations Recycling reduces the cost of output one hectare 0.90 ha for crop + 0.10 for fish pond 1000 polyculture fingerlings 50 babcock layers or 100 pigeons feed requirement for 1000 fingerlings Pigeon open grazing ^ profitable
Other Combinations
Crop + piggery + fish+ mushroom crop + goat + fish Goat Unit 11.0 t more manure apart from feed requirement Employment for the farmers crop residue sand waste of horticulture for producing 5 kg of edible mushroom /day vermicomposting
Irrigated upland farming system
Crop + Dairy + Biogas + Spawn+ Mushroom Dairy of 3 milch animals Dung to generate 2m3 of biogas – sufficient for preparation gruel, lightning 2 lamps and
cooking of mushroom and spawn Sericulture – mulberry leaves after worm feed – and faecal matter of worms good biogas
input
Left out after reeling silk yarn - rich in protein – good feed supplement
OTHER INTEGRATION
Rabbit farming
One unit 10 females and one male - 200 kindling – weight around 1000 kgs meat coconut border planting on irrigation channels with 4 m interval – 50 trees – 5000 nuts
per annum Nutrient enriched by growing sun hemp Vermicompost from plant good organic source
Horticulture oriented
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Homestead Garden with vegetables, fruit trees – vermicompost to the land
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Honey bee hives – collect honey from the flowers
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Horticulture Waste to the animals (dairy)
Upland farming system
Conventional Rain fed Crops integrating farms and biomass build up Dry Land With Goat+ Fodder Crops + Perennial Grasses
20 ewes and one buck -365 days by short duration field crops ( Tellicherry ) - dual
purpose – economic traits – manure of 11.2 t of soil excellent source primary, secondary and micro nutrients absorb more moisture and release to the crop After 5 years perennial fodder trees bear the stock
Other Inputs
Buffalo – Good Quality Of Milk Fat with low quality fodder Drought Tolerant Fruit Crops like ber, amla, guava, pomegranate raised with legumes or
intercrops feed supplement to milch animals Farm pond 1/ 25 of the cultivated land – outlet point for the secure run off water dimension 40* 10*1.5m Silt settling unit – silt removed – organic nutrient to perennial fruit trees and stagnation of water more 31/2 to 4 months – tilopia a local fish reared in pond
Constraints
Heavy investment at initial stage
involvement of multi disciplinary activities like animal husbandry
Lack of marketing
Lack of knowledge of preparation of own feed
non availability of new variety
Specialized farm
Intensification of agricultural activity aimed at maximising the production/unit area
/unit time. Operational efficiency and speed of execution. Focused on a single system. Management skills If located close to town – Advantageous i. Reduce transport cost ii. Marketing easy since avenues more. Village : Cost of land cheap : investment on feed and fodder less.
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Mixed Farming : Along with crop Husbandry one or more component of livestock or poultry maintained. mixed farming is the economical rearing of different types of Livestock&Poultry in the farm along with
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(a) making use of farm Produce.
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b)Utilization of unconventional feed and fodder
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c)better utilization of farm by products
Summary Cheat Sheet
| Topic | Key Point |
|---|---|
| IFS meaning | Integrated Farming System combines crop, livestock, poultry, fishery, or allied enterprises in one planned farm unit |
| Main goal | Better use of farm resources with regular income and reduced risk |
| Core principle | Output or by-product of one enterprise becomes input for another |
| Major advantage | Recycling of nutrients, wastes, labour, water, and farm by-products |
| Mixed vs integrated | IFS is more scientifically planned than ordinary mixed farming |
| Lowland system | Often integrates paddy with fish, ducks, fodder, or livestock support activities |
| Upland system | Can combine crops with dairy, goats, sheep, poultry, or fodder blocks |
| Economic effect | Improves profitability and employment throughout the year |
| Environmental effect | Enhances soil fertility and reduces waste through recycling |
| Exam trap | Integration is not just “keeping many enterprises”; it requires functional linkage among them |
Lesson Doubts
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