Livestock Environment Research Articles

Quantitative Evaluation of China’s Livestock Environmental Regulation Policies Based on the Policy Modeling Consistency Index Model

Quantitative Evaluation of China’s Livestock Environmental Regulation Policies Based on the Policy Modeling Consistency Index Model

Livestock and environment as potential sources and reservoirs for multi-drug resistant Escherichia coli in Malaysia: A Systematic Review

Pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a significant foodborne pathogen that poses a serious global public health risk. These pathogenic strains of E. coli can be found in various environments such as soil, water, livestock, livestock products, and humans. This review aims to evaluate the role of livestock and the environment as potential sources and reservoirs of pathogenic E. coli in Malaysia over the past two decades. A systematic search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases using standardized keywords (Escherichia coli, Livestock, Abattoir workers, Farm workers, and Malaysia) to identify relevant original research articles published between 2001 and 2023 and our systematic review protocol was published in Prospero (Registration number: CRD42023433199). A total of 20 eligible articles were included in this review. The prevalence of multi-drug resistant E. coli among livestock production system and the environment, ranged from 4% to 100%. E. coli strains isolated from livestock production systems and environment in Malaysia exhibited high potential for pathogenicity, with diverse enterotoxins, genes associated with antimicrobial resistance, and virulence factors. Phylogroup B and D were noted among the E. coli isolates indicating that the strains in Malaysia are highly virulent and extra-intestinal. High levels of resistance to antimicrobials particularly ESBL and colistin which are last resort antimicrobials were noted. Butchering or processing of livestock, contamination of plants via contaminated waterways or livestock manure are the main sources and reservoir for E. coli to spread in Malaysia. Continued surveillance, monitoring and a comprehensive 'One Health' approach are recommended to effectively prevent and control livestock drug-resistant E.coli strains throughout the country.

A review on microbial aerosols in livestock and poultry environments: pollution characteristics, damage mechanisms, and mitigation measures

A review on microbial aerosols in livestock and poultry environments: pollution characteristics, damage mechanisms, and mitigation measures

Insects as Sustainable Feed: Enhancing Animal Nutrition and Reducing Livestock Environmental Impression.

Insects are emerging as a promising alternative source in animal nutrition, offering high protein content and a low environmental impression compared to traditional feed sources. This abstract explores the potential role of insects in reducing the environmental impact of livestock production. Insects such as black soldier fly larvae, mealworms, and crickets are rich in essential nutrients, including proteins, amino acids, fatty acids and so on. They can be efficiently farmed on organic waste streams, contributing to resource efficiency and waste lessening. Additionally, insect farming needs a small quantity of water, less land, and emits fewer greenhouse gases than conventional animal feed production. Despite these benefits, several challenges must be addressed to realize their potential, including regulatory approval, consumer acceptance, production scalability, and ensuring consistent nutritional quality. By overcoming these challenges through research, innovation, and policy support, insects can be integrated into mainstream animal feed systems, significantly reducing the environmental impact of livestock farming and contributing to a more sustainable agricultural future.

Prevalence and Characterization of Pathogenic Escherichia coli Isolated from the Livestock Environment in Chungcheongnam-do Province of South Korea

Prevalence and Characterization of Pathogenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> Isolated from the Livestock Environment in Chungcheongnam-do Province of South Korea

Toward compatibility with national dairy production and climate goals through locally appropriate mitigation interventions in Kenya

