Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
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A report released by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the
Livestock, Environment and Development Initiative (LEAD) (Steinfeld et al., 2006)
suggested sustainable practices to address the environmental challenge created by
the projected increase in global food animal production in response to the expanding
demand. These recommendations include
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Continue persistent and innovative soil conservation methods.
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Match appropriate controlled livestock-grazing measures to the specific
ecosystems of vulnerable locations to prevent land degradation.
Continue improvements in efficiency of livestock and crop production.
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Continue to improve efficiency of feed utilization in livestock and poultry.
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Adjust feed composition to reduce enteric methane emission in ruminants.
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Develop biogas plant initiatives to recycle manure.
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Improve efficiency of irrigation systems.
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Restrict large-scale integrated livestock systems concentrated near popula-
tion centers. Site them only where effluent can be safely, efficiently, and com-
pletely cycled back to the crop or forage element of the production system.
These approaches and others are addressed in this chapter and elsewhere in the topic.
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Viable systems are essential for effective control of the many infectious diseases
that affect animals and that, in some cases, are also communicable to humans.
The globalization of food animal production and animal source food distribution
has created a greater need to improve such systems. Individual animal identifica-
tion systems are evolving as a means of tracking intra- and intercountry move-
ment of live animals and thereby disease agents. This enhances food safety and
quality control in animal source foods. In the United States, the National Animal
Identification System (NAIS) has been initiated in conjunction with the control or
eradication of specific diseases in live animals. A country-of-origin labeling law
(COOL) in the United States requires meat products sold at retail to be labeled to
be able to trace the movement of the product back to the birthplace of the animal
(Smith, 2007a, 2007b). Such monitoring systems are critical as globalization of
animal agriculture proceeds.
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Advances in genetics, nutrition, and bioengineering have resulted in dramatic
increases during the last two decades in biological efficiency (i.e., improvements
in growth, reproduction, lactation, and efficiency of feed utilization of food ani-
mals and birds). These advances have resulted in large increases in the amounts
