Options for Managing Livestock Production Systems to Adapt to Climate Change

This paper discusses recent research findings together with management schemes in preventing and managing of thermal stress by handling external and internal factors in livestock production systems. Preventive measures against thermal stress are described as basic structural adjustments and the modifications that can be implemented readily, according to animal health and welfare requirements and refer to （1） environmental modification and thermal comfort in various housing systems; （2） action on animals, such as genetic selection for breeds resistant to infectious disease, parasites and climate extremes; （3） action on feed and （4） action on staff handling the animals. Moreover, measures to be taken both in situations of chronic thermal stress and heat or cold strokes are presented as they are applied to （1） limit stress, （2） monitor the temperature felt by animals, （3） adapt diet and drinking water supplies and （4） correct physiological imbalances. Examples are given for different farm species （cattle, sheep, goat, poultry and pigs） and different production systems （intensive, extensive and alternative）. The paper concludes with a practical guide for the effective handling of thermal stress at farm level, summarizing the results from recent research studies on the specific topic.

Sensitivity of livelihood strategy to livestock production and marketization:An empirical analysis of grasslands in Inner Mongolia,China

Recent researches have primarily focused on the relationship between livelihood strategies and livelihood capital,with few empirical studies on the sensitivity of livelihood strategies to livestock production and marketization in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China.This study used an income distribution approach to categorize livelihood strategies of the respondents(n=394)into three types,i.e.,herder livelihood strategy(LS1),petty-herder livelihood strategy(LS2),and non-herder livelihood strategy(LS3).Using the multinomial logistic regression model,we compared livestock production and marketization across the three livelihood strategies.Our findings showed that(1)livestock production and marketization tended to favor LS1;(2)an increase in the land asset(contracted and rented grassland)and off-take rate increased the probability of households choosing LS1;(3)stocking rate was higher for LS1;and(4)the higher critical market-related risks perceived by herders were animal price and hay and corn price.Moreover,higher livestock price acted as a deterrent to diversifying into other livelihood strategies(LS2 and LS3).Finally,this study advocates for policies that will promote the land transfer market,adopt modern techniques in animal husbandry,improve the medium for disseminating market information to herders,and provide incentives for long-term livelihood transformation.

Multiple pollutants from crop and livestock production in the Yangtze River: status and challenges

The rapid increase in the proportion of cash crops and livestock production in the Yangtze River Basin has led to commensurate increases in fertilizer and pesticide inputs. Excessive application of chemical fertilizer, organophosphorus pesticides and inappropriate disposal of agricultural waste induced water pollution and potentially threaten Agriculture Green Development(AGD). To ensure food security and the food supply capacity of the Yangtze River Basin, it is important to balance green and development, while ensuring the quality of water bodies. Multiple pollutants affect the transfer, adsorption, photolysis and degradation of each other throughout the soil-plant-water system. This paper considers the impact of multi-pollutants on the nitrogen and phosphorus cycles especially for crops, which are related to achieving food security and AGD. It presents prospective on theory, modeling and multi-pollutant control in the Yangtze River Basin for AGD that are of potential value for other developing regions.

Understanding livestock production and sustainability of grassland ecosystems in the Asian Dryland Belt

Background:Companioned by economic development,a dietary shift toward higher meat consumption is seen in developing countries and transitional economies,where the demand for livestock production has been increasing in response to such a dietary shift.In the Asian Dryland Belt,approaches to meet this demand have focused on grazing intensification,cropland conversion for animal feed,and supplemental feeding.With the scarcity of water,energy,and food in the region,a key question is whether or not the current approaches are sustainable.If not,what are the pathways to increase livestock production while protecting the region’s environment for a sustainable future?We provide our reviews and discuss current approaches in response to these dietary shifts and assess their environmental resilience with a focus on the grassland ecosystems in the Asian Dryland Belt.Results:While current approaches alleviate the urgent need for short-term livestock production,they lead to longterm vulnerability in food security.Trade-offs between short gains and long-term losses,between food for humans and for animals,and between agricultural intensification and environmental degradation need to be holistically examined for the sustainable development of the region.A grassland water,energy,and food nexus framework is proposed with specific recommendations to increase livestock production while considering other ecosystem services of the dryland grassland ecosystems in the Asian Dryland Belt.Conclusions:Current practices to increase livestock production are likely to lead to long-term,large-scale ecological degradation of the grassland ecosystems in the Asian Dryland Belt and are thus unsustainable.By considering the trade-offs in the nexus of water,land,food,and livelihoods,sustainable pathways were articulated and recommended.Future pilot studies are needed for validation and adoption.

