Animal husbandry, the practice of breeding and raising livestock, is a vital component of global food systems and rural livelihoods. However, the relationship between animal husbandry and climate change is complex and bidirectional. On one hand, livestock production is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts that drive climate change. On the other hand, the changing climate poses a range of challenges and risks to animal health, productivity, and welfare. Understanding and managing the climate impact on animal husbandry is therefore critical for the sustainability and resilience of livestock systems in the face of global environmental change.
Livestock Contribution to Climate Change
Livestock production is a major source of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for an estimated 14.5% of global emissions.
Methane Emissions
Methane (CH4) is a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential 28 times higher than carbon dioxide over 100 years.
Enteric Fermentation
- Ruminant livestock, such as cattle, sheep, and goats, produce methane as a byproduct of their digestive process, known as enteric fermentation
- Enteric fermentation accounts for approximately 40% of total anthropogenic methane emissions, with cattle being the primary contributors
Manure Management
- Methane is also produced during the anaerobic decomposition of livestock manure, particularly when stored in lagoons or tanks
- Manure management accounts for approximately 10% of total anthropogenic methane emissions
Nitrous Oxide Emissions
Nitrous oxide (N2O) is another potent greenhouse gas, with a global warming potential 265 times higher than carbon dioxide over 100 years.
Manure and Urine Deposition
- Livestock manure and urine contain nitrogen, which can be converted to nitrous oxide through the processes of nitrification and denitrification
- The direct deposition of manure and urine on pastures and rangelands is a significant source of nitrous oxide emissions from livestock systems
Fertilizer Application
- The application of nitrogen fertilizers to croplands used for animal feed production also contributes to nitrous oxide emissions
- Approximately 40% of global nitrous oxide emissions from agriculture are associated with animal feed production
Carbon Dioxide Emissions
While carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from livestock production are relatively minor compared to methane and nitrous oxide, they still contribute to the overall climate impact of animal husbandry.
Fossil Fuel Use
- Livestock production systems rely on fossil fuels for various activities, such as farm machinery operation, feed production and transport, and animal housing ventilation and cooling
- The burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change
Land Use Change
- The expansion of pastures and croplands for livestock production is a driver of deforestation and other land use changes that release stored carbon into the atmosphere
- Deforestation for livestock production is particularly significant in tropical regions, such as the Amazon rainforest
Climate Change Impacts on Livestock
Climate change is expected to have a range of direct and indirect impacts on livestock production, affecting animal health, productivity, and welfare.
Heat Stress
Rising temperatures and more frequent heat waves associated with climate change can cause heat stress in livestock, particularly in high-producing animals such as dairy cows.
Physiological Impacts
- Heat stress can lead to a range of physiological responses in animals, such as increased respiration rate, reduced feed intake, and altered hormone levels
- These responses can negatively impact animal health, milk production, reproduction, and growth
Adaptive Responses
- Livestock can adapt to heat stress through behavioral changes, such as seeking shade or altering feeding patterns, and physiological acclimatization, such as increased sweating or panting
- However, these adaptive responses may not be sufficient to cope with the severity and duration of heat stress expected under future climate scenarios
Management Strategies
- Livestock producers can mitigate the impacts of heat stress through various management strategies, such as providing shade or cooling systems, adjusting feeding schedules, and breeding for heat tolerance
- However, these strategies may be costly or have limitations, particularly in extensive production systems or resource-poor settings
Water Availability and Quality
Climate change is expected to alter the availability and quality of water resources for livestock production, through changes in precipitation patterns, increased evaporation, and more frequent droughts.
Water Quantity
- Reduced precipitation and increased evaporation in some regions may lead to water scarcity and competition for water resources between livestock and other uses, such as crop irrigation or human consumption
- Drought conditions can also reduce the availability and quality of forage and feed resources, leading to reduced animal productivity and increased feed costs
Water Quality
- Rising temperatures and changes in precipitation can also affect the quality of water resources for livestock, through increased algal blooms, salinity, or contamination with pathogens or pollutants
- Poor water quality can have negative impacts on animal health, productivity, and welfare, as well as pose risks to food safety and human health
Management Strategies
- Livestock producers can adapt to water challenges through various management strategies, such as improving water use efficiency, implementing water conservation practices, or developing alternative water sources
- However, these strategies may require significant investments in infrastructure, technology, or capacity building, and may not be feasible in all production contexts
Feed Availability and Quality
Climate change can affect the availability and quality of feed resources for livestock, through changes in crop yields, forage quality, and pasture composition.
