The role of livestock in our ecosytem

Ecosystem management using livestock: embracing diversity and respecting ecological principles.

The animal production sector faces significant challenges in increasing animal-sourced foods to meet the growing population’s nutritional needs while addressing climate change and biodiversity protection, particularly by operating within an agroecological framework. Livestock provide nearly half the global protein requirements and are a rich and valuable source of various bioavailable micronutrients that are difficult to obtain from plants. Moreover, herbivores are essential to grassland ecosystems, and their natural role can be maintained through proper livestock management, contributing to sustainable livestock practices.

Historically, livestock has been used successfully to convert low-cost, inedible feed materials into nutrient-rich food for humans while recycling plant nutrients through manure, improving soil health and fertility, and sequestering carbon. Only a portion of plant biomass is suitable for human consumption, making animals vital for converting non-edible biomass, especially from grasslands, which cover over two-thirds of agricultural areas, and from by-products from the agri-food industry into consumable protein. Globally, 86% of livestock feed does not compete with human food.

If done adequately, incorporating livestock into agricultural systems is crucial to maintain the circular flow of materials in soil, water, and the atmosphere while at the same time preventing the loss of potential human food from non-edible biomass. Soil carbon sequestration through well-managed livestock can reduce beef emissions and restore degraded landscapes. Livestock management and environmental protection are interdependent and should be, as livestock help sustain ecological resources while benefiting from their sustainable provision.

See the full Paper by Logan Thompson, Jason Rowntree, Wilhelm Windisch, Sinéad M Waters, Laurence Shalloo, Pablo Manzano, “Ecosystem management using livestock: embracing diversity and respecting ecological principles | Animal Frontiers | Oxford Academic (oup.com)“