Dairy Farming in the Netherlands

Introduction Dairy farming an animal husbandry enterprise  to raise female cattle for long-term production of milk  being processed on-site  OR being transported to a dairy for processing and eventual retail sale

Map of the Netherlands

Introduction The Netherlands a small coastal area situated in the Northern Hemisphere stretches from51 o Nto 54 o N the coastline is about 1075km around 24%of the area is below the sea level

The Netherlands since the 13th century, the total increase of reclaimed land is 600,000 hectare. maritime climate with annual mean precipitation around 765mm the coastal area is 16 o C on average mild winter with average 3 o C the inland’s climate about 17 o C in summer and 2 o C in winter

The impact of ecological changes on dairy farming Over-grazing  lowers the infiltration capacity of soil and reduces the soil moisture.  soil erosion and pasture deterioration  strip-grazing

The impact of ecological changes on dairy farming Over-cultivation  contaminate the water and the fodder crops  exploit the soil nutrients  soil erosion and threaten the growth of cattle.  harvest the surplus grass.  graze beef cattle

The impact of ecological changes on dairy farming Cross breeding  scientific breeding  infection of diseases  simplification of species  upset the balance of ecosystem

The impact of economic consideration on dairy farming Export-oriented  mechanization is practiced for large surplus  few labor works, replaced by machine (capital-intensive) AIM: earn PROFITS!!!!!

The impact of economic consideration on dairy farming AIM: earn PROFITS!!!!! Refrigeration Highly accessible transportation  need not close to market

Advanced technology available  Injection of artificial hormone  artificial inseminate  injection of antibiotics Calves fed by cow’s blood Small cows’ stabling with thousands of hundreds of cows living in The impact of economic consideration on dairy farming AIM: earn PROFITS!!!!!

Discuss to what extent human modification is a mere short term gain for long term misery. Landscape and habitats  countryside being shaped for dairy farming  loss of large open space Biodiversity  replaced by the simpler patterns  dominance of competitive plants reduce species diversity.  loss of both complexity and stability

Discuss to what extent human modification is a mere short term gain for long term misery. Cow  mad-cow disease  malnutrition and disease Soil  reduced fertility  nutrient leakage  soil erosion  loss of soil structure  land becomes unproductive

Discuss to what extent human modification is a mere short term gain for long term misery. Water  leakage of chemicals  water pollution  reduction in the permeability of soil  eutrophication and algal blooms Air  de-nitrification, methane

Discuss to what extent human modification is a mere short term gain for long term misery. Greenhouse gases  burning of biomass for livestock production(CO 2 )  global warming Human  antibiotic residues are found in milk  cancer

Conclusion We human beings lack foresight and neglect lots of permanent problems caused in various aspects, environment in particular. We should not appropriate the resources from nature and inflict severe penalties on her by causing tremendous and irrecoverable harm to our nature. Since we live on the earth, we ought to shoulder the responsibilities to conserve it. Or else eventually we suffer the consequences of our own doing as the idiom goes," As one makes one's bed so one must lie on it.”