scholarly journals Current and predicted temperatures impair reproduction in the Australian sheep flock

Author(s):  
William van Wettere ◽  
Sam Culley ◽  
Alyce Swinbourne ◽  
Stephan Leu ◽  
Stephen Lee ◽  
...  

Abstract Climate change threatens global livestock production1,2. We modelled the impact of recent temperatures and a 1°C and 3°C temperature increase over the historical baseline on risks of heat stress at key periods of the reproductive cycle and consequences for reproduction across the entire Australian sheep flock. We estimate that 2.1 million potential lambs are currently lost annually due to heat stress, increasing to 2.5 and 3.3 million as temperatures rise.

2021 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 185-193
Author(s):  
A. A. Saka ◽  
O. O. Awodola-Peters ◽  
T. A. Olaniyi ◽  
O. Y. Adedeji ◽  
M. O. Bolarinwa ◽  
...  

As the demand for livestock products is on the increase due to improved standard of living, the fear of its negative effect of climate is also on the increase. The impact of climate change on livestock production was reviewed in this study. Livestock through contributes to the emissions which in turn has negative impact on livestock production. Humans, animals and mixed farming, produce emissions which contribute so much to the change in climate. Heat stress associated with climate change has an enormous effect on poultry production as it affects chicken growth and productivity as poultry meat and eggs play an important food security role across Africa and world at large. Understanding how farmers deal with the realities of poultry production due to climate change is critical. In pig production the influence of climate change may differ slightly depending on the breed types and locality but common problems are lack of water, pests and diseases, death of the animal at extreme heat stress and possible alteration in grazing behavior which will lead ultimately to decrease in feed intake and feed digestibility and efficiency of feed utilization which can be seen in terms of growth, pork yield and milk production. Ruminants which are the primary producers of methane (CH4) has many factors influencing these emissions such as level of feed intake, type of carbohydrate in the diet and feed processing. Manipulation of these factors can reduce methane emissions from cattle.     La demande de produits de bétail étant en agrandissement en raison de l'amélioration du niveau de vie, la crainte de son effet négatif sur le climat est également en augmentation. L'impact du changement climatique sur la production animale a été examiné dans cette étude. L'élevage contribue aux émissions qui à leur tour ont un impact négatif sur la production animale. Les humains, les animaux et l'agriculture mixte, produisent des émissions qui contribuent beaucoup au changement climatique. Le stress thermique associé au changement climatique a un effet énorme sur la production de volaille car il affecte la croissance et la productivité des poulets, car la viande et les œufs de volaille jouent un rôle important dans la sécurité alimentaire en Afrique et dans le monde en général. Il est essentiel de comprendre comment les agriculteurs gèrent les réalités de la production de volaille en raison du changement climatique. Dans la production porcine, l'influence du changement climatique peut différer légèrement selon le type de race et la localité, mais les problèmes courants sont le manque d'eau, les ravageurs et les maladies, la mort de l'animal en cas de stress thermique extrême et une éventuelle modification du comportement de pâturage qui entraînera finalement une diminution dans l'ingestion et la digestibilité des aliments et l'efficacité de l'utilisation des aliments qui peuvent être vus en termes de croissance, de rendement de porc et de production de lait. Les ruminants qui sont les principaux producteurs de méthane (CH4) ont de nombreux facteurs influençant ces émissions tels que le niveau de consommation alimentaire, le type de glucides dans l'alimentation et la transformation des aliments. La manipulation de ces facteurs peut réduire les émissions de méthane des bovins.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 3127
Author(s):  
Amira A. Goma ◽  
Clive J. C. Phillips

Egypt is one of the hottest countries in the world, and extreme climate events are becoming more frequent, which is consistent with the warming of the planet. The impact of this warming on ecosystems is severe, including on livestock production systems. Under Egyptian conditions, livestock already suffer heat stress periods in summer. The predicted increases in temperature as result of climate change will affect livestock production by reducing growth and milk production because of appetite suppression and conception rate reductions and will increase animal welfare concerns. In severe cases, these effects can result in death. We review the heat stress effects on livestock behaviour, reproduction, and production in the context of predicted climate change for Egypt over the course of this century and offer alternative scenarios to achieve food security for a growing human population. As an example, we combine predictions for reduced milk production during heat stress and human population trajectories to predict that milk availability per person will decline from 61 kg/year in 2011 to 26 kg/year in 2064. Mitigation strategies are discussed and include the substitution of animal-based foods for plant-based foods and laboratory-grown animal products.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 27
Author(s):  
Hatem Mahmoud ◽  
Ayman Ragab

The density of building blocks and insufficient greenery in cities tend to contribute dramatically not only to increased heat stress in the built environment but also to higher energy demand for cooling. Urban planners should, therefore, be conscious of their responsibility to reduce energy usage of buildings along with improving outdoor thermal efficiency. This study examines the impact of numerous proposed urban geometry cases on the thermal efficiency of outer spaces as well as the energy consumption of adjacent buildings under various climate change scenarios as representative concentration pathways (RCP) 4.5 and 8.5 climate projections for New Aswan city in 2035. The investigation was performed at one of the most underutilized outdoor spaces on the new campus of Aswan University in New Aswan city. The potential reduction of heat stress was investigated so as to improve the thermal comfort of the investigated outdoor spaces, as well as energy savings based on the proposed strategies. Accordingly, the most appropriate scenario to be adopted to cope with the inevitable climate change was identified. The proposed scenarios were divided into four categories of parameters. In the first category, shelters partially (25–50% and 75%) covering the streets were used. The second category proposed dividing the space parallel or perpendicular to the existing buildings. The third category was a hybrid scenario of the first and second categories. In the fourth category, a green cover of grass was added. A coupling evaluation was applied utilizing ENVI-met v4.2 and Design-Builder v4.5 to measure and improve the thermal efficiency of the outdoor space and reduce the cooling energy. The results demonstrated that it is better to cover outdoor spaces with 50% of the overall area than transform outdoor spaces into canyons.