CONTEXTLivestock are an important component of livelihoods in smallholder dairy systems in Africa, but are characterized by low animal productivity and large environmental impacts per unit of animal product (e.g. greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) intensities). Governments in African countries have set ambitious targets for dairy systems, but development of climate-smart strategies has been hindered by a scarcity of baseline data and local intervention trials. OBJECTIVEWe use a rich dataset from smallholder mixed dairy systems in Kenya to determine whether national climate and development goals for 2030 can be met using locally appropriate interventions. Interventions considered included improved herd management and feed interventions. METHODSWe conducted a yield gap analysis to determine the scope of the existing milk yield gaps, then evaluated the extent to which yield gaps could be closed using interventions in a second step. We outscaled our results to the national level to determine the potential impact of adopting our interventions on national dairy production and GHG emission goals using the FAO Global Livestock Environmental Assessment Model – interactive (GLEAM-i) tool. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSOur analysis showed that substantial yield gaps exist in Kenyan dairy systems (39 to 49% of attainable yields). These gaps could be closed by intervention packages but not by individual interventions alone. Our outscaled scenarios showed interventions can reduce milk GHG emission intensities (−6.5 to −27.4%), while absolute emissions would increase in most scenarios (−3.9 to +25.9%). To meet national milk production goals, we estimated that a large increase in animal numbers is needed by 2030 compared to 2010 (from ∼2.7 M to 4.5–7.1 M heads of cattle). However, most scenarios fell short of the emissions target (−4% to +48%) by 2030. It may be possible to narrowly meet Kenyan national milk production and GHG emission goals by 2030. SIGNIFICANCENational goals for milk production and reducing GHG emissions were only marginally compatible in Kenya. Other sectors of the economy will need to reduce emissions to ensure that food and nutrition security objectives are not jeopardized. In order to achieve national milk goals, there will be need to be a consummate increase in animal numbers even with the adoption of multiple interventions. To meet Kenya's national emissions goals, widespread adoption of several locally appropriate interventions will be required. International support will be needed to meet Kenya's conditional Nationally Determined Contributions under the 2015 Paris Agreement, as well as food and nutrition security goals.

Livestock and poultry breeding farms as a fixed and underestimated source of antibiotic resistance genes.

The excessive use of antibiotics, disinfectants, and drugs in livestock and poultry breeding has resulted in a rise in the presence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and ARGs have been widely found in animal feces, farm wastewater, and farm air. ARGs can not only spread across media through adsorption and migration, but also transfer resistance across bacterial genera through horizontal gene transfer. Livestock breeding has become a fixed and unavoidable source of ARGs in the environment. Existing technologies for controlling ARGs, such as composting, disinfection, and sewage treatment, are not efficient in removing ARB and ARGs from waste. Furthermore, the remaining ARGs still possess a strong capacity for dissemination. At present, antibiotics used in animal husbandry are difficult to replace in a short period of time. The growth and potential risks of resistance genes in livestock and poultry breeding sources in the receiving environment are not yet clear. In this paper, we summarize the current situation of ARGs in the livestock and poultry breeding environment. We also explain the key environmental processes, main influencing factors, and corresponding ecological risks associated with ARGs in this environment. The advantages and disadvantages of current technologies for the removal of ARGs are primarily discussed. There is a particular emphasis on clarifying the spatiotemporal evolution patterns and environmental process mechanisms of ARGs, as well as highlighting the importance and urgency of developing efficient pollution control technologies.

Biosafety assessment of laying hens fed different treatments of black soldier flies (Hermetia illucens) under doxycycline stress

The black soldier fly (BSF, Hermetia illucens) is a resource insect that can utilize livestock and poultry feces. However, BSFs may also increase the risk of transmission of antibiotic resistance genes (AGRs) that are widespread in livestock and poultry farm environments. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the biosecurity risks of different BSF treatments in the laying chicken food chain using the “chicken manure-BSF-laying hens” model. Our results indicated that different BSF treatments significantly affected antibiotic residue, ARGs, MGEs, bacterial antibiotic resistance, and bacterial microbial community composition in the food chain of laying hens fed BSFs. These risks can be effectively reduced through starvation treatment and high-temperature grinding treatment. Comprehensive risk assessment analysis revealed that starvation combined with high-temperature milling (Group H) had the greatest effect.

Estimation of Energy Balance throughout the Growing–Finishing Stage of Pigs in an Experimental Pig Barn

Monitoring the energy inputs and outputs in pig production systems is crucial for identifying potential imbalances and promoting energy efficiency. Therefore, the objective of this study was to measure the energy input, output, and losses during the growing–finishing phase of pigs from 1 September to 1 December 2023. A Livestock Environment Management System (LEMS) was used to measure the temperature, humidity, airflow, and water consumption levels inside the barn, and a load cell was used to measure the body weight of pigs. Furthermore, a bomb calorimetric test was conducted to measure the energy content of pigs’ manure. While calculating energy balance in the experimental barn, it was found that energy from feed and water contributed approximately 81% of the total input energy, while the remaining 19% of energy came from electrical energy. Regarding output energy, manure, and body weight accounted for about 69%, while around 31% was lost due to pig activities, maintaining barn temperature and airflow, and illuminating the barn. In conclusion, this study suggested methods to calculate energy balance in pig barns, offering valuable insights for pig farmers to enhance their understanding of input and output energy in pig production.

