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Abstract
The traditional livestock industry in Inner Mongolia has evolved rapidly in response to social and economic transformations during recent decades, resulting in substantial impacts on the rural economy and livelihoods of pastoralists. Improved understanding of these changes and potential drivers may help foster strategies to sustain the pastoral system of this region. Using long-term climate, social-economic, and livestock (cattle, horses, sheep, and goats) population data from 1970 to 2010, we analyzed the dynamics of the livestock industry and main driving factors in the Xilinhot region—a central part of the Inner Mongolia Grassland. Our results show that the total livestock population increased dramatically in the past four decades, especially during 1987–2010. Livestock composition also changed substantially, with increasing sheep, goat, and cattle populations but a decreasing horse population. Pastoral population growth and land use policy were the primary drivers for livestock dynamics during 1970–2010. Livestock structure became differentiated progressively with changes in land use policy. Also, climate factors had an important influence on livestock production. The current study suggests that sustainable animal husbandry in this region requires government policies that promote ecological urbanization, livestock production efficiency, incentive systems for grassland conservation, and collective action and cooperation for enhancing social capital and resilience.
Highlights
Livestock have played a significant role in different stages of human development, evolving from primitive nomadism to herding for survival, and to breeding and selling for diversified demands in modern commercial society [1]
There is a large body of research suggesting that climate hazard and variation can be expected to bring about numerous adverse impacts on livestock production, which will be more severe and pressing for pastoralism characterized by practicing in vast marginal lands across the world [19]
The data sets were obtained from the annual statistical census of Xilingol Leagure, Inner Mongolia, China, except for data on air temperature and precipitation, which were accessed from China Meteorological Data Sharing Service System
Summary
Livestock have played a significant role in different stages of human development, evolving from primitive nomadism to herding for survival, and to breeding and selling for diversified demands in modern commercial society [1]. Livestock production has made a prominent contribution to improving remote livelihoods and alleviating poverty for pastoralists, especially those living in the arid and semi-arid regions [8,9]. The impacts of climate change on livestock are well described in terms of forage yield, thermal stress, water supply, epidemic disease expansion, as well as loss of biodiversity and production systems [8]. Livestock are vulnerable to heat stress in wet and warm environments, which can modify behavioral and metabolic performances, further negatively influencing animal feed intake and productivity [16]. There is a large body of research suggesting that climate hazard and variation can be expected to bring about numerous adverse impacts on livestock production, which will be more severe and pressing for pastoralism characterized by practicing in vast marginal lands across the world [19]
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