Identifying the public health benefits of livestock-dependent, agro-ecosystems under climate change

Abstract

As the demand for meat continues to grow in South Asia and Africa and access to communal sources of water and forage shrinks, intensification of small-scale livestock systems in peri-urban areas is expected to expand. In South East Asia, smallholder transition to livestock intensification has been transformative, increasing economic opportunities while also introducing new disease risks. While we have an understanding of the emerging disease burden from livestock intensification; we have just begun to understand the possible public health benefits of sustainable landscapes and the potential health savings accrued from disease avoidance. To date, few studies have attempted to quantify the health benefits attributable to sustainable agro-ecosystems, especially in regard to livestock systems. In this paper, I will examine what is needed to measure and communicate the public health benefits and cost-savings (from disease avoidance) of sustainable agro-ecosystems.

Characteristics of Livestock Husbandry and Management Practice in the Central Dry Zone of Myanmar

“…Typically, descriptions of livestock production systems concentrate on one species of animal, although households in developing countries might keep multiple species and interrelationships in the management are likely to exist. In addition, livestock production in developing countries is often constrained by poor husbandry, inadequate housing and poor breeding, health and biosecurity practices (Conan et al 2013; Gillette 2013; Homann et al 2007; Nampanya et al 2012). Thus, in resource poor households that keep multiple livestock species, investments into feeding and housing need to be spread across various livestock species.…”