POLICIES AND REGULATIONS FOR PROMOTING MANURE MANAGEMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION IN CHINA:A REVIEW

Livestock numbers in China have more than tripled between 1980 and 2017.The increase in the number of intensive livestock production systems has created the challenges of decoupled crop and livestock systems,low utilization of manures in croplands,and subsequent environmental pollution.Correspondingly,the government has enacted a series of policies and regulations to increase the sustainability of livestock production.This paper reviews the objectives of these policies and regulations and their impacts on manure management.Since 2017 there have been two policy guides to speed up the appropriate use of manures,three action plans for increasing manure recycling,and one technical guide to calculate nutrient balances.Requirements of manure pollution control and recycling for improved environmental performance of livestock production systems were included in three revised environmental laws.Most recent survey data indicate that the utilization of livestock manures was 70%in 2017,including that used as fertilizer and/or for production of energy.The targets for manure utilization are 75%in 2020 and 90%in 2035.To achieve these targets and promote‘green livestock production’,additional changes are needed including the use of third-party enterprises that facilitate manure exchange between farms and a more integrated manure nutrient management approach.

Microalgal-based feed:promising alternative feedstocks for livestock and poultry production

There is an immediate need to identify alternative sources of high-nutrient feedstocks for domestic livestock productionand poultry,not only to support growing food demands but also to produce microalgae-source functional foods withmultiple health benefits.Various species of microalgae and cyanobacteria are used to supplement existing feedstocks.Inthis review,microalgae have been defined as a potential feedstock for domestic animals due to their abundance ofproteins,carbohydrates,lipids,minerals,vitamins,and other high-value products.Additionally,the positive physiologicaleffects on products of animals fed with microalgal biomass have been compiled and recommendations are listed toenhance the assimilation of biomolecules in ruminant and nonruminant animals,which possess differing digestivesystems.Furthermore,the role of microalgae as prebiotics is also discussed.With regards to large scale cultivation ofmicroalgae for use as feed,many economic trade-offs must be considered such as the selection of strains with desirednutritional properties,cultivation systems,and steps for downstream processing.These factors are highlighted withfurther investigations needed to reduce the overall costs of cultivation.Finally,this review outlines the pros and cons ofutilizing microalgae as a supplementary feedstock for poultry and cattle,existing cultivation strategies,and theeconomics of large-scale microalgal production.

Research Status of Alpha Linolenic Acid(ALA) and Its Application Advances in Livestock and Poultry Production

Alpha linolenic acid （ ALA）, a kind of polyunsaturated fatty acid extracted from plants and fruits, has a variety of biological functions. In recent years, ALA has attracted much attention as a natural green feed additive. The physical and chemical properties, metabolic process, physiological function of ALA as well as its application and mechanisms in livestock and poultry production are summarized in the paper.

Detection of Cyanide in Pollution-free Livestock Product Breeding Water by Ion Chromatography

In order to verify the accuracy of ion chromatography for cyanide detection,optimization conditions were studied,and comparison was made for the detection results of cyanide between titration and isonicotinic acid pyrazolone spectrophotometry. The results showed that ion chromatography has good linearity and reproducibility,with the recovery rate of 95%-105% and the limit of detection of 0. 001 mg/L. This method is simple,rapid,safe,selective,and suitable for the determination of cyanide in pollution-free livestock product breeding water.

