3) Discuss the effects of livestock farming on environment.
(250 words)
Introduction:
Livestock is used for meat, dairy products, eggs, fibre and leather, transport, and
for manure to fertilize crops and for fuel. According to FAO 2006, the livestock
sector accounts for 40 % of the world’s agriculture-related gross domestic product
(GDP). It employs 1.3 billion people and provides livelihoods for around 1 billion
of the world’s population living in poverty. However, it is also a major driver of
climate change through the emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon
dioxide, CH4, and nitrous oxide.
Body:
Effects of livestock farming on environment:
1. Globally, the livestock sector contributes 14.5 % (7.1 billion tonnes
CO2equivalent) of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. (FAO)
2. Cattle are responsible for the most emissions, representing about 65% of the
livestock sector’s emissions.
3. In terms of activities, feed production and processing (45%) and enteric
fermentation from ruminants (39%) are the two main sources of emissions
4. About 44% of livestock emissions are in the form of methane (CH4). Nitrous
Oxide accounts for 29% and Carbon Dioxide 27%
5. About 92 per cent of the fresh water is used for farming purposes, and 1/3rd of it
is used for rearing livestock and manufacturing animal products.
6. Ruminants such as cattle, sheep, buffalo, and goats produce methane, potent
greenhouse gas that can contribute to global climate change, as part of their
digestive process.
7. Globally, ruminant livestock produce about 86 million metric tons of CH4 annually.
8. Animal manure produces anthropogenic CH4 via anaerobic decomposition of
manure and N2O via nitrification and denitrification of organic nitrogen in animal
manure and urine.
9. Livestock operations require a variety of external inputs (i.e., feed production,
herbicides, pesticides, etc.). Carbon dioxide emissions originate from the
expansion of feed crops and pasture into natural habitats.
10. They also originate from the use of fossil fuel to manufacture fertilizer, and
process and transport feed.
11. The livestock sector includes direct and indirect (e.g. electricity) on-farm fossil
fuel use, which is used for machinery operations, irrigation, heating, cooling,
ventilation etc.
12. Land-use changes, including expansion of pasture and arable land for feed crops
generally occur at the expense of forested land.
13. It is estimated that livestock-related land-use change produces 35 % of the total
GHGs attributed to livestock.
14. Post farm CO2 emissions is related to the processing and transportation of
livestock product between the production and retail point
15. Overgrazing by livestock is one of the most important cause of land degradation
and desertification. Such problem is prominent in Africa, Central Asia, north-
eastern Australia, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
Measures needed:
1. Improving Feed Quality and Digestibility: measures should be taken for better
grassland management, improved pasture species, changing forage mix and
greater use of feed supplements.
2. Improving animal health and husbandry: It is important to improve animal
health through measures such as animal health management, extending the
productive life of animals, and improving reproduction rates to reduce the number
of animals kept otherwise rather than production.
3. Agroforestry: Agroforestry should be practiced to help maintain the balance
between livestock production, environmental protection and carbon sequestration
to offset emissions from the sector.
4. Manure management: It is important to adopt sound manure management to
mitigate GHG emissions, reduce nutrient losses from livestock production
systems and reduce other detrimental environmental impacts of livestock
production such as air and water pollution
5. Grassland management: It is important to improve grazing and grassland
management to increase feed quality and carbon sequestration. Further,
overgrazing should be hauled to combat land degradation and desertification.
6. Awareness: Raising awareness about impact of livestock/meat consumption on
climate is important.
7. Policy: Countries should develop sectoral mitigation policies that integrate other
development objectives, and seek international support towards their
implementation.
Conclusion:
Livestock farming creates a huge carbon footprint and has a very high global
warming potential. However, its successful, sustainable and skilful implementation
will go a long way in ameliorating the socio-economic condition of lower strata of
our society. Thus, the need of the hour is a green, sustainable way of livestock
farming which balances the needs of people and environmental conservation.