Livestock Production and Forest Resources in Spain
Livestock Production in Spain
Livestock refers to the breeding of animals to produce meat, milk, leather, or to be used for labor.
Traditional vs. Modern Livestock Farming
Traditional livestock ranges from family livestock (small in numbers) to the large herds used for extensive grazing or transhumant farming (relocating herds from one location to another, searching for good pastures). Traditional livestock is not very productive but is often the only source of livelihood or food. Modern livestock is characterized by high production, selection of appropriate breeds, and industrial productive systems.
Livestock Production Trends in Spain (1970-1985)
Pork was Spain’s most important meat product, and the number of pigs grew from 7.6 million in 1970 to 11.4 million in 1985 (normally in the north). Poultry raising had also expanded rapidly. The number of chickens doubled between 1970 and 1985, reaching 54 million. Poultry, previously a minor item in the Spanish diet, had become much more popular.
Cattle and Dairy Farming
The principal cattle areas were in the north or Northwest. These regions provided the suitable pastures that were available only in areas with humid climates or with irrigated land. The dairy industry also grew rapidly. Milk production in the 1980s doubled the production level of the early 1960s. Most milk products came from Galicia, Asturias, and Cantabria. In 1982, the government launched a program designed to modernize milk production, to improve its quality, and to concentrate it in the northern provinces.
Sheep and Goat Rearing
Sheep rearing predominated in central Spain and the Ebro Basin. Goats were kept in much the same area, but they were more prevalent in the higher, less grassy elevations because they can survive on poorer pasture.
Iberian Ham Production
The Iberian pig has dark skin with a sparse coat, a pointed snout, and long, slender legs. The genetic trait of this breed is its ability to store fat in muscle tissue, the key to the unmistakable flavor and texture of Iberian hams.
The Dehesa Ecosystem
Grazing in the Dehesa: Here, pastures are in fact open woodlands of holm oaks and cork oaks. A traditional, well-balanced diet that is essential to the quality of its meat. The dehesa pastureland is one of the best-preserved ecosystems in Europe, where Iberian pigs breed side by side with wild species, such as rabbits, lizards, or imperial eagles. Iberian pigs consume a staple diet of acorns.
Forest Exploitation
Forest exploitation refers to the act of using forest resources to create goods for society.
Advantages of Forest Exploitation
- Production of wood (for housing construction).
- Production of paper (for writing).
- Production of furniture.
- Cork and Resin.
Disadvantages of Forest Exploitation
- Forests provide us with a huge amount of different medicinal materials (drugs to fight cancer).
- Forests absorb carbon dioxide, which prevents global warming.
- They regulate the water cycle by absorbing and redistributing rainwater quite equally to every species living within its range. If we destroy them, there can be floods.
- Forests produce oxygen, which helps us to breathe.
- They contribute to biodiversity (otherwise, many species would become extinct).
- Over 1.6 billion people depend on the forest sector.
- Destruction of forests would cause soil erosion.