22. Overview on Adaptation, Mitigation and Amelioration Strategies to Improve Livestock Production Under the Changing Climatic Scenario

Livestock production is thought to be adversely affected by detrimental effects of extreme climatic conditions. Consequently, adaptation, mitigation and amelioration of detrimental effects of extreme climates have played a major role in combating the climatic impact in livestock production. While measures to reduce the growth of greenhouse gas emissions are an important response to the threat of climate change, adaptation to climate change will also form a necessary part of the response. The salient adaptation strategies are developing less sensitive breeds, improving water availability, improving animal health, promoting women empowerment, developing various policy issues, establishing early warning systems and developing suitable capacity building programmes for different stakeholders. Developing adaptation strategies is therefore an important part of ensuring that countries are well prepared to deal with any negative impacts that may occur as a result of climate change. The integration of new technologies into the research and technology transfer systems potentially offers many opportunities to further the development of climate change adaptation strategies. Adapting to climate change and reducing GHG emissions may require significant changes in production technology and farming systems that could affect productivity. Many viable opportunities exist for reducing CH₄ emissions from enteric fermentation in ruminant animals and from livestock manure management facilities. To be considered viable, these emission reduction strategies must be consistent with the continued economic viability of the producer and must accommodate cultural factors that affect livestock ownership and management. This chapter also elaborates on ameliorative strategies that should be given consideration to prevent economic losses incurred due to environmental stresses on livestock productivity. Reducing the impact of climatic stresses on livestock production requires multidisciplinary approaches which emphasise animal nutrition, housing and animal health. Therefore, emphasis should be given to all three aspects of adaptation, mitigation and amelioration strategies to sustain livestock production under the changing climate scenario.