Climate Resilient Livestock Production System in Tropical and Subtropical Countries

Abstract

Livestock production and human civilization are interlinked. Since the start of human civilization, livestock has been playing vital roles. Livestock serves as a source of milk and protein, an agricultural business, and a pet. Every individual requires animal proteins on a daily basis, such as meat and dairy products, the majority of which are derived from livestock animals. Industrialization of livestock production has become an important component of global GDP and a source of income for both industrialists and low-income marginal communities around the world. Production of livestock depends on intrinsic factors as well as environmental factors. Environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, rainfall, and so on have a significant impact on farm animal production, survivability, and disease load. The level of environmental stress differs in different climatic conditions. Therefore, a concrete understanding of environmental stress factors is required to ensure the optimum production of livestock. In this chapter, we discuss thermal stress and its detection methods, adaptive thermal stress management, the effects of temperature on bovine health, milk production, beef production, and reproductive performance, thermal effects on water availability, livestock diseases and intramammary infection, uses of small ruminants for livelihood, livestock sources of methane, and strategies to mitigate thermal stress and methane emissions.