Livestock Agriculture andLivestock Agriculture andIts effect on the Its effect on the
environmentenvironment
Michael MorrisMichael Morris
Bay of Plenty PolytechnicBay of Plenty [email protected]@boppoly.ac.nz
Livestock agricultureLivestock agriculture
PurposePurpose Introduce livestock agricultureIntroduce livestock agriculture Overview state of the environment worldwideOverview state of the environment worldwide Overview state of New Zealand environmentOverview state of New Zealand environment Discuss environmental monitoring of livestock Discuss environmental monitoring of livestock
agriculture using a case studyagriculture using a case study
Farming is intensifying world wideFarming is intensifying world wide
What is intensive farming?What is intensive farming?
Increase of inputs (fertiliser, irrigation, Increase of inputs (fertiliser, irrigation, human capital etc.) to increase production human capital etc.) to increase production
Examples of intensive livestock Examples of intensive livestock farmingfarming
Cattle feedlots (USA)Cattle feedlots (USA) Alfalfa production (USA)Alfalfa production (USA) Grain production (USA)Grain production (USA) Sheep farming (NZ)Sheep farming (NZ) Dairy farming (NZ)Dairy farming (NZ) Pig farming (NZ)Pig farming (NZ) Broiler chicken farming (NZ)Broiler chicken farming (NZ) Layer hen farming (NZ)Layer hen farming (NZ)
Increase of inputs leads to …Increase of inputs leads to …
Increase of wasteIncrease of waste
Increase of waste leads to…Increase of waste leads to…
Environmental pressuresEnvironmental pressures
Waste in farmingWaste in farming
EffluentEffluentA 16,000 pig factory farm produces as much A 16,000 pig factory farm produces as much
sewerage as a city of 23,000 humanssewerage as a city of 23,000 humans FertilisersFertilisers
Nitrogen fertiliser has increased 10 fold in the Nitrogen fertiliser has increased 10 fold in the last 20 years (Environment 2007).last 20 years (Environment 2007).
WaterWater 750 sq. m of water wasted in producing a 750 sq. m of water wasted in producing a
steer (Cattlemans’ Beef Board, US)steer (Cattlemans’ Beef Board, US)
FoodFood Factory farms produce more food than we Factory farms produce more food than we
need. The excess is poured into streams (ie need. The excess is poured into streams (ie milk waste) or into our adipose tissue (ie milk waste) or into our adipose tissue (ie obesity)obesity)
TopsoilTopsoil 55% of soil erosion in the US caused by 55% of soil erosion in the US caused by
farmingfarming Animals Animals
See next slideSee next slide
Dairying (Waikato, NZ)Dairying (Waikato, NZ)
Photo: David Hamilton, Waikato University
Photo: David Hamilton, Waikato University
Pig farming (Levin, NZ)Pig farming (Levin, NZ)
Photos: MAF inspector, 2006
Layer hens (Porirua, NZ)Layer hens (Porirua, NZ)
Photo: Wellington Animal Rights Network
Foxton, NZFoxton, NZ
Photo: Open Rescue Coalition
Broiler chickens (NZ)Broiler chickens (NZ)
Photo: Auckland Animal Action
Environmental issues with Environmental issues with livestock farming worldwidelivestock farming worldwide
Habitat destructionHabitat destruction
Livestock takes up 30% of land surface Livestock takes up 30% of land surface and 70% of agricultural landand 70% of agricultural land
Photo NZEescape.com
Habitat destruction (cont.)Habitat destruction (cont.) 70% of previously forested land in the Amazon is 70% of previously forested land in the Amazon is
pasture of soybeanspasture of soybeans
Center for International forestry Research publication,
Global warmingGlobal warming
18% of greenhouse gases worldwide 18% of greenhouse gases worldwide caused by livestock farmingcaused by livestock farming
• Carbon dioxide emissions through productionCarbon dioxide emissions through production• Loss of carbon sinks through habitat destructionLoss of carbon sinks through habitat destruction• Methane emissions through cow belchesMethane emissions through cow belches• Methane emissions through effluentMethane emissions through effluent• Nitrous oxide emissions through effluentNitrous oxide emissions through effluent• Nitrous oxide emissions through fertiliserNitrous oxide emissions through fertiliser
Conclusions of recent US studyConclusions of recent US study
Switching from a Standard American diet Switching from a Standard American diet (SAD) to a plant based diet, would have (SAD) to a plant based diet, would have more effect on reducing greenhouse more effect on reducing greenhouse gases than switching from a Camry to a gases than switching from a Camry to a Prius Prius
Livestock accounts for…Livestock accounts for…
