Mixed farming

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Mixed farming

Mixed farming is when a farm grows crops and raises livestock at the same time. It combines crop farming with raising animals to meet many needs. This system is found in many places, including Asia (such as India, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Afghanistan) and other countries like South Africa, China, Central Europe, Nordic countries, Canada, and Russia. At first it mainly served local needs, but some countries now use it for commercial farming as well.

On a mixed farm, farmers might plant cereal crops like wheat or rye and also keep animals such as cattle, sheep, pigs, or poultry. The manure from the animals helps fertilize the crops, and some crops are grown to feed the livestock. In the past, young male cattle were sometimes kept as bullocks to haul carts and ploughs.