Item

Impacts of climate change on livestock and possible adaptations: A case study of the United Kingdom

Wreford, Anita
Topp, CFE
Date
2020-02
Type
Journal Article
Fields of Research
ANZSRC::0702 Animal Production , ANZSRC::070108 Sustainable Agricultural Development , ANZSRC::140201 Agricultural Economics , ANZSRC::30 Agricultural, veterinary and food sciences , ANZSRC::41 Environmental sciences
Abstract
Agriculture is a vital economic sector, providing food, fibre, and energy to a growing human population. Livestock are an important part of this sector, however the evidence and understanding of how a changing climate may affect livestock production systems, or how they may adapt to the changes, is a neglected area compared to the research into crop production. In this paper, we focus on livestock in the United Kingdom (UK), as an example of a temperate region likely to experience at least moderate changes in climate that will require changes to the way agricultural systems operate. We summarise the projected climate changes in this region, identify the main impacts likely to affect livestock agriculture, and discuss potential adaptation options at the farm level. We also categorise the adaptation options by the types of costs they incur, emphasising that many of these options involve management changes rather than investment and therefore no financial cost. Finally, we discuss the need for longer term planning to prepare for changes that have not yet been observed.
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