Basic principles involved in adaption of livestock to climate change

Abstract

Animal agriculture accounts for approximately 70% of all agricultural land use and accounts for approximately 40% of the world's agriculture gross domestic product (GDP), with the livestock sector contributing to the livelihood of over one billion people. Potentially, climate change will have large negative impacts on the livestock production in many countries, especially when the animals used are not adapted to the changed environmental conditions. Determining animal responses to climate change is a challenge. The impacts may be direct, e.g. effects of heat load on animals or indirect, e.g. prolonged droughts. There is a need to select animals (and species) that are suited to the current climatic conditions, as well as the predicted future conditions. This chapter will discuss the effect of changing climate on animal performance, animal response to environmental stressors and the processes of adaptation.