The increase in the consumption of animal products is likely to put further pressure on the world’s freshwater resources This paper provides a comprehensive account of the water footprint of animal products, considering different production systems and feed composition per animal type and country Nearly one-third of the total water footprint of agriculture in the world is related to the production of animal products The water footprint of any animal product is larger than the water footprint of crop products with equivalent nutritional value The average water footprint per calorie for beef is 20 times larger than for cereals and starchy roots The water footprint per gram of protein for milk, eggs and chicken meat is 15 times larger than for pulses The unfavorable feed conversion efficiency for animal products is largely responsible for the relatively large water footprint of animal products compared to the crop products Animal products from industrial systems generally consume and pollute more ground- and surface-water resources than animal products from grazing or mixed systems The rising global meat consumption and the intensification of animal production systems will put further pressure on the global freshwater resources in the coming decades The study shows that from a freshwater perspective, animal products from grazing systems have a smaller blue and grey water footprint than products from industrial systems, and that it is more water-efficient to obtain calories, protein and fat through crop products than animal products

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A Global Assessment of the Water Footprint of Farm Animal Products

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The green, blue and grey water footprint of farm animals and animal products. Volume 2: Appendices

Emerging infectious diseases, most of which are considered zoonotic in origin, continue to exact a significant toll on society. The origins of major human infectious diseases are reviewed and the factors underlying disease emergence explored. Anthropogenic changes, largely in land use and agriculture, are implicated in the apparent increased frequency of emergence and re-emergence of zoonoses in recent decades. Special emphasis is placed on the pathogen with likely the greatest zoonotic potential, influenzavirus A.

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The Human/Animal Interface: Emergence and Resurgence of Zoonotic Infectious Diseases

The goal of this review was to analyze published data on animal management practices that mitigate enteric methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from animal operations. Increasing animal productivity can be a very effective strategy for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per unit of livestock product. Improving the genetic potential of animals through planned cross-breeding or selection within breeds and achieving this genetic potential through proper nutrition and improvements in reproductive efficiency, animal health, and reproductive lifespan are effective approaches for improving animal productivity and reducing GHG emission intensity. In subsistence production systems, reduction of herd size would increase feed availability and productivity of individual animals and the total herd, thus lowering CH4 emission intensity. In these systems, improving the nutritive value of low-quality feeds for ruminant diets can have a considerable benefit on herd productivity while keeping the herd CH4 output constant or even decreasing it. Residual feed intake may be a tool for screening animals that are low CH4 emitters, but there is currently insufficient evidence that low residual feed intake animals have a lower CH4 yield per unit of feed intake or animal product. Reducing age at slaughter of finished cattle and the number of days that animals are on feed in the feedlot can significantly reduce GHG emissions in beef and other meat animal production systems. Improved animal health and reduced mortality and morbidity are expected to increase herd productivity and reduce GHG emission intensity in all livestock production systems. Pursuing a suite of intensive and extensive reproductive management technologies provides a significant opportunity to reduce GHG emissions. Recommended approaches will differ by region and species but should target increasing conception rates in dairy, beef, and buffalo, increasing fecundity in swine and small ruminants, and reducing embryo wastage in all species. Interactions among individual components of livestock production systems are complex but must be considered when recommending GHG mitigation practices.

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Special topics--Mitigation of methane and nitrous oxide emissions from animal operations: III. A review of animal management mitigation options.

Conservation agriculture (CA) is characterized by surface crop residue retention and minimal soil movement. It is a complex technology that involves not only a change in many of the farmer's cultural practices, but also a change in mind-set to overcome the use of the plow. CA is knowledge-intensive, and success with the system may depend more on what the farmer does than the level of inputs applied. However, smallholder farmers are generally characterized by weak links to information systems outside those of the community, while close community linkages tend to reinforce traditional activities. They commonly manage complex crop-livestock systems, where crop residues play an important role in animal nutrition. This, coupled with communal grazing rights, makes the retention of sufficient surface residues a difficult practice for small farmers, especially in rain-fed systems where residue production levels are low. Smallholders often have weak links to input and output markets, as well as limited ac...

Tailoring conservation agriculture to the needs of small farmers in developing countries: an analysis of issues

Comprehensive study on interactions between livestock production systems and the environment. Management of waste from animal product processing is the main subject

A.J. Nell

Papers

Livestock and the environment : finding a balance

Animal manure: asset or liability?

Environmental impact assessment of landless livestock ruminant production systems