impacts of climate change on animal agriculture

Impacts of Climate Change on Animal

AgricultureDavid Schmidt, PE

University of Minnesota

Economic Losses from Heat Stress by US Livestock

Industries =$2.4 Billion per year

-St. Pierre et al 2003

Numbers are Wrong!Old Animal Numbers (2000)Old temperature data (1871-1932)Old Genetics (2000)Only included illness/death, feed efficiency, and reproduction

Prices have all changed

Changing PrecipitationAmount, Intensity, TimingRegional, Seasonal

Changing TemperaturesAverages, Maximums, Overnight LowsRegional and Seasonal

ExtremesFlooding, DroughtRegional and Seasonal

Risk and Probability

From: Livestock Energetics and Thermal Environment

Return Frequency

Risk and Probability

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 2020

Day

s/ye

ar

Year

Pipestone MN,Low temp 72 F or above

(cliMATE)

Assessing Impacts (Assessing Vulnerabilities or Risk Assessment)

Four Impact Categories

Farm Inputs

Animal Production

Farm Logistics

Farm Exports

Farm Inputs

Impacts: Pests, Weeds, and Disease, Growing Season

Feed and Forage: Availability and Cost

Farm InputsFeed and Forage: Availability Quality

Pasture: Quality, Availability, Timing

Farm InputsFeed and Forage

Carbon Dioxide

Farm InputsEnergy: Availability and Cost

Electricity BlackoutsStorm DamageFuel Supply DisruptionFuel Price Variability

Farm InputsWater: Availability, Quality, Price

DrinkingFeed production

Animal Production(Assessing Vulnerabilities or Risk Assessment)

Economic Losses from Heat Stress by US Livestock

Industries =$2.4 Billion per year

-St. Pierre et al 2003

Animal ProductionHeat Stress: Efficiencies Intake and Conversion

Courtesy: Mike Brumm (Swine Impacts, AACC)

Vulnerabilities:

-Species

-Stage of production

-Genetics

Higher producing dairy cows

Faster growing animals (swine, cattle, poultry)

-Health status of animals

-Acclimation period

Animal ProductionHeat Stress: Feed Intake and Conversion

TemperatureHumidityAir speedEvent DurationNight time cooling period

Animal ProductionHeat Stress: Reproduction and Other

http://www.lallemandanimalnutrition.com/blog/heat-stress-an-underestimated-issue-for-dairy-cows

Animal ProductionPests and Diseases

Animal ProductionCatastrophic Death Loss

Logistical Impacts(Assessing Vulnerabilities or Risk Assessment)

LogisticsManure Management: Capacity, Nutrient Loss, Application Windows

LogisticsGeographic Location

LogisticsTransportation and Animal Handling

Flooding and StormsRoads and BridgesHeatHandling and feeding Time of day to haul or handle animalsDensity on truckTime on the truck

LogisticsLabor

Travel to workHeat stress at workHeat stress at homeFlooded basements

Export Impacts(Assessing Vulnerabilities or Risk Assessment)

Farm Exports

Daily Livestock Report Vol. 12, No. 145 / July 28, 2014

USDA: Weekly livestock poultry and grain market highlightsAug 11, 2014

Prices

Supply and DemandGlobal ConnectionsMore Variability

Impact Audit

Climate Changes

Farm Inputs Animal Production

Logistics Exports

Precipitation

Temperature

Extremes

Identify Vulnerabilities

More DetailsCourse Reading and Project Website www.animalagclimatechange.org

Livestock and PoultryEnvironmental Learning Center

Project Support

This project was supported by Agricultural and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant No. 2011-67003-30206 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

www.animalagclimatechange.org

National Lead: University of Nebraska

Regional Partners: University of Georgia; Cornell University; University of Minnesota; Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, and Washington State University.

Project Partners

Our Mission Animal agriculture in a changing climate fosters animal productionpractices that are: environmentally sound and economically viable,and that create resiliency for animal producers and their partners.