Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 4.12 Direct and indirect impacts of climate
change on livestock production systems
Grazing system
could lead to additional indirect impacts from the
increased emergence of livestock diseases, as
higher temperatures and changed rainfall patterns
can alter the abundance, distribution, and trans-
mission of animal pathogens (Baylis and Githeko
2006 ) (Table 4.12 ).
The main effects of climate change on livestock
from increased temperature and decreased pre-
cipitation is distress, but because livestock do not
have the same limitations as crops, there are
potential benefi ts to expanding acreage.
The increasing temperatures can have varying
effects, depending on when they occur. Warmer
conditions in the summer can lead to stress on
range and housed livestock since dry pastures,
poor hay, and feed production and shortages of
water all lead to worse conditions for cattle. On
the other hand, increased temperatures during the
winter months can reduce the cold stress experi-
enced by livestock remaining outside as well as
reduce the energy requirements to heat the facili-
ties of those animals inside.
Crops required class 3 or better land to pro-
duce acceptable yield, while the pastures does
not have the same restrictions to produce accept-
able yield. The increased temperature would have
a positive effect on the growth of the pasture and
provide better feed for livestock. This assumes
that the pastures are in areas where moisture is
not a critical issue.
Water resources are critical to a successful
livestock operation. All livestock operations
require good quality drinking water, and with-
out it livestock will not survive. As with crops,
diseases and insects could have an adverse effect
on much of the livestock industry. Insects and
diseases that livestock is unaccustomed to could
move into the production area. Secondary
effects such as dust storms and wind erosion
also factor into the worsening conditions for
livestock.
Livestock is more resistant to climate change
than crops because of its mobility and access to
feed. Livestock production could be one of the key
methods for farmers to adapt to climate change
through diversifi cation of their farming mix.
Non-grazing system
Direct
impacts
Increased frequency of
extreme weather events
Change in water
availability (may
increase or decrease,
according to region)
Increased frequency and
magnitude of droughts
and fl oods
Increased frequency
of extreme weather
events (impact less
acute than for
extensive system)
Productivity losses
(physiological stress)
due to temperature
increase
Change in water
availability (may
increase or decrease,
according to region)
Indirect
impacts
Agroecological changes
and ecosystem shifts
leading to:
Increased resource
prices (e.g., feed,
water, and energy)
Alteration in fodder
quality and quantity
Disease epidemics
Change in host-
pathogen interaction
resulting in an
increased incidence of
emerging diseases
Increased cost of
animal housing
(e.g., cooling
systems)
Disease epidemics
are anticipated in grazing systems because of
their dependence on climatic conditions and the
natural resource base and their limited adaptation
opportunities (Aydinalp and Cresser 2008 ).
Impacts are expected to be most severe in arid
and semiarid grazing systems at low latitudes,
where higher temperatures and lower rainfall
are expected to reduce yields on rangelands
and increase land degradation (Hoffman and
Vogel 2008 ).
The direct impacts of climate change are
likely to be more limited in non-grazing systems
mostly because the housing of animals in build-
ings allows for greater control of production con-
ditions (Thornton and Gerber 2010 ). In
non-grazing systems, indirect impacts from lower
crop yields, feed scarcity, and higher energy
prices will be more signifi cant. Climate change
 
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