In tropical parts of the world, livestock production plays a vital role in food security by supplementing and meeting the protein requirements of humans and other animals, cycling essential nutrients and providing substantial resources for food crop production.
Climate is changing rapidly and sometimes unpredictably, with uncertain impacts on ecosystems and the natural resources they contain. Livestock food supply chains are also known to be a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, especially when most appropriate management practices are ignored. Operations that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions include feed production, enteric fermentation, and improper management of organic waste from commercial-scale operations. Areas that require special attention to solve these problems include deforestation, pasture grazing systems, fertilization and eutrophication, carbon sequestration in biomass, soil health and conservation methods, feed production, livestock genetic potential, microbial management, manure and urine management, water and land management, access to information, training and education, and willingness to adapt and adopt new technologies to protect the environment using green supply chains and triple bottom line models.
The importance of sustainable and circular livestock production systems
Food production is the primary livelihood for one-third of the world’s population. About 60% of that statistic is related to livestock farming. Livestock farming provides us with calories and protein, as well as nutrients such as vitamin B12, iron, and calcium. Ruminants have the ability to consume low-quality feed and produce meat and milk, with the buffalo being a good example. In rural areas and developing countries, livestock nutrition is supplemented by the use of industrial by-products, food crop losses and waste, and fodder. Small livestock such as sheep, goats, turkeys, ducks, chickens, quail, and rabbits also provide a degree of gender equality and stability, and contribute to income generation for vulnerable groups such as women and disadvantaged youth.
How will climate change affect traditional livestock production?
Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, from prolonged rainfall causing floods to longer and more severe droughts damaging soils and feed. These changes affect the quality of life of livestock, farmers’ livelihoods and farm productivity, directly impacting food supply chains and the resilience of these systems. Reduced rainfall impedes the growth rate and nutritional status of ruminant feed and grains fed mainly monogastric livestock. In other cases, erosion and leaching of essential nutrients occurs, which also affects the availability of fertile agricultural land for food production. Climate change also contributes to increased incidence of pests and diseases, which can lead to the transmission of zoonotic diseases and many other public health problems.
Strategies to save livestock
Improving Lives
Genetic selection of species that can tolerate and perform well in dry and wet conditions is an important reproductive management strategy. To keep all livestock comfortable, happy and healthy and for optimal production, more suitable housing facilities that can adapt to hotter, wetter and more humid environmental conditions are needed. Feeding locally produced feed in a more balanced way is key to controlling the total production cost for farmers. Such a solution is to integrate hydroponic feed into the feeding system to obtain more nutritious feed sources that are rich in bioactive enzymes, vitamins and minerals, with high palatability and digestibility. Farming of protein-rich insects is also a more innovative way to supplement the nutritional needs of livestock and reduce operational costs. Resilient food supplies and strengthening value chains can only be achieved through transparent and accountable operations backed by Good Agricultural Practices, Good Manufacturing Practices and integrating them with HACCP and other global standards. Here is where locally produced food has a chance to reach global markets and secure its place on the agricultural trade map.
Riyad Mohammed (LLM, MBA, MSC, DIP) is an agricultural consultant.
