Impacts of climate change on Livestock production and productivity and different adaptation strategies in Ethiopia

Abstract

This review work was conducted to explore the likely impacts of climate change on livestock production and productivity and different adaptation strategies in Ethiopia. National average temperature has increased by 10 c since the 1960s. Most of the livestock owners in the country perceive there is a climate change impacts on Livestock production and productivity. The major effects of climate change on livestock production include feed shortage, shortage of water, livestock genetic resources loss, reduced productivity, and decreased mature weight and/or longer time to reach mature weight in their order of importance. Higher temperatures resulting from climate change may increase the rate of development of certain pathogens or parasites that have one or more life cycle stages outside their animal host. Furthermore, the spatial distribution and availability of pasture and water are highly dependent on the pattern and availability of rainfall. Shortage of feed and water contribute to reduced productivity and reproductive performance of livestock. This includes slow growth rate of animals, loss of body condition, reduced milk production and poor reproductive performance in mature animals. Draught oxen that are emaciated and in poor body condition cannot provide adequate draught power for plowing, and thus affects crop cultivation. Bush encroachment as well as population pressure lead to diminishing availability of good pasture and hence to a decline in the total number of animals. Different adaptation options are followed by Livestock owners, such as Conservation of feed, out-migration of some household members to earn additional income, destocking, settlement and intensification of livestock production, undertaking supplementary income generating activities and awareness creation on the factors affecting climate change.