Livestock systems/Policy issues: Difference between revisions

From IMAGE
Jump to navigation Jump to search
m (Text replace - "Roads from Rio+20 (2012)" to "Roads from Rio+20 (2012) project")
No edit summary
 
(9 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{ComponentPolicyIssueTemplate
{{ComponentPolicyIssueTemplate}}
|Description=Global grass consumption has increased by more than 40% between 1970 and 2010 (see figure below), and global grassland area has slowly increased from 3134 to 3313 million hectares (about 5%) between 1970 and 2010 (see the figure in the policy intervention example section). The global area of extensively used pastoral grassland and mixed systems shows slight and gradual changes. Production characteristics of extensive pastoral production systems have not changed much, whereas those of mixed and industrial systems have been changing rapidly, with trends towards intensification. For the future, most baseline scenarios indicate that, in the coming decades, a similar increase in grass production is required as observed historically. Under the baseline scenario from the [[Roads from Rio+20 (2012) project |Rio+20]] study, these developments result in a slow increase of 2% in global grassland area (see figure below). This slower increase than observed historically is mostly caused by a slower growth in consumption.
<div class="page_standard">
Several different economic developments and policy interventions mat change the baseline trend. For example, an increasing demand for ruminant meat may increase the required amount of grassland.  Climate change may change grassland productivity, which will also have its effect on the grassland area that is required.
==Baseline developments==
In addition, several characteristics of production systems may change grassland development.
Between 1970 and 2010, global grass consumption increased by more than 40% (see figure below), while global grassland area only increased about 5% from 3134 to 3313 million hectares in the same period (see the figure in the policy intervention example section). The global area of pastoral grassland only shows slight and gradual changes.  
While extensive pastoral production systems have changed little, mixed and industrial systems have moved rapidly towards intensification. Most baseline scenarios indicate that a similar slow increase in grassland area is required over the coming decades as observed historically. Under the baseline scenario from the [[Roads from Rio+20 (2012) project |Rio+20]] study, these developments result in a small increase of 2% in global grassland area (see the figure in the policy intervention example section), but this will require considerable productivity increases in many parts of the world as discussed in [[Bouwman et al., 2005]].


|Example=In the so-called Global Technology (GT) scenario of the Rio+20 study, all such interventions have been combined, resulting in more production in mixed systems (+10%), larger carcass weights (+10%), higher off-take rates (+10%), more efficient feed conversion of sheep and goats (+10%), more feed crops (15%) and higher grazing intensities (15%). When included in the baseline scenario, this package leads to a considerable reduction in grassland area – by about 15% compared to the baseline scenario for 2050 (see the figure in the baseline scenario section). This then also leads to an increase in the area where biodiversity may develop.
{{DisplayPolicyInterventionFigureTemplate|{{#titleparts: {{PAGENAME}}|1}}|Baseline figure}}
}}
==Policy interventions==
*A larger proportion of livestock production in mixed systems will inherently increase overall feed conversion ratios of ruminants;
*production parameters, such as milk production per animal, carcass weight and off-take rates, will have an effect on the feed conversion ratio, which in general will be lower in more productive animals;
*feed conversion ratio of small ruminants, such as sheep and goats, will reduce demand for grass;
*the proportion of grass in the feed for cattle, and sheep and goats will decrease with the use of feed crops;
*more intensive grazing will require improved grassland management, including use of grass-clover mixes and fertilisers, and aligning the grazing season with grass production and rotations.
 
All such interventions have been combined in the Global Technology (GT) scenario of the [[Roads from Rio+20 (2012) project |Rio+20]] study, resulting in more production in mixed systems (+10%), higher carcass weights (+10%), higher off-take rates (+10%), more efficient feed conversion by sheep and goats (+10%), more feed crops (15%) and higher grazing intensities (15%). This package leads to a considerable reduction in grassland area of about 15% compared to the baseline scenario for 2050 (see figure below), leaving more area for biodiversity recovery.
 
