Smallholder farmers are the worst hit by the impact of the changing climate, especially those in developing countries. Climate change shows a direct impact on the significant contribution of the production systems and related practices of smallholder farmers. Ruminant production systems emit various proportions of the primary greenhouse gases of carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane associated with global warming and the resultant climate change. Higher concentration of these emitted gases indicates inefficiency in production through energy, nutrients, and organic matter loss, which has negatively affected the productivity of ruminants. The climate will change, and it will have some effects on agriculture through high temperatures, low relative humidity, drought, erratic rainfall, and emerging pests and diseases. These will have a negative impact on feed crop and forage, water availability, animal and milk production, livestock diseases, animal reproduction, and biodiversity, thus constituting a threat to ruminant production. Livestock farmers will be most affected by the direct and indirect impact of climate change among agricultural farmers. However, livestock farmers must learn how to survive, and maintain profitable production in the face of changing climate. Therefore, in the face of changing climate, the purpose of this chapter is to provide insight into how smallholder farmers in developing countries can continue (adaptation) with ruminant farming in a sustainable way.

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Adapting Ruminant Production to Changing Climate: Strategies for Smallholders

  • M. J. Adegbeye,
  • Akaninyene Jack,
  • P. R. K. Reddy,
  • Anem Igirigi,
  • Udoh Inyang,
  • Pedro Enrique Hernández-Ruiz,
  • Edson Brodeli Figueroa Pacheco,
  • José Luis Ponce-Covarrubias,
  • Raymundo Rene Rivas Caceres

摘要

Smallholder farmers are the worst hit by the impact of the changing climate, especially those in developing countries. Climate change shows a direct impact on the significant contribution of the production systems and related practices of smallholder farmers. Ruminant production systems emit various proportions of the primary greenhouse gases of carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane associated with global warming and the resultant climate change. Higher concentration of these emitted gases indicates inefficiency in production through energy, nutrients, and organic matter loss, which has negatively affected the productivity of ruminants. The climate will change, and it will have some effects on agriculture through high temperatures, low relative humidity, drought, erratic rainfall, and emerging pests and diseases. These will have a negative impact on feed crop and forage, water availability, animal and milk production, livestock diseases, animal reproduction, and biodiversity, thus constituting a threat to ruminant production. Livestock farmers will be most affected by the direct and indirect impact of climate change among agricultural farmers. However, livestock farmers must learn how to survive, and maintain profitable production in the face of changing climate. Therefore, in the face of changing climate, the purpose of this chapter is to provide insight into how smallholder farmers in developing countries can continue (adaptation) with ruminant farming in a sustainable way.