Livestock feeding management systems and impact on environment

Abstract

Livestock feeding management systems in the world is changing in response to population pressure, resource endowment and marketing opportunities. There is a decrease on grazing lands with the increase in cropping land to produce food for the increasing mouths. Parallel to this, there has been an intensification of forage production and a change to more intensified crop-livestock interactions. These measures result into increased pressure on the natural resource base. The effect of the livestock feeding management systems on natural resource base to ensure sustainability of the environment has not received much attention. The paper describes the trends in the livestock feeding management systems in the last decade, the period marked with major policy changes as well as structural adjustment programs. Impacts of the different livestock feeding management systems on environment, particularly in relation to nutrient balances are discussed. Finally, strategies or options for improvement to a more sustainable system are suggested