A family farm: Context profile

This case study examines sustainable livestock management practices at Pompeu Pais Dias – Sociedade Agrícola Mendes Jorge in Portugal, focusing on reducing beef cattle stocking rates and integrating local tree genotypes to enhance Montado ecosystem resilience. It evaluates financial, environmental, and social outcomes, including low initial and ongoing costs, mid-level reductions in fertilizer, pesticide, and feed use, and improvements in soil regeneration and nitrogen cycling. Benefits include high potential for animal welfare and workload reduction, though youth engagement remains limited. Environmental gains in biodiversity are minimal. Research supports forage hedgerows in alpine zones and use of legumes and perennial grasses in semi-arid regions. Funded by the European Union, with no endorsement of views expressed.