{{DisplayPolicyInterventionFigureTemplate|{{#titleparts: {{PAGENAME}}|1}}|Policy intervention figure}}
 
{{PIEffectOnComponentTemplate }}
</div>

Latest revision as of 18:32, 24 November 2021

link to framework components overview

Parts of Livestock systems/Policy issues

  1. Introduction page
  2. Model description
  3. Policy issues
  4. Data, uncertainty and limitations
  5. Overview of references
Component is implemented in:
Components:
Related IMAGE components
Projects/Applications
Models/Databases
Key publications
Livestock systems module in IMAGE 3.0
Flowchart Livestock systems. See also the Input/Output Table on the introduction page.

Baseline developments

Between 1970 and 2010, global grass consumption increased by more than 40% (see figure below), while global grassland area only increased about 5% from 3134 to 3313 million hectares in the same period (see the figure in the policy intervention example section). The global area of pastoral grassland only shows slight and gradual changes. While extensive pastoral production systems have changed little, mixed and industrial systems have moved rapidly towards intensification. Most baseline scenarios indicate that a similar slow increase in grassland area is required over the coming decades as observed historically. Under the baseline scenario from the Rio+20 study, these developments result in a small increase of 2% in global grassland area (see the figure in the policy intervention example section), but this will require considerable productivity increases in many parts of the world as discussed in Bouwman et al., 2005.


Global grass consumption under a baseline scenario
Despite a shift towards compound feed, global grass consumption in livestock systems is projected to increase (PBL, 2012).

Policy interventions

  • A larger proportion of livestock production in mixed systems will inherently increase overall feed conversion ratios of ruminants;
  • production parameters, such as milk production per animal, carcass weight and off-take rates, will have an effect on the feed conversion ratio, which in general will be lower in more productive animals;
  • feed conversion ratio of small ruminants, such as sheep and goats, will reduce demand for grass;
  • the proportion of grass in the feed for cattle, and sheep and goats will decrease with the use of feed crops;
  • more intensive grazing will require improved grassland management, including use of grass-clover mixes and fertilisers, and aligning the grazing season with grass production and rotations.

All such interventions have been combined in the Global Technology (GT) scenario of the Rio+20 study, resulting in more production in mixed systems (+10%), higher carcass weights (+10%), higher off-take rates (+10%), more efficient feed conversion by sheep and goats (+10%), more feed crops (15%) and higher grazing intensities (15%). This package leads to a considerable reduction in grassland area of about 15% compared to the baseline scenario for 2050 (see figure below), leaving more area for biodiversity recovery.


Global grassland area under baseline and sustainability scenario
Future trends in grassland areas strongly depend on grassland management and productivity (PBL, 2012).

Effects of policy interventions on this component

Policy interventionDescriptionEffect
Change in grazing intensity Change in grazing intensity, usually more intensive. This would require better management of grasslands, including for example the use of grass-clover mixtures and fertilisers, bringing the length of the grazing season in tune with the period of grass production, and rotations. Increasing grazing intensity has no consequences for the livestock if not combined with introduction of better breeds
Changes in consumption and diet preferences Interventions that target consumption changes or changes in dietary preferences (Reference:: Stehfest et al., 2013) Changes the production of livestock products within a region.
Changes in feed ration (*) Change in the share of grass in the feed rations of cattle, sheep and goats, usually a decrease, meaning grass will be substituted by feed crops and the livestock system will be more intensive. changes the grass and feed crop demand for the required livestock production.
Improvement of feed conversion (*) Improvement of feed conversion ratio of small ruminants, such as sheep and goats. This means other breeds will be used that need less grass to produce the same amount of meat. decreases the demand for grass.
Increased livestock productivity (*) A change in production characteristics, such as milk production per animal, carcass weight and off-take rates, which will also have an impact on the feed conversion ratio; in general, this will be lower in more productive animals Change the amount of feed crops and grass needed to feed animals.
(*) Implemented in this component.
Retrieved from "https://models.pbl.nl/index.php?title=Livestock_systems/Policy_issues&oldid=36956"