Environment & Livestock

Climate-Smart livestock Production in India

April 7, 2023

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Climate-Smart livestock Production in India

The FAO has defined climate-smart agriculture is one that ‘sustainably increases productivity, enhances resilience (adaptation), reduces/removes greenhouse gases (mitigation) and enhances achievement of national food security and development goals’. What does this mean for livestock production? Let’s start with its importance in agriculture. It has been estimated by the FAO and others that the livestock sector: · Supports over 1 billion people · Accounts for 40% of global agricultural gross domestic product (GDP) · Provides over 33% of the world’s protein intake The sector has been growing rapidly: · Between 1960 and 2005, annual per capita consumption of meat in the developing world more than tripled; global meat production is expected to more than double between 1990 and 2050 (to 465 million tonnes) · Between 1960 and 2005, annual per capita consumption of milk in the developing world almost doubled; global milk production is predicted to grow by almost 80% (to 1043 million tonnes) The challenge The size and rapid growth of the sector means that livestock production requires significant resources: · It occupies 30% of the world’s land surface and 70% of all agricultural land (primarily in the cultivation of feed crops such as cereals and soybean used to feed cattle, particularly in the developed world) · It accounts for over 8% of global water use (mainly irrigation for feed crops) · Livestock feed accounts for over 35% of overall cereal use with cattle consuming over 1 billion tons of grain each year It is also contributes significantly to the emissions driving climate change. It has been estimated that livestock production contributes: · 14.5% of overall greenhouse emissions · Significant amounts of particular gases (5% of anthropogenic CO2 emissions; 44% of anthropogenic methane emissions; and 53% of anthropogenic nitrous oxide emissions) Sources of emissions include: · Direct sources such as enteric fermentation by ruminants (39% of emissions) and manure (26%) · Indirect sources such as the production, processing and transport of animal feed (which accounts for 45% of sector emissions). Wider environmental problems include the degradation of grazing land due to problems such as overgrazing (in the US over 50% of erosion has been related to livestock), as well as pollution from animal wastes, veterinary residues, and runoff from pesticides/fertilisers used to grow feed crops (in the US it has been estimated that 37% of pesticide and 50% antibiotic use is associated with livestock production). Climate change potentially affects quality and availability of fodder and feed and may accelerate degradation of grazing land (e.g. because of increased drought or flood risk) as well as the threat of disease (e.g. because of warmer temperatures). At particular risk are arid and semi-arid grazing systems in vulnerable regions such as sub-Sharan Africa.Livestock production system both contributes to and is affected by climate change. Human population is projected to reach from 7.2 billion to 9.7 billion in 2050 (UN, 2022). Global demand for foods of animal origin is expected to double during the first half of this century and it is apparent that the livestock sector will need to expand. Globally around 12% of the world’s population depends solely on livestock for their livelihood and the sector accounts 40% of global agricultural gross domestic product (GDP). The sector contributes significantly to the emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. Livestock contribute to climate change by emitting GHGs either directly (e.g. from enteric fermentation and manure management) or indirectly (e.g. from feed production activities), resulting into climate change. Therefore, climate mitigation policies involving livestock must be designed with extreme care.

Climate change is one of the most important global environmental challenges, due to its multidimensional effects and impact on humans, animals, plants and environment. Globally climate change is seen as a major threat to the survival of many species, peoples’ livelihoods, ecosystems and the sustainability of livestock production systems. Due to changing climate there is increased loss of livestock assets and several other indirect losses. Climate change is expected to cause droughts, heat waves, storms, desertification and increases in insect infestations. Long-term changes in climate will affect the future of all animals including those in oceans, on farms, in forests, in wilderness areas and in our homes. The changing pattern of climate can lead to spread of vector-borne diseases and macro-parasites, accompanied by the emergence and circulation of new diseases.

Climate change has a potential to imbalance the epidemiological triad and different diseases which are not present in an eco-system may become more prevalent. Increased temperature may cause thermal stress in animals, leading to reduced growth, sub optimal behaviors and reduced immune competence. Higher temperatures tend to reduce animal feed intake and lower feed conversion rates and extra investment cost to keep animal warm or cool during climatic extremes. Unusual climatic changes and variability such as rising temperature, irregular monsoon, precipitation and erratic rainfall patterns have led to loss of large number livestock species ultimately affecting the income and food security of marginalized people.

