Sustainability analysis of dairy cattle farms and their susceptibility to climatic hazards in the semi-arid area of Setif (Algeria)

In this study, the method of farm sustainability indicators (IDEA) was used to assess the sustainability of dairy cattle farms and their susceptibility to climatic hazards in three agro-bioclimatic stages of the semi-arid region of Setif (Algeria). Overall, the results show a high level of agro-ecological sustainability (56.24 points out of 100), acceptable for economic sustainability (54.36 points out of 100) and average for socio-territorial sustainability (52.31 points out of 100). The best sustainability performances were recorded at the farms of the North agro-bioclimatic stage, with 60.42 points out of 100 for the agro-ecological scale, 54.60 points out of 100 for the socio-territorial scale, 60.31 points on 100 for the economic scale and 51.21 points on 100 for agricultural sustainability. However, Southern agro-bio-climatic farms recorded the lowest scores of 49.82, 48.38, 46.71 and 41.97 points out of 100 respectively for the agro-ecological scale, socio-territorial scale, economic scale and agricultural sustainability.