In situ synthesis of porous metal-organic frameworks NH2-UiO-66 on tea stem biochar and application in odours adsorption

Multiple odour nuisance in livestock farming is a notorious problem that has a significant impact on the living environment of surrounding communities. Adsorbents based on metal-organic framework (MOF) materials show great promise for controlling odour pollution, as they offer a high specific surface area, a controllable structure and an abundance of active sites. However, the MOF formation process is prone to problems such as pore clogging or collapse and reduced porosity, which limits its further application. In this study, a series of odour adsorbents were prepared by in situ growth of NH2-UiO-66 on tea stem biochar (TSBC) using a hydrothermal method and named UiO (Zr)-TSBCx. The physical and chemical properties and composition of UiO (Zr)-TSBCx have been systematically characterized using SEM, TEM, XRD, FT-IR, N2 adsorption-desorption and XPS. The release of odours from the pig farm effluent was monitored using in-situ continuous Proton-Transfer-Reaction Mass Spectrometry (PTR-MS), and the obtained primary compositions were tested for further adsorption. In dynamic adsorption experiments focused on butyric acid, UiO (Zr)-TSBC2 showed a high adsorption capacity of 3.99 × 105 μg/g and exceptional structural stability. UiO (Zr)-TSBC2 showed variable adsorption efficiencies for different odorous gases, with the best performance for the removal of ammonia, toluene and butyric acid. It also demonstrated the ability to rapidly mitigate instantaneous high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), methanethiol and toluene resulting from agitation. Additionally, based on the relationship between the adsorption amount and the structural characteristics of the adsorbent as well as the nature of the odours, a possible adsorption mechanism of UiO (Zr)-TSBC2 for a variety of odours released from pig farm effluent was proposed. This work demonstrates a novel approach to promote deodorization applications in livestock and poultry farming environments by the in-situ growth of NH2-UiO-66 on biochar prepared from tea stem.

LSTM 오토인코더를 활용한 축산 환경 시계열 데이터의 이상치 탐지

In the livestock industry, detecting environmental outliers and predicting data are crucial tasks. Outliers in livestock environment data, typically gathered through time-series methods, can signal rapid changes in the environment and potential unexpected epidemics. Prompt detection and response to these outliers are essential to minimize stress in livestock and reduce economic losses for farmers by early detection of epidemic conditions. This study employs two methods to experiment and compare performances in setting thresholds that define outliers in livestock environment data outlier detection. The first method is an outlier detection using Mean Squared Error (MSE), and the second is an outlier detection using a Dynamic Threshold, which analyzes variability against the average value of previous data to identify outliers. The MSE-based method demonstrated a 94.98% accuracy rate, while the Dynamic Threshold method, which uses standard deviation, showed superior performance with 99.66% accuracy.

Applicability evaluation of a temperature humidity index-controlled ventilation system in livestock using a building energy simulation model

In general, for livestock building, a simple system for controlling the HVAC system that is based only on the indoor air temperature is applied. This study evaluated the applicability of temperature humidity index (THI)-based ventilation systems installed in livestock buildings using a building energy simulation model. Based on the monitoring data of an actual pig house, the integrated predictive performance of the indoor temperature and humidity of the building energy simulation model was calibrated. Additionally, the indoor environment of the existing temperature-based control and THI-controlled ventilation systems was compared through simulations. The average THI and the section exceeding the THI threshold were both lower compared to the existing system. This was because the part load ratio of the fans of the THI-controlled ventilation system was higher than that of the existing system, indicating better ventilation. These results suggest that THI-based ventilation systems can overcome the limitations of existing temperature-based systems and effectively improve the thermal stress management of livestock buildings. This study portrays that the indoor environment can be improved by simply changing control variables, while presenting the field applicability and research value of THI-based control systems in the management of livestock environments.

