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

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.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	RIVERO, M. J., LOPEZ-VILALOBOS, N., EVANS, A., BERNDT, A., CARTMILL, A., NEAL, A. L., MCLAREN, A., FARRUGGIA, A., MIGNOLET, C., CHADWICK, D., MCCRACKEN, D., BUSCH, D., MARTIN, G. B., FLEMING, H., SHERIDAN, H., GIBBONS, J., MERBOLD, L., EISLER, M., LAMBE, N., ROVIRA, P., HARRIS, P., MURPHY, P., VERCOE, P. E., WILLIAMS, P., MACHADO, R., TAKAHASHI, T., PUECH, T., BOLAND, T., AYALA, W., LEE, M. R. F.
Other Authors:	M. Jordana Rivero, Rothamsted Research; Nicolas Lopez-Villalobos, Massey University; Alex Evans, University College Dublin; ALEXANDRE BERNDT, CPPSE; Andrew Cartmill, University of Wisconsin-Platteville; Andrew L. Neal, Rothamsted Research; Ann McLaren, SRUC: Scotland's Rural College; Anne Farruggia, Institut national de recherche pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (INRAE); Catherine Mignolet, Institut national de recherche pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (INRAE); Dave Chadwick, The University of Western Australia; Davy McCracken, SRUC: Scotland's Rural College; Dennis Busch, University of Wisconsin-Platteville; Graeme B. Martin, The University of Western Australia; Hannah Fleming, Rothamsted Research; Helen Sheridan, University College Dublin; James Gibbons, Bangor University; Lutz Merbold, International Livestock Research Institute; Mark Eisler, University of Bristol; Nicola Lambe, SRUC: Scotland's Rural College; Pablo Rovira, Instituto Nacional de Investigacion Agropecuaria, INIA; Paul Harris, Rothamsted Research; Paul Murphy, University College Dublin; Philip E. Vercoe, The University of Western Australia; Prysor Williams, Bangor University; RUI MACHADO, CPPSE; Taro Takahashi, Rothamsted Research; Thomas Puech, Institut national de recherche pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (INRAE); Tommy Boland, University College Dublin; Walter Ayala, Instituto Nacional de Investigacion Agropecuaria, INIA; Michael R. F. Lee, Rothamsted Research.
Format:	Artigo de periódico biblioteca
Language:	Ingles English
Published:	2021-01-28
Subjects:	Breeding goals, Feeding strategies, Grazing ruminants, Sustainable intensification, Genetic resources, Global warming,
Online Access:	http://www.alice.cnptia.embrapa.br/alice/handle/doc/1129652 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD20205
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