55% of soil erosion55% of soil erosion 37% of pesticide use37% of pesticide use 50% of antibiotic use50% of antibiotic use
In the United StatesIn the United States
Other issuesOther issues
Degradation of coral reefsDegradation of coral reefs Antibiotic resistanceAntibiotic resistance Largest source of water pollutionLargest source of water pollution PandemicsPandemics OestrogensOestrogens
New Zealand issuesNew Zealand issues
Fertiliser useFertiliser use
Pinnacles on Nauru: Photo, Republic of Nauru
Fertiliser from Western Sahara being unloaded in Tauranga Photo: Norwegian support committee for Western Sahara
Water useWater use
Photo: David Hamilton, Waikato University
Water pollutionWater pollution
Human health risks from effluent (eg Human health risks from effluent (eg Cryptosporidium Cryptosporidium outbreak in Masterton, 2003)outbreak in Masterton, 2003)
Turbidity from cattle tramplingTurbidity from cattle trampling Eutrophication (more than 90% of Waikato Eutrophication (more than 90% of Waikato
streams have high N levels)streams have high N levels) From fertiliserFrom fertiliser From effluentFrom effluent From waste milk productsFrom waste milk products From cow urine patchesFrom cow urine patches
Soil erosionSoil erosion
New Zealand rate is 10 times world New Zealand rate is 10 times world averageaverage
Clearing of stream vegetation erodes Clearing of stream vegetation erodes streamsstreams
Greenhouse gasesGreenhouse gases
50% of greenhouse gases in New Zealand 50% of greenhouse gases in New Zealand caused by livestockcaused by livestock
Social concernsSocial concerns
OdourOdour Animal welfareAnimal welfare
Mitigation – the clean stream Mitigation – the clean stream accordaccord
Clean stream accordClean stream accord
Agreement between Fonterra, Ministry for Agreement between Fonterra, Ministry for the Environment and Regional Authorities the Environment and Regional Authorities toto Exclude cows from streamsExclude cows from streams Build bridges across water races where stock Build bridges across water races where stock
cross the watercoursecross the watercourse Properly treat dairy effluentProperly treat dairy effluent Manage nutrient input and outputManage nutrient input and output Fence wetlandsFence wetlands
Regional plans restrict nutrient Regional plans restrict nutrient loadsloads
Otago:Otago: 75kg/ha/year 75kg/ha/yearWaikato, Hawkes Bay, Northland, Waikato, Hawkes Bay, Northland,
Southland:Southland: 150kg/ha/year 150kg/ha/yearHorizons:Horizons: 150kg/ha/year (with some 150kg/ha/year (with some
exceptions)exceptions)Auckland, Bay of Plenty:Auckland, Bay of Plenty:
150-200kg/ha/year150-200kg/ha/yearTaranaki, Canterbury, Nelson:Taranaki, Canterbury, Nelson:
200kg/ha/year200kg/ha/year
Regional plans (cont.)Regional plans (cont.)
West Coast:West Coast: 275kg/ha/year 275kg/ha/year
WellingtonWellington: Nothing in plan, but generally : Nothing in plan, but generally restrict to 150kg/ha.year.restrict to 150kg/ha.year.
Marlborough, GisborneMarlborough, Gisborne: no restrictions in : no restrictions in plan.plan.
ReferencesReferences
New ZealandNew Zealand
Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (2004), Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (2004), Growing for Growing for GoodGood
United StatesUnited States
Eshel, G. and Martin, P.A. (2005) Diet, energy and global warming. Eshel, G. and Martin, P.A. (2005) Diet, energy and global warming. Earth Interactions 10: 1-16.Earth Interactions 10: 1-16.
WorldWorld
H. Steinfeld, P. Gerber, T. Wassenaar, V. Castel, M. Rosales, C. de H. Steinfeld, P. Gerber, T. Wassenaar, V. Castel, M. Rosales, C. de Haan (2006). Haan (2006). Livestock’s long shadow. FAO.Livestock’s long shadow. FAO.
Federated Farmers’ responseFederated Farmers’ response
Farmers take the environment very seriously. We Farmers take the environment very seriously. We have no choice. Our livelihoods depend on it,” have no choice. Our livelihoods depend on it,”
““Extreme measures such as stopping farmers from Extreme measures such as stopping farmers from improving their land or stopping them from improving their land or stopping them from intensifying are not economically sustainable in intensifying are not economically sustainable in an industry which is proudly subsidy free. an industry which is proudly subsidy free. Reducing agricultural productivity is not socially Reducing agricultural productivity is not socially acceptable in a country where our citizens’ acceptable in a country where our citizens’ standard of living is dependent on agriculture’s standard of living is dependent on agriculture’s continued success,” (Press release 13/9/06)continued success,” (Press release 13/9/06)
