FAO ANIMAL PRODUCTION AND HEALTH PAPER   127

	World livestock production systems Current status, issues and trends
	Table of Contents

by

Carlos Seré and Henning Steinfeld
in collaboration with
Jan Groenewold

The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

M-21
ISBN 92-5-103812-0

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FOREWORD

Originally this document was produced as part of a multi-donor study entitled “Interactions between Livestock and the Environment - Global Prospects and Perspectives”. In order to provide a uniform platform livestock production systems had to be classified and quantified to serve as a basis for the analysis of the interactions between these systems and various facets of the environment.

When undertaking this task it soon became apparent that data weaknesses posed a serious constraint to such effort which may be the reason no such quantification had been attempted thus far. Missing data had to be substituted by assumptions and best estimates, all of which certainly leaves room for future improvements. It also points to a general lack of quantitative information on the livestock sector, part of which can be explained by the complexity of the subject. It is clear, however, that the obtained quantitative information on the importance and structure of the livestock production systems of the world and resulting trends is an enormous help in analyzing sectoral issues and in identifying priorities in livestock development.

Such work has relevance beyond its originally intended use for the livestock environment study. It can help national and international organizations and professionals in finding orientation in the world's livestock sector that is becoming increasingly complex. This work is now made available to the interested public because there is a recognized need for quantitative information on livestock production systems. As it stands the study could provide enough guidance in the initial phases. In many aspects this study is a “first shot” and will need to be improved as the database will be enlarged and the methodology will be upgraded. Any further suggestions are thus welcome to assist FAO in providing a revised version of this document in the not too distant future.

T. Fujita
Director
Animal Production and Health Division
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This report describes work undertaken on the classification and characterization of livestock production systems within the framework of the Global Study on Interactions between Livestock and the Environment - Global Prospects and Perspectives coordinated by FAO, the World Bank and USAID. Dr. Amir Kassam, TAC Secretariat, contributed his extensive expertise on the agroecozone classification of the world. Mr. Jan Groenewold assisted throughout the study with computations and searched empirical data on systems' distributions across the globe. Ms. Gabriela Couto also helped in the lengthy computational procedures. Ms. Christine Ellefson-Tavella undertook the laborious editorial work. The inputs of many others within and outside FAO, who reviewed drafts and contributed to the discussions are gratefully acknowledged.

Carlos Seré and Henning Steinfeld
November 1995

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Rome, © FAO 1996

Hyperlinks to non-FAO Internet sites do not imply any official endorsement of or responsibility for the opinions, ideas, data or products presented at these locations, or guarantee the validity of the information provided. The sole purpose of links to non-FAO sites is to indicate further information available on related topics.

Table of Contents

FOREWORD by T. Fujita

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

2. METHODOLOGY

2.1 Objective and Scope
2.2 Approach and Data
2.3 Definitions Used

3. DESCRIPTION OF SYSTEMS

3.1 Grassland-based Systems

3.1.1 Temperate Zones and Tropical Highlands (LGT)
3.1.2 Humid and Sub-humid Tropics and Sub-tropics (LGH)
3.1.3 Arid and Semi-arid Tropics and Sub-tropics (LGA)

3.2 Mixed Rainfed Systems

3.2.1 Temperate Zones and Tropical Highlands (MRT)
3.2.2 Humid and Sub-humid Tropics and Sub-tropics (MRH)
3.2.3 Arid and Semi-arid Tropics and Sub-tropics (MRA)

3.3 Mixed Irrigated Systems

3.3.1 Temperate Zones and Tropical Highlands (MIT)
3.3.2 Humid and Sub-humid Tropics and Sub-tropics (MIH)
3.3.3 Arid and Semi-arid Tropics and Sub-tropics (MIA)

3.4 Landless Systems

3.4.1 Monogastric Production System (LLM)
3.4.2 Ruminant Production System (LLR)

4. ISSUES AND TRENDS

5. CONCLUSIONS

REFERENCES

ANNEXES

DATA INDEX

Table 1 Livestock Grassland Temperate and Tropical Highlands System (LGT)
Table 2 Livestock Grassland Humid and Sub-humid Tropics and Sub-tropics System (LGH)
Table 3 Livestock Grassland Arid and Semi-arid Tropics and Sub-tropics System (LGA)
Table 4 Mixed Rainfed Temperate and Tropical Highlands System (MRT)
Table 5 Mixed Rainfed Humid and Sub-humid Tropics and Sub-tropics System (MRH)
Table 6 Mixed Rainfed Arid and Semi-arid Tropic and Sub-Tropics System (MRA)
Table 7 Mixed Irrigated Temperate and Tropical Highlands System (MIT)
Table 8 Mixed Irrigated Humid and Sub-humid Tropic and Sub-tropics System (MIH)
Table 9 Mixed Irrigated Arid and Semi-arid Tropics and Sub-tropics System (MIA)
Table 10 Landless Livestock Monogastric Production System (LLM)
Table 11 Landless Livestock Ruminant Production System (LLR)
Table 12 Human Population in Livestock Production Systems
Table 13 Grazing Land in Livestock Production Systems
Table 14 Arable Land in Livestock Production Systems
Table 15 Irrigated Land in Livestock Production Systems
Table 16 Cattle Stocks in Livestock Production Systems
Table 17 Beef and Veal Production in Livestock Production Systems
Table 18 Buffalo Stocks in Livestock Production Systems
Table 19 Buffalo Meat Production in Livestock Production Systems
Table 20 Sheep and Goat Stocks in Livestock Production Systems
Table 21 Sheep and Goat Meat Production in Livestock Production Systems
Table 22 Dairy Cattle Stocks in Livestock Production Systems
Table 23 Dairy Cows' Milk Production in Livestock Production Systems
Table 24 Total Milk Production in Livestock Production Systems
Table 25 Other Milk Production in Livestock Production Systems
Table 26 Pigmeat Production in Livestock Production Systems
Table 27 Poultry meat Production in Livestock Production Systems
Table 28 Egg Production in Livestock Production Systems
Table 29 Milk Yield (Milk Production/Dairy cows) in Livestock Production Systems
Table 30 Animal Unit Weighting Factors
Table 31 Annual Growth Rates of Livestock Production Systems

List of Figures

Figure 1 Classification of world livestock production systems

Figure 2 Data processing for system quantification

Figure 3 Data flows for the quantification of livestock production systems

Figure 4 Importance of grassland-based systems in different world regions

Figure 5 Importance of mixed rainfed systems in different world regions

Figure 6 Importance of mixed irrigated systems in different world regions

Figure 7 Importance of landless farming systems in different world regions

Figure 8 Growth rate of total meat and milk production between 1981/83 and 1991/93 in different production systems

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS