Livestock Production in the UK in the 21st Century: A Perfect Storm Averted?

Abstract

Simple SummaryThe global rise in demand for animal products for human consumption may well have an increasingly significant impact upon the natural environment, human health and the lives of farmed animals. This paper reviews some of the evidence for that impact and the future trajectories for livestock farming that it may well entail. AbstractThere is a school of thought that future demand for meat and other farm animal products is unsustainable for several reasons, including greenhouse gas emissions, especially from ruminants; standards of farm animal health and welfare, especially when farm animals are kept intensively; efficiency of conversion by livestock of solar energy into (human) food, particularly by pigs and poultry; water availability and usage for all types of agricultural production, including livestock; and human health and consumption of meat, eggs and milk. Demand for meat is forecast to rise as a result of global population growth and increasing affluence. These issues buttress an impending perfect storm of food shortages, scarce water and insufficient energy, which is likely to coincide with global population reaching about 9 billion people in 2030 (pace Beddington). This paper examines global demand for animal products, the narrative of ‘sustainable intensification’ and the implications of each for the future of farm animal welfare. In the UK, we suggest that, though non-ruminant farming may become unsustainable, ruminant agriculture will continue to prosper because cows, sheep and goats utilize grass and other herbage that cannot be consumed directly by humans, especially on land that is unsuitable for other purposes. However, the demand for meat and other livestock-based food is often for pork, eggs and chicken from grain-fed pigs and poultry. The consequences of such a perfect storm are beginning to be incorporated in long-term business planning by retailers and others. Nevertheless, marketing sustainable animal produce will require considerable innovation and flair in public and private policies if marketing messages are to be optimized and consumer behaviour modified.

A Systematic Review of Public Attitudes, Perceptions and Behaviours Towards Production Diseases Associated with Farm Animal Welfare

“…Previous research has demonstrated that some consumers are willing-to-pay (WTP) for a range of products that exceed minimum welfare standards (Lagerkvist and Hess 2011), indicating niche markets for WFP (Wathes et al 2013) and that market-based solutions role in maintaining welfare standards. Heterogeneity within the WTP literature has been explored in previous reviews in relation to consumer characteristics, different welfare aspects and animal types (Lagerkvist and Hess 2011).…”

Morphological characteristics, nutritive quality, and methane production of tropical grasses in Brazil

“…Sustainable pasture-based ruminant production may be defined as a system that ensures the adequate generation of animal products and profitability of farming with minimal impact on the environment, making it possible to future generations the use of the land, besides counting with the best use of locally available resources and animal welfare as important aspects of the system (Wathes et al, 2013). By this definition, the amount and quality of forage fed to animals are considered crucial factors, especially regarding the mitigation of enteric CH 4 emissions.…”

Heat stress assessment by swine related vocalizations

“…Intensive modern swine farming deals with animals under extreme climate conditions because of the closed environment, the poor indoor air quality, the use of concrete floors that cannot absorb manure and the deep pits for manure stocking that release gaseous ammonia from underneath (Wathes et al, 2012). The effect of high temperature on pig growth performance and health has been extensively studied and published (Close, 1981;Hillmann et al, 2004;Patience et al, 2005).…”