This paper argues that a whole farm
perspective taking side-effects and on-farm interactions
into account is needed to determine the cost effectiveness
of mitigation strategies for livestock manure management. Agricultural land (mainly on arable farms)
also receives other types of organic waste, such as sewage
sludge or municipal composts, but they are not considered
here where the focus is on the internal flows of nutrients
on livestock farms as influenced by treatment strategies
and management. It was concluded that it is important to consider pollution control strategies
for a farm in the framework of local and regional
pollution control planning. Investments in environmental
technology should be made where the impact on air
and water quality is most required. Insofar as intensification
of livestock production increases pollution within
an area, the lower production costs may facilitate the
concomitant implementation of environmental technologies,
although Government intervention (e.g., subsidies
to encourage change or stricter regulations) may be
required.