Animal Agriculture

Sustainability, Challenges and Innovations

Fuller W. Bazer, G. Cliff Lamb, Guoyao Wu

• Publisher: Academic Press
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN: 9780128170526
• eBook ISBN: 9780128170533
• Topic: Tecnologia e ingegneria
• Subtopic: Scienze dell'alimentazione

Animal Agriculture: Sustainability, Challenges and Innovations discusses the land-based production of high-quality protein by livestock and poultry and how it plays an important role in improving human nutrition, growth and health. With exponential growth of the global population and marked rises in meat consumption per capita, demands for animal-source protein are expected to increase 72% between 2013 and 2050. This raises concerns about the sustainability and environmental impacts of animal agriculture. An attractive solution to meeting increasing needs for animal products and mitigating undesirable effects of agricultural practices is to enhance the efficiency of animal growth, reproduction, and lactation. Currently, there is no resource that offers specific knowledge of both animal science and technology, including biotechnology for the sustainability of animal agriculture for the expanding global demand of food in the face of diminishing resources. This book fills that gap, giving readers all the necessary information on important issues facing modern animal agriculture, namely its sustainability, challenges and innovative solutions. - Integrates new knowledge in animal breeding, biotechnology, nutrition, reproduction and management - Addresses the urgent issue of sustainability in modern animal agriculture - Provides practical solutions on how to solve the current and future problems that face animal agriculture worldwide

Chapter 1

Introduction

significance, challenges and strategies of animal production

Guoyao Wu, Fuller W. Bazer, and G. Cliff Lamb Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States

Abstract

Livestock, poultry and fish are the biological transformers of low-quality feedstuffs into high-quality protein and highly bioavailable essential minerals in diets of humans. Thus, animal agriculture plays an important role in improving human nutrition, growth and health, as well as economical, political and social stability in society. However, more than 10% of the world's population suffered from chronic deficiencies of nutrients (particularly protein and microminerals) in 2016. Globally, 150 million children under five years of age were stunted in their growth and development in 2017. With exponential growth of the global population and marked increases in meat consumption per capita, demands for animal-source protein are expected to increase 72% between 2013 and 2050. This raises concerns about the efficiency, sustainability and environmental impacts of animal agriculture. An attractive solution to meeting increasing needs for animal products and mitigating undesirable effects of agricultural practices is to enhance the efficiency of animal growth, reproduction, and lactation. The application of techniques in biotechnology is expected to help in achieving this goal. In addition, a promising, mechanism-based approach is to optimize the proportion and amounts of amino acids and other nutrients in diets for maximizing whole-body protein synthesis and feed efficiency. Furthermore, new management skills are required to reduce various environmental and disease-associated stresses in livestock and poultry under practical production conditions. Improvements in farm animal productivity will not only decrease the contamination of soils, groundwater, and air, but will also help sustain animal agricultural production of high-quality protein for the expanding global demand in the face of diminishing resources.

Keywords

Agriculture; Animal; Livestock; Poultry; Sustainability

1. Introduction
2. Important roles of animal-source food in human health
3. Global animal agriculture including aquaculture
4. Potential impacts of animal agriculture on human food supply and the ecosystem
   1. Potential competition with humans for food and water
   2. Potential impacts of animal production on the environment
5. Major challenges to the sustainability of animal agriculture and potential solutions
   1. Suboptimal efficiency of protein production by animals
   2. Banning of the use of antibiotics for growth enhancement
   3. Metabolic disorders and infectious diseases
   4. Global warming and cold environment
6. Companion animals in agriculture
7. Conclusion
8. Acknowledgments
9. References

Introduction

High-quality protein, along with other nutrients, is essential for optimal growth, development, and health of humans. However, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations estimated that in 2016, about 815 million people (10.7% of the world population) were suffering from chronic deficiencies of nutrients, particularly protein, vitamins and microminerals. ¹ Globally, 150 million children under five years of age were estimated to be stunted in growth and development in 2017. ² Malnutrition during gestational and neonatal periods affects not only the first generation of offspring, but also at least two subsequent generations through epigenetic-mediated mechanisms. ³ The challenge of preventing hunger and malnutrition will become even greater as the global population grows from the current 7.2 billion people to 9.6 billion people by 2050. With increases in income, population, and demand for more nutrient-dense foods, global meat production is projected to increase to 192 million tons per ye...

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Copyright
• Contributors
• Foreword
• Chapter 1. Introduction: significance, challenges and strategies of animal production
• I. Beef cattle production
• II. Lactation and management of dairy cattle
• III. Sheep and goat production
• IV. Swine production
• V. Poultry production
• VI. Biotechnologies and others in animal production
• VII. Management of animal diseases in livestock and poultry production
• Index