Conclusions and researchable priorities

Abstract

This chapter provides the salient findings established by various researchers in their field of specialization and also elaborates on the future research priorities that are available before the researchers in the field of environmental stresses and livestock production. Among the numerous variables affecting livestock production, heat stress has been identified to be the cause of severe economic consequences. In view of changing climate, it is envisaged that apart from heat and nutritional stress the livestock are also subjected to locomotory stress as a result of long distance walking in search of pastures. The changing climatic conditions have contributed to the multiple stress phenomenons, particularly heat stress, nutritional stress, and walking stress which severely hampers livestock production. Different ameliorative strategies have been identified to counter such environmental extremes and the most noteworthy being the managemental and nutritional strategies. Further, the role of pineal gland in combating environmental stress has been established. Various aspects including genetic, neuroendocrine, cellular, and molecular mechanisms involved in livestock adaptation have also been dealt in detail. However, research priorities need to be set to further our understanding of adaptive strategies at cellular and molecular level in order to develop suitable adaptive and mitigation strategies to counter environmental stresses. The integration of new technologies into the research and technology transfer systems potentially offers many opportunities to take forward the development of climate change adaptation strategies.