Detection of Coliform Bacteria in Raw Milk Samples Collected from Industrial Cities of Pakistan

Antibiotics and heavy metals-resistant bacteria in livestock environments can result in economic losses and raise public health and environmental problems. There is a crisis in the world's access to and pipeline for antibiotics. Objective: To screen raw milk samples collected from three different industrial cities Gujranwala, Lahore, and Sheikhupura, situated in the province of Punjab, Pakistan. Methods: In this regard, a total of 26 samples were having 84 coliform strains. Separated coliform colonies were processed for Gram's staining, catalase, indole production, and Simmon's citrate and motility tests. Results: Metal resistance of bacterial strains was also checked and 39.5% and 45.23% of bacteria were found to be resistant to ZnCl2 1% and 0.5%. 69.045% and 77.38% bacteria were found to be resistant to CuSo4 salt solution1% and 0.5%. 17.85% and 27% bacteria were found to be resistant to Na2CrO4 salt solution1% and 0.5% respectively. 80% of bacteria were found to be resistant to Cefuroxime, 26.19% to Cephradine, 84.52% to Aztroeonam 41.67% to Erythromycin, 91.667% to Trimethoprim 89.28% to Lincomycins. Conclusions: The raw milk samples were not only contaminated with coliforms but the bacteria were also resistant to heavy metals and certain antibiotics which might be considered indicative of industrial and anthropogenic pollution. Cephradine, 84.52% to Aztroeonam 41.67% to Erythromycin, 91.667% to Trimethoprim 89.28% to Lincomycins. Conclusions: The raw milk samples were not only contaminated with coliforms but the bacteria were also resistant to heavy metals and certain antibiotics which might be considered indicative of industrial and anthropogenic pollution.

Connectivity at the human-wildlife interface: starling movements relate to carriage of E. coli

Synanthropic bird species in human, poultry or livestock environments can increase the spread of pathogens and antibiotic-resistant bacteria between wild and domestic animals. We present the first telemetry-based spatial networks for a small songbird. We quantified landscape connectivity exerted by spotless starling movements, and aimed to determine if connectivity patterns were related to carriage of potential pathogens. We captured 28 starlings on a partridge farm in 2020 and tested them for Avian influenza virus, West Nile virus WNV, Avian orthoavulavirus 1, Coronavirus, Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli. We did not detect any viruses or Salmonella, but one individual had antibodies against WNV or cross-reacting Flaviviruses. We found E. coli in 61 % (17 of 28) of starlings, 76 % (13 of 17) of which were resistant to gentamicin, 12 % (2 of 17) to cefotaxime/enrofloxacin and 6 % (1 of 17) were phenotypic extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) carriers. We GPS-tracked 17 starlings and constructed spatial networks showing how their movements (i.e. links) connect different farms with nearby urban and natural habitats (i.e. nodes with different attributes). Using E. coli carriage as a proxy for acquisition/dispersal of bacteria, we found differences across spatial networks constructed for E. coli positive (n = 7) and E. coli negative (n = 9) starlings. We used Exponential Random Graph Models to reveal significant differences between networks. In particular, an urban roost was more connected to other sites by movements of E. coli positive than by movements of E. coli negative starlings. Furthermore, an open pine forest used mainly for roosting was more connected to other sites by movements of E. coli negative than by movements of E. coli positive starlings. Using E. coli as a proxy for a potential pathogen carried by starlings, we reveal the pathways of spread that starlings could provide between farms, urban and natural habitats.

Tracing clinically-relevant antimicrobial resistances in Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus complex across diverse environments: A study spanning clinical, livestock, and wastewater treatment settings