Crop Yields
- Changes in temperature, precipitation, and atmospheric CO2 concentrations can affect the growth and yield of crops used for animal feed, such as corn, soybeans, or wheat
- Reduced crop yields or increased variability in yields can lead to higher feed costs and reduced profitability for livestock producers
Forage Quality
- Rising temperatures and changes in precipitation can also affect the nutritional quality of forages, such as grasses and legumes, which are a key component of ruminant diets
- Reduced forage quality, such as lower protein content or digestibility, can negatively impact animal performance and increase the need for supplemental feeding
Pasture Composition
- Climate change can also alter the species composition and biodiversity of pastures and rangelands, through shifts in plant phenology, species distributions, or invasive species
- Changes in pasture composition can affect the nutritional value and palatability of forages for livestock, as well as the resilience and stability of grazing systems
Management Strategies
- Livestock producers can adapt to feed challenges through various management strategies, such as diversifying feed sources, improving feed efficiency, or adopting precision feeding technologies
- Other strategies may include breeding crops and forages for climate resilience, implementing sustainable land management practices, or developing novel feed ingredients
Disease and Pest Pressures
Climate change can influence the distribution, abundance, and severity of animal diseases and pests, through changes in temperature, humidity, and other environmental factors.
Vector-Borne Diseases
- Many livestock diseases, such as bluetongue, Rift Valley fever, or African swine fever, are transmitted by insect vectors, such as mosquitoes, ticks, or flies
- Changes in temperature and precipitation can affect the geographic range, population dynamics, and vectorial capacity of these insect vectors, leading to changes in disease transmission patterns
Parasitic Infections
- Climate change can also affect the prevalence and intensity of parasitic infections in livestock, such as gastrointestinal nematodes or liver flukes
- Warmer and wetter conditions can favor the development and survival of parasite eggs and larvae, while changes in host immunity or grazing behavior can affect exposure and susceptibility to infection
Emerging Diseases
- Climate change may also facilitate the emergence or re-emergence of new livestock diseases, through changes in pathogen evolution, host-pathogen interactions, or contact between domestic and wild animal populations
- Emerging diseases can pose significant threats to animal health, trade, and food security, and may require rapid detection and response capabilities
Management Strategies
- Livestock producers can adapt to disease and pest challenges through various management strategies, such as implementing biosecurity measures, vaccination programs, or integrated pest management approaches
- Other strategies may include breeding animals for disease resistance, improving disease surveillance and early warning systems, or developing new diagnostic tools and treatments
Extreme Weather Events
Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as droughts, floods, hurricanes, or wildfires, which can have devastating impacts on livestock production.
Direct Impacts
- Extreme weather events can cause direct mortality or injury to livestock, through heat stress, drowning, or physical trauma
- These events can also damage or destroy animal housing, fencing, or other infrastructure, leading to animal escapes or disruptions in production
Indirect Impacts
- Extreme weather events can also have indirect impacts on livestock production, through effects on feed and water availability, disease risks, or market disruptions
- For example, droughts can reduce forage and crop yields, while floods can contaminate water sources or spread pathogens, and market shocks can affect input costs or output prices
Management Strategies
- Livestock producers can build resilience to extreme weather events through various management strategies, such as improving animal housing and infrastructure, diversifying production systems, or developing emergency response plans
- Other strategies may include adopting climate-smart agriculture practices, such as agroforestry or conservation agriculture, or participating in risk transfer mechanisms, such as insurance or social protection programs
Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies
Addressing the climate impact on animal husbandry requires a combination of mitigation strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation strategies to build resilience to climate change impacts.
Mitigation Strategies
Mitigation strategies aim to reduce the contribution of livestock production to climate change, through various technological, management, and policy interventions.
