Relationships between Livestock Production and Climate Change: Impacts, Adaptation, and Human Dimensions

Abstract

Abstract. Livestock is a critical agricultural commodity for global food security and also contributes to the livelihoods of one billion of the poorest population in the world. There is a worldwide growing demand for livestock products and is expected to continually increase with human population growth. However, the impacts that climate change and competition for land, water, and food security may have on livestock can limit its production, at a time when it is needed most. In the meantime, the livestock sector contributes to climate change by releasing significant amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. This is a comprehensive study that reviews global interactions between climate change and livestock production. The study is divided into four sections: (1) the human dimensions of livestock production, (2) the impacts of climate change on livestock production and food security, (3) the contribution of the livestock sector to climate change, and (4) a summary of adaptation and mitigation strategies. Crop/livestock systems supply 46% of meat, 88% of milk, and 50% of cereals, making it the largest worldwide supplier. However, climate change can reduce livestock production by affecting quality of feed crop and forage, water availability, animal and milk production, livestock diseases, animal reproduction, and biodiversity. Conversely, livestock production impacts climate change by contributing 18% of global GHG emissions. The main contributors are: land use (36%), manure management (31%), animals’ direct emissions (25%), feed production (7%), and processing and transport (1%). Consequently, the livestock sector will be a key player in the mitigation of GHG emissions.