Acinetobacter baumannii has become a prominent nosocomial pathogen, primarily owing to its remarkable ability to rapidly acquire resistance to a wide range of antimicrobial agents and its ability to persist in diverse environments. However, there is a lack of data on the molecular epidemiology and its potential implications for public health of A. baumannii strains exhibiting clinically significant resistances that originate from non-clinical environments.Therefore, the genetic characteristics and resistance mechanisms of 80 A. baumannii-calcoaceticus (ABC) complex isolates, sourced from environments associated with poultry and pig production, municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), and clinical settings, were investigated.In total, our study classified 54 isolates into 29 previously described sequence types (STs), while 26 isolates exhibited as-yet-unassigned STs. We identified a broad range of A. baumannii STs originating from poultry and pig production environments (e.g., ST10, ST238, ST240, ST267, ST345, ST370, ST372, ST1112 according to Pasteur scheme). These STs have also been documented in clinical settings worldwide, highlighting their clinical significance. These findings also raise concerns about the potential zoonotic transmission of certain STs associated with livestock environments. Furthermore, we observed that clinical isolates exhibited the highest diversity of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). In contrast to non-clinical isolates, clinical isolates typically carried a significantly higher number of ARGs, ranging from 10 to 15. They were also the exclusive carriers of biocide resistance genes and acquired carbapenemases (blaOXA-23, blaOXA-58, blaOXA-72, blaGIM-1, blaNDM-1). Additionally, we observed that clinical strains displayed an increased capacity for carrying plasmids and undergoing genetic transformation. This heightened capability could be linked to the intense selective pressures commonly found within clinical settings.Our study provides comprehensive insights into essential aspects of ABC isolates originating from livestock-associated environments and clinical settings. We explored their resistance mechanisms and potential implications for public health, providing valuable knowledge for addressing these critical issues.

Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli with Multidrug Resistance in Cattle from Mexico

Mexico is an important producer/exporter of cattle and cattle products. In the last decade, an increase in antibiotic resistance in E. coli pathotype strains from livestock environments has been reported. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and antibiotic resistance profiles of E. coli pathotype strains from the feces of beef or dairy cattle reared in the states of Aguascalientes (AG, central) and Nuevo Leon (NL, northeastern) in Mexico. One hundred and ten fecal samples were collected (beef cattle-AG = 30; dairy cattle-AG = 20; beef cattle-NL = 30; dairy cattle-NL = 30). From these, E. coli was isolated using selective/differential media and confirmed on chromogenic media. Multiplex PCR was used to identify diarrheagenic E. coli, and the Kirby–Bauer technique was used to determine the antimicrobial susceptibilities. All the animals harbored E. coli, and pathotypes were found in 34 animals from both, beef and dairy cattle, mainly from Aguascalientes. Of the positive samples, 31 harbored a single E. coli pathotype, whereas three samples harbored two different pathotypes; EHEC was the most prevalent, followed by EPEC, ETEC, and EIEC or the combination of two of them in some samples. Most pathotype strains (19/37) were isolated from beef cattle. Neither the animals’ productive purpose (beef or dairy cattle) (r = 0.155) nor the geographic regions (Aguascalientes or Nuevo Leon) (r = −0.066) had a strong positive correlation with the number of E. coli pathotype strains. However, animals reared in Aguascalientes had up to 8.5-fold higher risk of harboring E. coli pathotype strains than those reared in Nuevo Leon. All pathotype strains were resistant to erythromycin, tetracycline, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and all dairy cattle pathotype strains were further resistant to five β-lactams (χ2, P = 0.017). The existence of these pathotypes and multidrug-resistant pathogens in the food chain is a risk to public health.

Unraveling metabolic fate of a veterinary antibiotic thiamphenicol via the multi-omic approach

Thiamphenicol (TAP), a typical veterinary antibiotic, is emerging as a contaminant in livestock, poultry, and aquaculture environments. Addressing this concern, this study domesticated a TAP-degrading consortium in a lab-scale activated sludge bioreactor, demonstrating efficient degradation of up to 200 mg/L TAP within 50 h and elimination of antimicrobial activity. The microbial compositions, cross-feeding interactions, and underlying metabolic mechanisms were unveiled through multi-omics. TAP was modified at two hydroxyl groups for the initial step in three pathways including oxidation at C3-OH, dehydrogenation at both C1-OH and C3-OH, and acetylation at C3-OH. Hydrogenophaga (MAG1 and MAG2) and Bosea (MAG9) were implicated in oxidation and acetylation of TAP, respectively. Aromatic compounds and 2,2-dichloroacetic acid (DCA) were the principal downstream metabolites of TAP. MAG9 (Bosea), MAG10 (Rubrivivax), and MAG13 (Hyphomicrobium) were predicted as DCA degraders, while MAG4 (Xanthobacteraceae, Ga0077548) and MAG10 (Rubrivivax) conducted the catabolism of aromatic compounds. Therefore, consortium members collaborated to efficiently reduce and detoxify TAP. Furthermore, the co-metabolism of TAP and extracellular substrates supported the microbial populations’ growth. Genomic traits and transcriptional profiles suggested that the dominant Hydrogenophaga (MAG1) could store carbon and nitrogen by synthesizing cyanophycin and polyhydroxybutyrate biopolymers. Ultimately, this comprehensive understanding of TAP biodegradation will aid in formulating efficient biotreatment strategies for TAP-contaminated environments.

