Key traits for ruminant livestock across diverse production systems in the context of climate change: perspectives from a global platform of research farms

M. Jordana Rivero; Nicolas Lopez-Villalobos; Alex Evans; Alexandre Berndt; Andrew Cartmill; Andrew L. Neal; Ann McLaren; Anne Farruggia; Catherine Mignolet; Dave Chadwick; David Styles; Davy McCracken; Dennis Busch; Graeme B. Martin; Hannah Fleming; Helen Sheridan; James Gibbons; Lutz Merbold; Mark Eisler; Nicola Lambe; Pablo Rovira; Paul Harris; Paul Murphy; Philip E. Vercoe; Prysor Williams; Rui Machado; Taro Takahashi; Thomas Puech; Tommy Boland; Walter Ayala; Michael R. F. Lee

doi:10.1071/RD20205

RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

Key traits for ruminant livestock across diverse production systems in the context of climate change: perspectives from a global platform of research farms

M. Jordana Rivero ^A , Nicolas Lopez-Villalobos ^B , Alex Evans ^C , Alexandre Berndt ^D , Andrew Cartmill ^E , Andrew L. Neal ^A , Ann McLaren ^F , Anne Farruggia ^G , Catherine Mignolet ^H , Dave Chadwick ^I , David Styles ^I , Davy McCracken ^F , Dennis Busch ^E , Graeme B. Martin ^J , Hannah Fleming ^A , Helen Sheridan ^C , James Gibbons ^I , Lutz Merbold ^K , Mark Eisler ^L , Nicola Lambe ^F , Pablo Rovira ^M , Paul Harris ^A , Paul Murphy ^C , Philip E. Vercoe ^J , Prysor Williams ^I , Rui Machado ^D , Taro Takahashi ^A ^L , Thomas Puech ^H , Tommy Boland ^C , Walter Ayala ^M and Michael R. F. Lee ^A ^L ^N

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Sustainable Agriculture Sciences, Rothamsted Research, North Wyke, Okehampton, Devon EX20 2SB, UK.

^B School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand.

^C School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, D04V1W8, Ireland.

^D Embrapa Southeast Livestock, Rodovia Washington Luiz, km 234, São Carlos, São Paulo 13560-970, Brazil.

^E School of Agriculture, University of Wisconsin–Platteville, 1 University Plaza, Platteville, WI 53818, USA.

^F Hill and Mountain Research Centre, SRUC: Scotland’s Rural College, Kirkton Farm, Crianlarich FK20 8RU, UK.

^G Institut national de recherche pour l’agriculture, l’alimentation et l’environnement (INRAE) – Département sciences pour l’action, les transitions, les territoires (ACT), Unité Expérimentale 0057 Saint Laurent de la Prée, 545 route du Bois Maché, 17450 Saint Laurent de la Prée, France.

^H Institut national de recherche pour l’agriculture, l’alimentation et l’environnement (INRAE) – Département sciences pour l’action, les transitions, les territoires (ACT), Unité de Recherche 0055 Aster-Mirecourt, 662 Avenue Louis Buffet, 88500 Mirecourt, France.

^I School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK.

^J The UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley 6009, Australia.

^K Mazingira Centre, International Livestock Research Institute, PO Box 30709, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya.

^L Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Langford, Somerset BS40 5DU, UK.

^M Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria, INIA, Ruta 8 km 281, Treinta y Tres 33000, Uruguay.

^N Corresponding author. Email: michael.lee@rothamsted.ac.uk

Reproduction, Fertility and Development 33(2) 1-19 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD20205
Published: 8 January 2021

Journal Compilation © IETS 2021 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND

Abstract

Ruminant livestock are raised under diverse cultural and environmental production systems around the globe. Ruminant livestock can play a critical role in food security by supplying high-quality, nutrient-dense food with little or no competition for arable land while simultaneously improving soil health through vital returns of organic matter. However, in the context of climate change and limited land resources, the role of ruminant-based systems is uncertain because of their reputed low efficiency of feed conversion (kilogram of feed required per kilogram of product) and the production of methane as a by-product of enteric fermentation. A growing human population will demand more animal protein, which will put greater pressure on the Earth’s planetary boundaries and contribute further to climate change. Therefore, livestock production globally faces the dual challenges of mitigating emissions and adapting to a changing climate. This requires research-led animal and plant breeding and feeding strategies to optimise ruminant systems. This study collated information from a global network of research farms reflecting a variety of ruminant production systems in diverse regions of the globe. Using this information, key changes in the genetic and nutritional approaches relevant to each system were drawn that, if implemented, would help shape more sustainable future ruminant livestock systems.

Keywords: breeding goals, feeding strategies, genetic resources, global warming, grazing ruminants, sustainable intensification.

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