Environmental and societal consequences of a possible CO/sub 2/-induced climate change. Volume II, Part 11. Effects of climate change on animal agriculture. [Proposals for research programs]

Technical Report · Fri Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:6712369

Tucker, H A

The impact of CO/sub 2/-induced increases in ambient temperature is predicted to result in an overall reduction in animal productivity, although animal productivity may increase in some parts of the world. New technologies will be needed to maintain or overcome the adverse effects of climate that are predicted. The effects of temperature (and other associated changes in climate) impact directly on the physiology of the animals as well as indirectly through changes in parasites, diseases, forages, crops and soils. The purpose of this paper is to identify the researchable issues which will permit animals to maintain and perhaps increase their food production capacity and efficiency in spite of potential increases in ambient temperature. In order for animal agricultural systems to maintain or increase efficiency and productivity in the face of altered climate, additional knowledge must be gained in understanding the multiplicity of pathways whereby weather exerts its effects on the biological components involved in animal agriculture. Research needed to permit animals to cope with increasing ambient temperatures are described for the following topics: animal productivity; nutrition; endocrinology; reproduction; acclimation and behavior; genetics; animal health; environmental modification and housing; adaptation, yield and quality of primary feed producing plants; soil resources for animal feed production; international aspects; systems management; and economics. The research approaches suggested range from highly detailed physiological and biochemical studies in environmentally controlled animal chambers to studies of animals managed in extensive grazing conditions.

• Research Organization: Michigan State Univ., East Lansing (USA). Dept. of Dairy Science
• DOE Contract Number: AS01-79EV10019
• OSTI ID: 6712369
• Report Number(s): DOE/EV/10019-11-Vol.2; ON: DE83002887
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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Atmospheric-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AGRICULTURE
ANIMAL BREEDING
ANIMAL FEEDS
BEHAVIOR
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGY
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CLIMATES
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
ECONOMICS
FOOD
FORAGE
GENETICS
GRAZING
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
INDUSTRY
NUTRITION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
PRODUCTIVITY
RECOMMENDATIONS
REPRODUCTION
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE