Developing a method for assessing climate change effects on productivity and animal welfare as well as adaptation potential of livestock husbandry
Abstract
The agricultural sector is both substantially contributing to greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE), and is also affected by climate change; this also applies to livestock production including feed supply. Hence it is important to develop climate change adaptation strategies as a second pillar of climate policy in addition to climate protection (i.e. reducing GHGE). So far, strategies and measures for climate change adaptation related to livestock were mostly addressing the adaptation of housing systems. From a more systemic viewpoint, aspects of feeding and the genetic potential have to be taken into account as well. Previous studies on indicators which characterize the extent of climate change-related risk or the potential adaptation to climate change, are mostly focusing on (national) policy advice. Contrarily, the present study takes an individual farm perspective. A qualitative system analysis which is based on literature findings and the results from expert interviews, is carried out to characterise the effects of climate change on livestock farming. Furthermore, the system analysis is used to develop a list of indicators which characterise the adaptation potential to climate change impacts for an individual farm. Selected production systems will be covered for milk (from dairy cows) and pork production. Referring to regionally projected climate change effects and the animal species included, we address areas of risk from the perspective of animal health, welfare and productivity. Based on the analysis of selected farms we detect the risk potential in the farms’ adaption and demonstrate examples for solutions which can be used for consulting purposes. For relevant husbandry-related interventions (e.g. adaptation of farming systems and the management of the barn environment, including feed supply systems or taking into account critical factors in breeding strategies), the climate change issue is currently hardly considered in decision making. Keeping in mind the duration of many effects resulting from these decisions (e.g. the lifetime of newly built livestock houses), it should however be noted that the predicted effects of climate change should be involved in these decisions. The proposed project will also strive to promote awareness on the impact of climate change on livestock production.
keywords climate change adaptation resilience livestock
Publikationen
Project staff
Werner Zollitsch
Univ.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Werner Zollitsch
werner.zollitsch@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-93211, 99101, 99111
Project Leader
01.09.2014 - 30.06.2015
Stefan Hörtenhuber
Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Stefan Hörtenhuber
stefan.hoertenhuber@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-93229
Project Staff
01.09.2014 - 30.06.2015