Animal and Livestock Production

What are the two main lecture ILOs?

1. Explain population trends and livestock supply/demand. 2. Describe global, European and UK livestock distribution.

How many people faced hunger globally in 2022?

Approximately 691-783 million people.

Which regions have high levels of food insecurity?

Asia and Africa.

Where do approximately 80% of undernourished people live?

In rural areas.

What percentage of rural households keep livestock?

Approximately 60%.

What drives increasing demand for livestock products?

Population growth, urbanisation and increasing demand for animal-source foods.

What percentage of agricultural output comes from livestock?

Approximately 40% globally.

How many people's livelihoods are supported by livestock?

Over 1 billion people.

What percentage of global food energy comes from livestock?

Approximately 15%.

What percentage of global dietary protein comes from livestock?

Approximately 25%.

How much of Earth's ice-free surface is grazed by livestock?

Over one-quarter.

What percentage of agricultural cropland produces livestock feed?

Approximately one-third.

What are the three main FAO livestock production system categories?

Grazing systems, mixed farming systems and industrial systems.

What are the two types of grazing systems?

Extensive and intensive grazing systems.

What are the two types of mixed farming systems?

Rainfed and irrigated systems.

What is an extensive grazing system?

Livestock graze large areas of land with relatively low inputs per animal.

What is an intensive livestock system?

High-input production with greater control over feeding, housing and management.

What is a mixed farming system?

Crop and livestock production occur together, with resources often shared between them.

What is a rainfed farming system?

Agriculture relying mainly on natural rainfall rather than irrigation.

What is an irrigated farming system?

Agriculture where water is artificially supplied to crops or pasture.

What factors influence global livestock farming patterns?

Topography, climate, soil, technology and market resources.

Which climatic factors influence livestock production?

Rainfall, temperature, growing season, latitude and daylength.

Which soil factors influence farming patterns?

Parent rock, drainage and fertiliser use.

Where are cattle and buffalo highly concentrated globally?

South Asia, especially India, parts of East Asia, South America and Europe.

Where are sheep and goats commonly distributed?

Arid, semi-arid and hill regions, including the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Australia.

Where are pigs and poultry heavily concentrated?

Intensive production regions across Europe, North America and parts of Asia.

What are Less Favoured Areas (LFAs)?

Agricultural regions with natural limitations that make farming more difficult.

Which UK regions contain extensive Less Favoured Areas?

Scottish uplands and Welsh hills.

Which livestock are suited to UK upland and hill regions?

Hardy sheep and beef cattle, often kept in extensive grazing systems.

What are the two largest components of UK agricultural output?

Milk (18.7%) and cattle (15.2%).

What percentage of UK agricultural output comes from horticulture?

12.4%.

What percentage of UK agricultural output comes from cereals?

11.3%.

What percentage of UK agricultural output comes from poultry?

9.7%.

What is the UK farming structural trend?

Fewer farm holdings but larger average farm sizes and enterprises.

What is intermediate consumption in agriculture?

The cost of goods and services used during agricultural production.

What is the largest UK agricultural intermediate cost?

Feeding stuffs at 25.7%.

What percentage of UK intermediate consumption is other goods and services?

23.4%.

What percentage of UK intermediate consumption is energy?

8.6%.

What percentage of UK intermediate consumption is agricultural services?

8.2%.

What percentage of total EU greenhouse gas emissions comes from agriculture?

Approximately 10.1%.

What are the three main agricultural greenhouse gas emission sources?

Agricultural soils (5.27%), enteric fermentation (3.21%) and manure management (1.58%).

What is enteric fermentation?

Microbial digestion in ruminants that produces methane, released mainly through belching.

What is manure management?

The storage, handling and treatment of animal waste, which can release greenhouse gases.

What factors affect the carbon footprint of milk?

Production efficiency, country, farming system and how emissions are allocated.

What are examples of milk carbon-footprint allocation methods?

Economic, energy, mass, IDF 85% and no allocation.

What is precision livestock farming?

Using technology and data to monitor and manage individual animals and production.

What are examples of technological advances in livestock production?

Precision farming, robotic milking and genetic selection.

How can climate change affect livestock production?

It can increase disease spread, drought and soil degradation.

What resource competition challenges livestock production?

Water scarcity and competition for grain, land and biofuel resources.

Which agricultural inputs may face restrictions or shortages?

Fuel, fertilisers and pesticides.

What economic changes can challenge livestock farmers?

Loss of subsidies, market liberalisation and post-Brexit trade changes.

Why are disease surveillance and biosecurity important?

They help prevent disease introduction and spread, protecting animal and public health.

What standards must future livestock production maintain?

Animal welfare, biosecurity, disease surveillance and food safety.

What are the main future considerations for global livestock production?

Meeting food demand sustainably while managing climate, resource, economic and disease challenges.