2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (12) ◽  
pp. 1158 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Chang-Fung-Martel ◽  
M. T. Harrison ◽  
R. Rawnsley ◽  
A. P. Smith ◽  
H. Meinke

Extreme climatic events such as heat waves, extreme rainfall and prolonged dry periods are a significant challenge to the productivity and profitability of dairy systems. Despite projections of more frequent extreme events, increasing temperatures and reduced precipitation, studies on the impact of these extreme climatic events on pasture-based dairy systems remain uncommon. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has estimated Australia to be one of the most negatively impacted regions with additional studies estimating Australian production losses of around 16% in the agricultural sector and 9–19% between the present and 2050 in the south-eastern dairy regions of Australia due to climate change. Here we review the literature on the impact of climate change on pasture-based dairy systems with particular focus on extreme climatic events. We provide an insight into current methods for assessing and quantifying heat stress highlighting the impacts on pastures and animals including the associated potential productivity losses and conclude by outlining potential adaptation strategies for improving the resilience of the whole-farm systems to climate change. Adapting milking routines, calving systems and the introduction of heat stress tolerant dairy cow breeds are some proposed strategies. Changes in pasture production would also include alternative pasture species better adapted to climate extremes such as heat waves and prolonged periods of water deficit. In order to develop effective adaptation strategies we also need to focus on issues such as water availability, animal health and associated energy costs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatriz Fátima Alves de Oliveira ◽  
Marcus J. Bottino ◽  
Paulo Nobre ◽  
Carlos A. Nobre

AbstractLand use change and deforestation can influence local temperature and climate. Here we use a coupled ocean-atmosphere model to assess the impact of savannization of the Amazon Basin on the wet-bulb globe temperature heat stress index under two climate change scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). We find that heat stress exposure due to deforestation was comparable to the effect of climate change under RCP8.5. Our findings suggest that heat stress index could exceed the human adaptation limit by 2100 under the combined effects of Amazon savannization and climate change. Moreover, we find that risk of heat stress exposure was highest in Northern Brazil and among the most socially vulnerable. We suggest that by 2100, savannization of the Amazon will lead to more than 11 million people will be exposed heat stress that poses an extreme risk to human health under a high emission scenario.


2016 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fredrik Lindberg ◽  
Sofia Thorsson ◽  
David Rayner ◽  
Kevin Lau

Author(s):  
Cicero H. O. Lallo ◽  
Sebrena Smalling ◽  
Audley Facey ◽  
Martin Hughes

Many Caribbean small ruminant management systems are forage-based, relying on rain to sustain pastures for feed. Animal performance is thus heavily dependent on forage availability. The nutritive value of pasture was highest during the intermediate season and lowest during the dry season, leading to under nutrition, and declined flock performance in the dry season. Climate change will therefore seriously hamper pasture availability and nutritive value. Hair sheep on pasture, without shade or water, experienced increased respiration rate, they were under chronic heat stress. However, where adequate shade and water were provided, heat stress was reduced. The current system of small ruminant production is prone to the negative impacts of climate change events due to its effect on nutrition, growth and reproduction. Immediate actions are needed to prepare farmers to respond by mitigation methods, to maintain and enhance animal productivity if the envisaged protein security goals set for this sector are to be realized.


2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 3013-3030 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Chapman ◽  
Marcus Thatcher ◽  
Alvaro Salazar ◽  
James E.M. Watson ◽  
Clive A. McAlpine

Author(s):  
Alphonsine Mukamuhirwa ◽  
Helena Persson Hovmalm ◽  
Hans Bolinsson ◽  
Rodomiro Ortiz ◽  
Obedi Nyamangyoku ◽  
...  

Despite the likely increasing co-occurrence of drought and heat stress, not least in equatorial regions, due to climate change, little is known about the combinational effect of these stresses on rice productivity and quality. This study evaluated the impact of simultaneous drought and temperature stress on growth, grain yield, and quality characteristics of seven rice cultivars from Rwanda, grown in climate chambers. Two temperature ranges—23/26 °C night/day and 27/30 °C night/day—together with single or repeated drought treatments, were applied during various plant developmental stages. Plant development and yield were highly influenced by drought, while genotype impacted the quality characteristics. The combination of a high temperature with drought at the seedling and tillering stages resulted in zero panicles for all evaluated cultivars. The cultivar ‘Intsindagirabigega’ was most tolerant to drought, while ‘Zong geng’ was the most sensitive. A “stress memory” was recorded for ‘Mpembuke’ and ‘Ndamirabahinzi’, and these cultivars also had a high content of bioactive compounds, while ’Jyambere’ showed a high total protein content. Thus, climate change may severely impact rice production. The exploitation of genetic diversity to breed novel rice cultivars that combine drought and heat stress tolerance with high nutritional values is a must to maintain food security.


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