Livestock-environment interactions under intensifying production

As human populations continue to grow, the intensification of agricultural production is occurring in order to maintain food consumption and rural income levels in developing countries. The demand for livestock products is generally income-elastic, so that, with increases in real incomes in most reg...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Staal, Steven J., Ehui, Simeon K., Tanner, J.C.
Formato: Capítulo de libro
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: CAB International 2001
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/49961
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author Staal, Steven J.
Ehui, Simeon K.
Tanner, J.C.
author_browse Ehui, Simeon K.
Staal, Steven J.
Tanner, J.C.
author_facet Staal, Steven J.
Ehui, Simeon K.
Tanner, J.C.
author_sort Staal, Steven J.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description As human populations continue to grow, the intensification of agricultural production is occurring in order to maintain food consumption and rural income levels in developing countries. The demand for livestock products is generally income-elastic, so that, with increases in real incomes in most regions, the demand for livestock products is growing as well, resulting in greater projected numbers of both ruminant and monogastric livestock. Both trends and, indeed, their interaction will have consequences for rural and urban environments in the future and for the sustainability of land-use systems. The intensification of agricultural land use may degrade soils and alter natural habitats and biodiversity or, in some cases, may lead to excessive levels of inputs, with consequent effects on the environment. Similarly, increased livestock production may lead to animal-waste pollution in some settings, and contribute to greenhouse-gas production. What may not be well recognized, however, is the role that ruminant livestock, in particular, play in assisting the attainment of higher and more sustained levels of agricultural production, often in ways that have net positive environmental impacts. This role is particularly important in the crop-livestock systems on which (sub)tropical agricultural production is increasingly dependent. 'Win-win' situations are clearly possible, especially through the contribution of intensive livestock production to soil fertility, which is relevant for large areas of the world, where soil nutrient deficits and slow nutrient turnover rates remain the primary agricultural constraint. This chapter begins by describing the relative importance of different livestock production systems and the global trends associated with them. Within each system, the net impact of livestock production on the environment is discussed and case studies of positive livestock and environment interactions are presented. Finally, the possibilities for and implications of further intensification of livestock production are explored in some depth.
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spelling CGSpace499612021-08-09T07:45:36Z Livestock-environment interactions under intensifying production Staal, Steven J. Ehui, Simeon K. Tanner, J.C. livestock environment intensive farming farming systems mixed farming soil fertility constraints policies sustainability As human populations continue to grow, the intensification of agricultural production is occurring in order to maintain food consumption and rural income levels in developing countries. The demand for livestock products is generally income-elastic, so that, with increases in real incomes in most regions, the demand for livestock products is growing as well, resulting in greater projected numbers of both ruminant and monogastric livestock. Both trends and, indeed, their interaction will have consequences for rural and urban environments in the future and for the sustainability of land-use systems. The intensification of agricultural land use may degrade soils and alter natural habitats and biodiversity or, in some cases, may lead to excessive levels of inputs, with consequent effects on the environment. Similarly, increased livestock production may lead to animal-waste pollution in some settings, and contribute to greenhouse-gas production. What may not be well recognized, however, is the role that ruminant livestock, in particular, play in assisting the attainment of higher and more sustained levels of agricultural production, often in ways that have net positive environmental impacts. This role is particularly important in the crop-livestock systems on which (sub)tropical agricultural production is increasingly dependent. 'Win-win' situations are clearly possible, especially through the contribution of intensive livestock production to soil fertility, which is relevant for large areas of the world, where soil nutrient deficits and slow nutrient turnover rates remain the primary agricultural constraint. This chapter begins by describing the relative importance of different livestock production systems and the global trends associated with them. Within each system, the net impact of livestock production on the environment is discussed and case studies of positive livestock and environment interactions are presented. Finally, the possibilities for and implications of further intensification of livestock production are explored in some depth. 2001 2014-10-31T06:08:36Z 2014-10-31T06:08:36Z Book Chapter https://hdl.handle.net/10568/49961 en Open Access CAB International
spellingShingle livestock
environment
intensive farming
farming systems
mixed farming
soil fertility
constraints
policies
sustainability
Staal, Steven J.
Ehui, Simeon K.
Tanner, J.C.
Livestock-environment interactions under intensifying production
title Livestock-environment interactions under intensifying production
title_full Livestock-environment interactions under intensifying production
title_fullStr Livestock-environment interactions under intensifying production
title_full_unstemmed Livestock-environment interactions under intensifying production
title_short Livestock-environment interactions under intensifying production
title_sort livestock environment interactions under intensifying production
topic livestock
environment
intensive farming
farming systems
mixed farming
soil fertility
constraints
policies
sustainability
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/49961
work_keys_str_mv AT staalstevenj livestockenvironmentinteractionsunderintensifyingproduction
AT ehuisimeonk livestockenvironmentinteractionsunderintensifyingproduction
AT tannerjc livestockenvironmentinteractionsunderintensifyingproduction