Assessment of GHG emissions in dairy production systems based on existing feed resources through the GLEAM model under different climatic zones of Bangladesh and their mitigation options

Objective: The current study evaluated the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of dairy cattle through the Global Livestock Environmental Assessment Model (GLEAM) model and illustrated potential mitigation strategies by modifying nutrition interventions. Materials and Methods: A semi-structural questionnaire was developed to calculate dairy animal GHG emissions. This study comprised 40 farmers from four districts: river basin (Pabna), drought-prone (Chapainobabganj), floodplain (Nilphamari), and saline-prone (Sathkhira) areas. Ten lac¬tating cows (two cows from each farmer) were also selected to collect information on feeding practices, feed resources, feed intake (roughages and concentrate), water intake, and production and reproductive parameters for 7 days at each site during two seasons: dry (November– February) and wet (June–October). Results: The GHG emissions from the river basin area were significantly (p &lt; 0.05) higher due to low-quality roughages (75%), whereas CH4/kg of milk production was the lowest (77.0 gm). In contrast, the area that frequently experiences drought showed a different pattern. For instance, the generation of CH4 from enteric fermentation was 1187.4 tons/year, while the production of CH4 and N2O from manure management was 323.1 tons/year and 4.86 tons/year, respectively. In comparison to other climatic areas, these values were the lowest because the supply of green grass was twice as abundant as in the other climatic areas (40%). The quantity of CH4/kg of milk produced in an area susceptible to drought did not vary. Conclusion: Implementing feeding systems in drought-prone areas is a successful approach to reducing GHG emissions in the dairy industry in Bangladesh. Consequently, implementing feed-balancing techniques can enhance productivity and foster environmentally sustainable ani¬mal production.

A seed vigour test based on radicle emergence during germination at 5°C for four forage species

Forage species play important role in both livestock production and environment protection. Seed vigour is a critical aspect of seed quality. The objective of this study was to develop a seed vigour test based on radicle emergence at a low temperature for four important forage species, Lolium multiflorum, Coronilla varia, Astragalus sinicus and Vicia sativa. The standard germination test (20°C) (SG) and cold radicle emergence (CRE) to ≥ 2 mm during germination at 5°C were determined for seed lots of four species in the laboratory. Field emergence (FE) was also measured, in April 2022. For four species, the SG of seed lots were high and similar, and was not significantly related to FE. However, the CRE counts at 11, 14, 18 and 7 days from sowing for L. multiflorum, C. varia, A. sinicus and V. sativa, respectively, were well correlated with FE, with co efficients of determination (R2) of 0.757, 0.815, 0.774 and 0.812, respectively (P &lt; 0.01). These findings suggested that CRE during germination at 5°C has good potential in assessing FE and hence seed vigour for four forage species.

Livestock, livestock loss and livelihood: a note on Mishing char dwellers of Assam

The geography of char (the sandy land areas found within the river or lining at the bank) and their fertile lands create a suitable environment for livestock rearing, significantly contributing to livelihood, income, and nutritional intact for the char dwellers. The study investigates how livestock rearing and losses due to diseases and disasters are related to the livelihood and economy of the char-residing people, with a particular concentration on the Mishing char dwellers of Assam. The study considers two districts of Assam having char areas populated by the Mishing population. Both quantitative and qualitative tools are used to achieve the desired goals. Table and box plot figures are used to present the results. It is found that the loss of livestock is a serious threat to the economy of char dwellers. It contributes the most significant portion of their economic loss. It is also found that the severity is higher in case of disease loss of livestock than disaster loss. The study further suggests possible adaptation strategies for reducing livestock loss in the study area.