Climate change can be expected to have adverse impact on forage, feed crops, grazing system and emergence of unpalatable forage species causing scarcity of fodder and forage for livestock. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fifth Assessment Report states that an increase of 2 to 3 °C above pre-industrial levels may result in 20% to 30% of biodiversity loss of plants and animals. Temperatures exceeding evaporative critical temperature during lactation reduces feed intake and consequently, declines the milk production, decreases quality and composition of milk. Heat stress increases udder temperature and dairy cows become more prone to mastitis.

Climate Change!!! What’s the Solution >>>Climate-Smart Livestock<<<

The climate-smart livestock system is a comprehensive approach, “that works towards sustainable livestock production systems that fully support, climate change adaptation and mitigation activities, food security, sustainable incomes, animal welfare and reduce the environmental impact”.

Following are some of the climate-smart practices and technologies which are effective in reducing emissions from livestock and increasing resilience to climate change:

Improving productivity per animal/ group of animals will lead to both improved food security and reduced emissions in livestock production systems, which can be achieved by adapting animal husbandry practices such as selecting more productive breeds, herd management and adopting approaches to enhance animal health (e.g., improving feed ration balancing and digestibility to reduce methane emissions in ruminants).

Improving efficiency of natural resource use will lead to both improved food security and reduced carbon foot-print. The efficient use of natural resources like land, water, energy and other inputs will lead to reduced waste along the value chains and reduced emissions. Better land management to maintain or increase carbon stocks and improve feed production has several avenues, avoiding deforestation, practicing grazing management methods (e.g., changing grazing patterns, restoring grasslands, using integrated pasture cropping, using legumes in pastures), implementing silvo-pastoral systems, adoption of agro-forestry based interventions, as trees can sequester carbon in the soil, provide shade and improve animal nutrition. Use of low emission feed products like, insect-based products, like larvae of black soldier flies, etc, as a source of protein in animal feed rations has potential in minimizing environmental and carbon footprints. Use of feed additives like 3-nitrooxypropanol (3NOP), Australian red seaweed, etc., suppress methane production. Using natural ventilation instead of cooling systems with high energy consumption and efficient water harvesting strategies helps in sustainable livestock production.

Technical solutions to emissions include several diverse interventions such as rumen modification (use of vaccines against microorganisms that produce methane), by product utilization and sound manure management, adoption of renewable energy (Bio-digester and solar power-solar milk cooling, solar water drinker, etc) and the use of energy-efficient equipment and machinery, all such interventions minimizes the need for non-renewable energy sources along the livestock value chains.

Circular bio-economy-“waste to wealth management” strategies, minimizes the leaks of energy and materials from the system by re-circulating them in production. Green technology offers better use of manure and animal traction for increasing crop productivity, as well as the share of livestock by-products in livestock feed, nutrient recycling or in energy generation. Channelizing and converting the waste into bio-gas and bio-diesel productions, vermi-composting, biobriquettes, bio-plastics, bio-herbicides, bio-pesticides, bio-electricity and bio-hydrogen production, etc. Besides being eco-friendly, such technologies additionally provide employment opportunities, clean energy and number of very useful products with diverse applications.

Specific adaptation options, these include (livestock) insurance, early warning systems, disease surveillance and climate control in animal housing systems. There is a need for more investment in research to better understand the direct and indirect effects of climate change on animal production systems and to develop strategies for longer-term adaptation.No doubt livestock production for animal protein is a major contributor to GHG emissions and climate change. However, there are innovative and traditional solutions to easing the pressure on the environment from livestock sector, while increasing productivity and serving an ever-growing demand for animal-protein products. Adopting the right policies, such as penalizing carbon emissions and rewarding carbon sequestration, have the potential to reduce their net emissions by 89% according to recent studies. Scientific research can help the sector in the battle against climate change. There is an immediate need for “One Health Initiative” taking on-board all stake-holders viz., vets, medicos, agronomists, physicists, meteorologists, engineers, economists, etc, to work together using science-based information to ensure optimal use of natural resources, nutritional adequacy, improved human health and the environmental sustainability and this can potentially offer opportunities for development of effective and efficient climate change adaptation strategies.