On sustaining the ecology and livestock industry of the Bayanbuluk Grasslands

A short visit to the Bayanbuluk Grassland in the Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang, PRC, revealed a number of environmental and livestock production problems, including grassland degradation, loss of grassland biodiversity, soil erosion and flash flooding downstream, decreased pasture productivity, and poor livestock nutrition (especially in winter) leading to stock losses and flocks and herds of low productivity. This paper describes those problems and then suggests some solutions. Short duration, high intensity grazing could be one of the solutions to both improving grassland condition and improving livestock nutrition. Local production of fodder crops for feeding in winter and spring deserves testing, using adapted strains of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and trialling fodder root crop production. It is important to realise that the land management objectives of scientists, administrators, herders and farmers may be similar, and that there are opportunities for land improvement through working together.

Preliminary Discussion on Farm Animal Welfare and Its Influence on Brand and Consumption of Chinese Livestock Products

Farm animal welfare(FAW) affects the health and sustainable development of animal husbandry. However, at present,there are still a lot of damage to FAW, and the situation of FAW in China is worrying. In this paper, the concept of FAW and brand are sketched and the importance of FAW is emphasized through analyzing the impact of FAW on the brand and consumption of animal products in China. Advices that more importance should be attached to FAW, animal welfare awareness should be promoted to publicity, and FAW legislation should be speed up are proposed.

Construction of Traceability System for Livestock Products

It is extremely difficult to supervise the whole production process of livestock products by traditional methods due to the long production chains. Therefore, the workflow of livestock product production were analyzed and studied. Subsequently, information technology and modem identification techniques were used together to construct traceability system for livestock products including identifiers and information management systems. The traceability system better overcame the main constraints in application and provided a viable platform for safe production of livestock products.

Research and Design on Framework of Quality Risk Control System for Livestock Products

In view of the currant status of the quality risk control of livestock products, the differences between the quality, safety and risk of the livestock products were pointed clearly; the derivative mechanism model of the quality risk was studied; the risk system of livestock products was established; and the types of controllable risk were identified. On this basis, the design principles of risk control framework were established. Then the modular system of risk control was constructed and the attributes of production system were detailed into the describable indicators of risk control based on the thrae-dimensional risks.

Impact and Policy Implications of Swine Epidemic on Price Fluctuation of Livestock Products in China

The drastic price fluctuation of livestock products caused by frequent swine epidemics has seriously affected the stable and healthy development of the livestock product market.It is important to develop strategies for the stability and development of livestock product market by understanding the impact of swine epidemic on the price of livestock products.Therefore,we systematically analyzed the impact of the swine epidemic on the price of livestock products in China based on monthly data from February 2009 to July 2020 using the factor augmented vector autoregression(FAVAR)model.The results showed that:(i)During the swine epidemic,the price of pork first showed a negative response and then a positive response,while the price of other livestock products showed positive response overall.(ii)The price of pork was the most affected by the swine epidemic,followed by price of chicken.Price fluctuation of beef and mutton was similar,and the price response of eggs and fresh milk was relatively smaller.Based on these results,we put forward policy suggestions for stabilizing the price of livestock products in China during swine epidemic from the aspects of improving the defense system and guiding consumption scientifically.

Small ruminant value chain in Al-Ruwaished District,Jordan

This study aims to assess the small ruminant value chain in Al-Ruwaished District,Jordan,to identify the potential intervention areas that could improve the production efficiency and guarantee the sustainability of the small ruminant sector in this area.Sheep breeding is the source of livelihood for most of the people in Al-Ruwaished District,which is characterized by the large number of sheep and goats.We surveyed 5.0% of the small ruminant holders in the study area and conducted individual interviews and surveys with the potential actors in the value chain to undertake a small ruminant value chain analysis.From the survey,we found that the small ruminant value chain consists of five core functions,namely,input supply,production management,marketing,processing,and consumption.Despite the stable impression given by the large number of holdings in the small ruminant sector,the surveyed results show a clear fragility in the value chain of small ruminants in this area.The small ruminant production system is negatively impacted by climate change,especially continuous drought.In addition,the high prices of feed that the farmer cannot afford with clear and real absence of the governmental and non-governmental support activities also impact the development of the value chain.The results of strengths,weaknesses,opportunities,and threats(SWOT)analysis reveal that the major constraints faced by this value chain could be divided into external and internal threats.Specifically,the most prominent external threats are the nature of the desert land and continuous drought,while the major internal threats are the absence of appropriate infrastructure,shortage of inputs,and weakness in the production management and marketing.We proposed solutions to these challenges to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of the sector,such as the formulation of emergency response plans to severe weather,qualifying farmers’skills,and establishment of agricultural cooperative societies.

