Animal Feed Production and Its Contribution to Sustainability of Livestock Systems: African Perspective

The global demand increase for animal-source foods allows smallholder livestock farmers to improve food and nutrition security and their livelihoods. However, livestock production significantly contributes to global change with several negative environmental effects, including greenhouse gas emissions, high water consumption, acidification, air pollution, land degradation, and biodiversity loss. Therefore, the sustainable intensification of livestock production systems, such as improving the quality of feed, range and grazing land rehabilitation, and introduction of improved forages that deliver economic and ecosystem services without compromising the future integrity, health, and welfare of the environment and humans as a whole has become a critical global research priority. This study reviews the improved sustainable approaches to animal feed production to increase food security and reduce greenhouse gas emission forces in Africa. Therefore, in the transition to sustainable livestock production, there is a need for assessments related to appropriate strategies for sustainable intensification of livestock, such as improving the quality of feed, introducing improved forages, and improving herd genetics can reduce greenhouse gas emissions while strengthening livestock productivity; nutrition, and feeding system.