The Environmental Impact Of Animal Agriculture

Question 1

What are the main challenges of global warming?

Answer 1

• Biodiversity loss
• Public health challenges
• Animal health and welfare issues

Question 2

Definitions of sustainability ?

Answer 2

• Enough for all, forever
• Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

Question 3

Pilars of One health?

Answer 3

Environmental, Economic, Social

Question 4

What are the 6Ws of the veterinary sustainability?

Answer 4

• Wildlife
  -Welfare
• Warming
• Well-being
• Waste
• Water

Question 5

Where do green house gases come from on farm?

Answer 5

• Feed
• Slaugtering
• Mechines and vehicles
• animal food
• Importing feed crops
  -Water treatment

Question 6

Describe N2O in farm production

Answer 6

UK agriculture is responsible for
68% of total UK nitrous oxide
emissions and 1.7% of total UK
carbon dioxide emissions,
DEFRA (2022)
» Nitrous oxide from urine,
manure and nitrogen fertilisers
is a potent greenhouse gas (265
times greater than carbon
dioxide) with a lifespan of 120
years (Esteban and Chara,
2021).

Question 7

CO2 farm emissions?

Answer 7

» Carbon dioxide is a long-lived
greenhouse gas accumulating in
the atmosphere for centuries
after release.
» The two main sources of carbon
dioxide emissions from the
agriculture sector are; emissions
from use of fossil fuels for
machinery and heating, and
emissions from land use change
and land managem

Question 8

Methane as farm emission?

Answer 8

» Methane is a relatively short-lived
GHG, degrading in the atmosphere
within 12 years
» The main sources of methane from
the agricultural sector are from
enteric fermentation and from
manure manageme

Question 9

How to compare effects of different GHGs?

Answer 9

Methane has a greater global warming potential (GWP) than CO2 (28 and 82 times more over 100-years and 20-years respectively).
However, it is a relatively short-lived GHG, degrading in the atmosphere within 12 years compared to CO2 which remains for centuries, making comparison difficult

Question 10

Describe a GWP 100?

Answer 10

= metric that looks at GWP of GHG over 100 years (based on long lived GHG e.g. CO2 which takes hundreds of years to breakdown)

Question 11

What do consumers want in food?

Answer 11

Good quality
Safe food
Fresh
Clean
Pesticide free
No artificial colours
Antibiotic free
No GMO
High animal welfare

Question 12

What advantages of using ivermectin use in sheep?

Answer 12

Inc productivity
Improved health and welfare - less dx
Better growth rates
Improved efficiency

Question 13

Disadvantages of ivermectin use?

Answer 13

IVM residues in faeces for 2 weeks post tx - impact on dung beetles, runoff into waterways, toxic to fish
Financial cost
Promoting of resistance

Question 14

What ways can emission targets can be reached by driving production efficiency ?

Answer 14

• Inc food conversion ratio
• Faster growth rates
• Inc herd sizes
• Supplentary feeding
• Larger machinery
• LArger fields

Question 15

Impact of driving production efficiency on animal health and welfare?

Answer 15

• Loss of biodiversity
• Un-natural/ welfare costs on animals

Question 16

Advantages fog antibiotic free broiler prod?

Answer 16

Reduces use of AB
Reduction in resistance

Question 17

Disadvantages of antibiotic-free broilers?

Answer 17

Increased neonatal infections/coccidiosis/necrotic
enteritis
Problems associated with gut health and gut barrier
function
Increased litter moisture – foot/hock burns, skin lesions,
air quality problems, increased coccidial/bacterial
infection
Pressure to withhold treatment unless losses are
severe (loss of status when ABX Tx given) -
compromised welfare

Question 18

Solutions???

Answer 18

1. Productivity improvements to reduce emission intensities
2. Carbon sequestration
3. Better livestock integration in circular bio economy

Question 19

Describe solution1?

Answer 19

Improved husbandry practices can
reduce emissions by 20-30%
» Improved feed quality
» Improved reproductive life/performance
» Reduce incidence/impact of disease
» Breed to promote growth, milk yield,
fertility

Question 20

Describe solution 2?

Answer 20

Permanent pastures and meadows
cover 1/4 of the Earth’s land area and
68% of the global agricultural area
» Restore the quality of pastures and
increased soil carbon storage

Question 21

Describe solution 3?

Answer 21

Minimises the leaks of energy/materials
by recirculating them
» Better integrating livestock into the
circular bio-economy
» E.g. via increasing the share of bi-
products/waste that humans cannot eat
in the livestock feed ration

Question 22

What are the livewell principles?

Answer 22

Eat more plants – seasonal/regional
» Eat a variety of foods
» WASTE LESS FOOD
» Moderate your meat consumption
» Buy better quality
» Eat foods low in fat, salt and sugar