TY - JOUR

T1 - Key traits for ruminant livestock across diverse production systems in the context of climate change: perspectives from a global platform of research farms

AU - Rivero, M. Jordana

AU - Lopez-Villalobos, Nicolas

AU - Evans, Alex

AU - Berndt, Alexandre

AU - Cartmill, Andrew

AU - Neal, Andrew L.

AU - McLaren, Ann

AU - Farruggia, Anne

AU - Mignolet, Catyherine

AU - Chadwick, Dave

AU - Styles, David

AU - McCracken, Davy

AU - Busch, Dennis

AU - Martin, Graeme B.

AU - Flemming, Hannah

AU - Sheridan, Helen

AU - Gibbons, James

AU - Merbold, Lutz

AU - Eisler, Mark

AU - Lambe, Nicola

AU - Rovira, Pablo

AU - Harris, Paul

AU - Murphy, Paul

AU - Vercoe, Philip E.

AU - Williams, Prysor

AU - Machado, Rui

AU - Takahashi, Taro

AU - Puech, Thomas

AU - Boland, Tommy

AU - Ayala, Walter

AU - Lee, Michael R.F.

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Ruminant livestock are raised under diverse cultural and environmental production systems around the globe. Ruminant livestock can play a critical role in food security by supplying high-quality, nutrient-dense food with little or no competition for arable land while simultaneously improving soil health through vital returns of organic matter. However, in the context of climate change and limited land resources, the role of ruminant-based systems is uncertain because of their reputed low efficiency of feed conversion (kilogram of feed required per kilogram of product) and the production of methane as a by-product of enteric fermentation. A growing human population will demand more animal protein, which will put greater pressure on the Earth’s planetary boundaries and contribute further to climate change. Therefore, livestock production globally faces the dual challenges of mitigating emissions and adapting to a changing climate. This requires research-led animal and plant breeding and feeding strategies to optimise ruminant systems. This study collated information from a global network of research farms reflecting a variety of ruminant production systems in diverse regions of the globe. Using this information, key changes in the genetic and nutritional approaches relevant to each system were drawn that, if implemented, would help shape more sustainable future ruminant livestock systems.

AB - Ruminant livestock are raised under diverse cultural and environmental production systems around the globe. Ruminant livestock can play a critical role in food security by supplying high-quality, nutrient-dense food with little or no competition for arable land while simultaneously improving soil health through vital returns of organic matter. However, in the context of climate change and limited land resources, the role of ruminant-based systems is uncertain because of their reputed low efficiency of feed conversion (kilogram of feed required per kilogram of product) and the production of methane as a by-product of enteric fermentation. A growing human population will demand more animal protein, which will put greater pressure on the Earth’s planetary boundaries and contribute further to climate change. Therefore, livestock production globally faces the dual challenges of mitigating emissions and adapting to a changing climate. This requires research-led animal and plant breeding and feeding strategies to optimise ruminant systems. This study collated information from a global network of research farms reflecting a variety of ruminant production systems in diverse regions of the globe. Using this information, key changes in the genetic and nutritional approaches relevant to each system were drawn that, if implemented, would help shape more sustainable future ruminant livestock systems.

KW - breeding goals

KW - feeding strategies

KW - genetic resources

KW - global warming

KW - grazing ruminants

KW - sustainable intensification

U2 - 10.1071/RD20205

DO - 10.1071/RD20205

M3 - Article

VL - 33

SP - 1

EP - 19

JO - Reproduction, Fertility and Development

JF - Reproduction, Fertility and Development

IS - 2

ER -