Driving factors of direct greenhouse gas emissions from China's pig industry from 1976 to 2016

Livestock cultivation is a significant source of greenhouse gas(GHG) emissions, accounting for 14.5% of the total anthropogenic emissions. China is responsible for a considerable share of the global livestock emissions, particularly caused by pork production. We used the Kaya identity and the logarithmic mean Divisia index(LMDI) to decompose the national annual GHG emissions from enteric fermentation and manure management in pig farming in China from 1976 to 2016. We decomposed the sources of the emissions into five driving factors:(1) technological progress(e.g., feed improvement);(2) structural adjustment in the livestock sector;(3) structural adjustment in agriculture;(4) affluence;and(5) population growth. The results showed that the net GHG emissions from the pig sector in China increased 16 million tons(Mt) of carbon dioxide equivalents(CO2 eq) during the study period. The decomposition analysis revealed that structural adjustment in agriculture, growing affluence, and population growth contributed to an increase of the GHG emissions of pork production by 23, 41, and 13 Mt CO2 eq, respectively. The technological progress and structural changes in animal husbandry mitigated emissions by –51 and –11 Mt CO2 eq, respectively. Further technological progress in pig production and optimizing the economic structures are critical for further reducing GHG emissions in China's pig industry. Our results highlight the dominant role of technological changes for emission reductions in the pig farming.

Dryland agriculture and rangeland restoration priorities in Afghanistan

Afghanistan is threatened by rangeland degradation.A quantitative visual analysis of Google Earth Imagery was used to systematically locate,characterize and quantify the current extent of rangelands in Afghanistan degraded as a consequence of dryland agriculture.Climate data were used in conjunction with dryland agriculture locations to establish a climate envelope comprised by temperature and mean annual precipitation to create a geographical mask known to contain dryland agriculture.Within this mask we created a grid of 100 km2 cells that we analyzed individually to access dryland agriculture extent.Climatic limits to sustainable dryland agriculture and areas of high restoration priority were also assessed as was the distribution of rain-fed agriculture with respect to the location of traditional migration routes for extensive livestock producers.The extents of agriculture in Afghanistan,at both upper and lower elevations,correlated most closely with mean annual temperature（MAT） at the upper elevation limits,and with mean annual precipitation（MAP） at the lower elevation limits.In total,dryland agriculture comprised 38,980 km2 of former native rangeland.Conversion was highest in the northwestern,northern and northeastern provinces of Herat,Badghis,Faryab,Jawzjan,Sar-e-Pul,Samangan,Balkh,Baghlan,Kunduz,Takhar and Badakhshan,with the highest percentage of conversion occurring in Takhar.An MAP value of 〈400 mm is perceived by farmers as the current climatic limit to sustainable dryland agriculture across the northern regions of the country.Uder this MAP value,approximately 27,677 km2 of converted rangeland met the need for restoration priority.Climate projections indicate that Afghanistan will become warmer and drier in the coming decades.One consequence of this trend is that the MAP threshold of 〈400 mm to sustainable dryland agriculture will become obsolete in the coming decades.Restoration of currently converted rangelands is needed to restore critical grazing areas as is the adoption of prudent range management policies to prevent further land degradation and support a vital livestock industry.Food security is at stake as the conversion of rangelands to unsustainable rain-fed agriculture may leave large tracks of land unusable for either agriculture or livestock production.

The environmental prospects of cultured meat in China

To deal with concerns in China about environmental degradation and a growth in population accompanied by increased consumption of livestock products, a meat alternative is required. This study compared the environmental impacts of producing different protein sources for nutrition, including crops, livestock products, and cultured meat. The results showed that cultured meat has the lowest land use per unit of protein and unit of human digestible energy. China＇s crops have the lowest energy use and greenhouse gas（GHG） emissions per unit of energy and protein. The energy use in cultured meat production is slightly higher than that of current pork production in China, whereas GHG emissions are lower. It is concluded that the overall impact of replacing livestock products with cultured meat would be beneficial for China＇s environment and would potentially improve food security because less land is needed to produce the same amount of protein and energy.

