Adaptation for pasture-grazing livestock includes changes in the use and maintenance of pastures and in the mix of livestock breeds.
Easterling et al., 2007
Neil Palmer, CIAT Extra facts
- Keepers of pasture-based livestock can adapt to climate change by matching stocking rates with pasture production, rotating pastures and modifying grazing times.
- They can also alter the types of forage (including adapted forage crops) and animal species or breeds, as well as integrate mixed livestock/crop systems are other adaptation measures.
- Reassessing fertilizer application, ensuring adequate water supplies and considering supplementary livestock feeds and concentrates are other livestock adaptation options.
Methods, caveats and issues
- There are often limitations to these proposed adaptations. For example, more heat-tolerant livestock breeds often have lower levels of productivity (Easterling et al. 2007).
Sources
- Easterling WE, Tubiello FN, Aggarwal P et al. 2007. Food, fibre and forest products. In: Parry ML, Canziani OF, Palutikof JP, Van Der Linden PJ, Hanson CE, eds. Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the fourth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