Feed and Nutrition
- Improving feed efficiency and reducing enteric methane emissions through precision feeding, feed additives, or alternative feed ingredients
- Developing low-emission feed formulations or feeding strategies, such as increasing the use of forage or byproduct feeds
Manure Management
- Implementing manure management practices that reduce methane and nitrous oxide emissions, such as anaerobic digestion, composting, or covered storage systems
- Improving manure application techniques and timing to reduce nutrient losses and emissions
Breeding and Genetics
- Breeding animals for improved feed efficiency, reduced methane emissions, or other climate-friendly traits
- Developing and using genetic markers or genomic selection tools to accelerate breeding progress
Land Use and Carbon Sequestration
- Implementing sustainable land management practices, such as improved grazing management, agroforestry, or restoration of degraded lands, to enhance carbon sequestration and reduce emissions from land use change
- Exploring opportunities for carbon offsetting or payment for ecosystem services schemes
Energy and Resource Efficiency
- Improving energy efficiency and reducing fossil fuel use in livestock production through renewable energy sources, such as solar or biogas
- Optimizing resource use efficiency, such as water and nutrient recycling, through precision agriculture technologies or circular economy approaches
Adaptation Strategies
Adaptation strategies aim to build the resilience of livestock production systems to the impacts of climate change, through various technological, management, and policy interventions.
Breeding and Genetics
- Breeding animals for adaptive traits, such as heat tolerance, disease resistance, or resilience to environmental stresses
- Conserving and using local breeds or genetic resources that are adapted to specific agro-ecological conditions
Animal Health and Welfare
- Strengthening animal health systems, such as disease surveillance, veterinary services, and biosecurity measures, to reduce the risks and impacts of climate-related diseases
- Improving animal welfare practices, such as providing shade, cooling, or enrichment, to reduce stress and enhance resilience
Diversification and Integration
- Diversifying livestock production systems, such as integrating multiple species or products, to reduce risks and improve resilience to climate variability
- Integrating livestock with other agricultural systems, such as crop production or agroforestry, to enhance resource use efficiency and resilience
Climate Information Services
- Developing and using climate information services, such as seasonal forecasts, early warning systems, or risk maps, to inform livestock management decisions and reduce climate risks
- Building the capacity of livestock producers and other stakeholders to access, interpret, and apply climate information for adaptation planning and implementation
Policy and Institutional Support
- Developing and implementing policies and programs that support livestock adaptation, such as extension services, financial incentives, or social protection mechanisms
- Strengthening institutional capacities and coordination mechanisms for livestock adaptation, such as research and development, public-private partnerships, or multi-stakeholder platforms
Conclusion
The climate impact on animal husbandry is a complex and multifaceted challenge that requires urgent attention and action from all stakeholders involved in livestock production, from farmers to policymakers, researchers to consumers. On one hand, livestock production is a significant contributor to climate change, through greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts. On the other hand, climate change poses a range of risks and challenges to livestock production, through effects on animal health, productivity, and welfare.
Addressing this dual challenge requires a holistic and integrated approach that combines mitigation strategies to reduce the climate footprint of livestock production and adaptation strategies to build resilience to climate change impacts. This approach should be guided by principles of sustainability, equity, and efficiency, and should engage all relevant stakeholders in co-designing and co-implementing solutions.
Mitigation strategies should focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from enteric fermentation, manure management, feed production, and land use change, through a combination of technological, management, and policy interventions. These may include improving feed efficiency and quality, implementing low-emission manure management practices, breeding climate-friendly animals, and promoting sustainable land management and carbon sequestration.
Adaptation strategies should focus on building the resilience of livestock production systems to climate change impacts, such as heat stress, water scarcity, feed variability, and disease risks, through a range of technological, management, and policy interventions. These may include breeding climate-resilient animals, strengthening animal health and welfare systems, diversifying and integrating production systems, developing climate information services, and providing policy and institutional support for adaptation.
Achieving these mitigation and adaptation goals will require significant investments in research, innovation, and capacity building, as well as enabling policies and market incentives. It will also require a fundamental transformation of livestock production systems towards more sustainable, resilient, and low-emission models, such as agroecology, circular economy, or regenerative agriculture.
However, the benefits of addressing the climate impact on animal husbandry go beyond the livestock sector itself and extend to the wider food system, environment, and society. By reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building resilience to climate change, sustainable livestock production can contribute to global climate mitigation and adaptation goals, while also enhancing food security, livelihoods, and ecosystem services.
Therefore, the climate impact on animal husbandry is not only a challenge but also an opportunity for transformative change towards a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient future for all. It is a call for action and collaboration among all stakeholders to co-create and co-implement solutions that benefit people, animals, and the planet.