Transfer of Heavy Metal Contaminants from Animal Feed to Animal Products

Study was conducted to assess the possible transfer of heavy metals from livestock feeds to animal products. In experiment-l, samples （n = 503） collected from conventional farms in Central Greece were analysed for heavy metal Copper （Cu）, Zinc （Zn）, Cadmium （Cd）, Lead （Pb）, Nickel （Ni） and Chromium （Cr） contents in muscle tissues, livers, kidneys, excremental and basic mixtures in livestock such as cows and sheep. Results showed that transfer of heavy metal contaminants from feed to animal products fluctuated below the permissible risk levels. In experiment 2, samples （n = 440） of feedstuffs used in different feeding regimens and seasons at different livestock farms [sheep （n = 140）, dairy cows （n = 180）, pigs （n = 120）] were collected. Results showed that relatively high concentration of Cu in the excrements of pigs （155 ＋ 9.13） and Zn in the excrements of sheep （144.56 ＋ 5.78） are explained by the use of Cu in the diet of developing piglets and sheep. Ovine showed higher concentration ofNi, Cr, and Pb in their excrements, while, the concentration of heavy metals in forages was under the allowed range to the EU legislation.

Industry Development and Genetic Resources Protection of Animal Husbandry in the World Selenium Capital Enshi Prefecture

Agricultural genetic resource is an important component of agricultural intellectual property. The protection of livestock genetic resources is related to sustainable development of animal husbandry and biodiversity. Enshi Prefecture enjoys a reputation of ＂world selenium capital＂, and has the important animal genetic resources of Enshi yellow cattle, Enshi black pig, Enshi horse-head goat, Jingyang chicken, Enshi bee, silkworm, etc. The prefecture is the best place for natural selenium-euriched livestock products. This paper introduces genetic resources and industry of animal husbandry in the prefecture, analyses the countermeasures of genetic resources protection and industry development, and further puts forward some constructive suggestions.

Perception and attitude of pastoralists on livestock-wildlife interactions around Awash National Park, Ethiopia: implication for biodiversity conservation

Introduction:Pastoral livestock share grazing areas and watering points with wildlife around the protected areas in Eastern Africa.This causes a high degree of livestock-wildlife interactions,leading to conflicts between the local community and park staff.Thus,understanding the perception and attitude of local people towards livestockwildlife interaction is very crucial to optimize both livestock production and biodiversity conservation in protected areas.This paper presents the perception and attitude of local community towards livestock-wildlife interactions around Awash National Park(ANP),Ethiopia.Methods:Interview to 180 randomly selected households,representing Afar,Ittu,and Kereyu ethnic groups living around ANP,was conducted from August to December 2015 using a semi-structured questionnaire.Data on community attitude towards wildlife,livestock production systems,and its constraints were collected through focus group-and key informant discussions.We used ordinal logistic regression model to analyze community attitude towards wildlife conservation.Results:Respondents ranked feed shortage(0.38),lack of water(0.32),and climate change(0.30)as the major constraints of livestock production around ANP.A high degree of conflict(79%;χ^(2)=24.09;df=2;P=0.000)between the local community and park was recorded.About 73%of the households would be ready to live in harmony with the park.However,85%of park staff considered the community as a threat,due to high livestock grazing pressure and illegal park resource use.Overall,community attitude towards wildlife significantly varied(χ^(2)=46.28;df=4;P=0.00)particularly due to educational level(χ^(2)=15.96;df=6;P=0.014),income source(χ^(2)=16.77;df=2;P=0.00),and distance of household from ANP(χ^(2)=20.51;df=4;P=0.00).The logistic regression model revealed that ethnic group,education,benefit obtained,and conflict with the park were significantly associated with attitude towards wildlife(χ^(2)15=76.62;df=16;P=0.000).Conclusions:Majority of respondents showed positive attitude towards wildlife,implying a better chance to mobilize the community for conservation activities in the park.Thus,expansion of formal and adult education as well as livelihood diversification strategies that could benefit the pastoral community would help to improve community attitude towards wildlife so that both wildlife conservation and livestock production can be optimized around ANP.