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onlinejournalclubintermediate05 · 2 years

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Effects of Climate Change on Livestock: Sri Lankan Perspectives

INTRODUCTION

Crops and livestock are the most important sub-economic sectors in Sri Lankan agriculture, especially for the rural population. The cattle sector in Sri Lanka contributes roughly 0.6 percent of the country's GDP, but this figure could be higher. Milk output climbed by 4% in 2014, and this trend is expected to continue and has been on the rise in recent years. This is mostly due to the fact that a rise in an animal's output and the number of animals. For instance, In 2015, the cow population increased by 10% while the buffalo population climbed by 2%.In comparison to 2014,Carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (NOx) are the three principal greenhouse gases (GHGs) (CH4) as well as nitrous oxide (N2O).

Aside from livestock's contribution to global warming, the industry has been severely harmed as a result of it. Due to prolonged drought or heavy rainfall, rising temperatures could diminish roughage yields or ruin the harvest, results in a feed shortage and poorer animal productivity. The amount of milk produced by cattle and buffalo is largely determined by breed. Temperate breeds and hybrids, in comparison to more heat-tolerant tropical breeds, may perform better in cooler regions and produce more milk. Large animal-growing areas would become inappropriate for high-producing animals as the temperature rose, resulting in decreasing milk production.

Cattle and buffaloes are the most popular livestock in Sri Lanka, with sheep, goats, and pigs occupying lesser roles. Regardless, although livestock makes a little contribution to national GDP, it is one of the most important sources of income. For a huge proportion of the country's people, this is a source of revenue and a source of subsistence. Dairy cattle serve several purposes, including milk supply for domestic usage. Male animals as a medium of transport, financial income generated their feces as an useful fertilizer, and through meat.

The value and contribution of cattle to the livelihood of Sri Lankans is important on both an economic and social level. In Sri Lankan settings, the impact of global warming on the sector has been less well established. The goal of this study is to assemble statistics on GHG emissions from cattle as well as current climate change research and development initiatives.

Greenhouse gas emissions by livestock

The largest GHG emitted by animals is methane. The amount of methane emitted by cattle is determined by the animals' body size, metabolism, degree of activity, and the quality of their nutrition. Although a few estimations have been published, the author believes that the amount of methane generated by animals in Sri Lanka has not been scientifically estimated.

Lokupitiya used the tier 2 method proposed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to estimate the enteric methane emission of Sri Lankan cattle and buffaloes, and found that the methane emission factors for dairy cows, buffaloes, and sheep were lower than the IPCC default values. Lokupitiya emphasized the importance of validating estimates through sufficient measurements because this is an estimate.

The methane and nitrous oxide emissions by cattle in Sri Lanka were estimated in a study. The study also looked at roughage production's manure management and GHG inventory. According to the findings, GHG emissions are highest in the Dry Zone and lowest in the Wet Zone.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES RELATED TO GHG EMISSION IN SRI LANKA

Mitigation

Aside from a few estimates, research on GHG emissions, mitigation, and adaptation techniques in the cattle sector is scarce in Sri Lanka. This could be due to a lack of infrastructure (e.g., respiration chambers for measuring GHG, SF6 tracer technique, etc.) or a lack of funding and experience in the country. However, a number of research have been carried out in order to improve livestock production efficiency, mostly through better feeding, housing, welfare, and health. They do not explicitly address or report on reducing GHG emissions or climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, but they have indirectly linked the issue to some extent, for example, improving feeding efficiency has been found to reduce methane emissions and enhance milk output.

Adaptation

One of the primary issues faced by livestock farmers is the high ambient temperature in most parts of the country. Temperate breeds do not do well in warm climates, but local breeds that have evolved to those conditions give less milk. The climate of Sri Lanka's mid and uplands is ideal for high-producing animals, but land available for livestock production is restricted. As a result, dairy farming has to be relocated to the country's Intermediate and Dry Zones. Moreover, as a result of climate change, the temperature in cooler sections of the county is anticipated to rise. Given this fact, as well as the fact that there is more area accessible for cattle farming in the Intermediate and Dry Zones, there is a growing trend to build farm buildings to deal with the intense temperatures. To accommodate additional air flow, most farms choose well ventilated, high roof sheds, and some have added cooling and fogging systems. Although no scientific study has been undertaken to far, these farms with temperate breeds are located in hot and humid locations such as Hambantota in the country's southern province and were shown to be effective.

GAPS AND FUTURE RESEARCH NEEDS

Modeling and providing mitigation and adaptation methods to counteract the harmful consequences of climate change require accurate data. Sri Lanka has only estimates when it comes to GHG emissions, but emissions under local feeding and management conditions have not been objectively measured, and there are no facilities in the nation to measure these parameters at the ground level. Furthermore, several studies intended to increase livestock production have failed to address climate change or greenhouse gas emissions.

As a result, the government immediately requires the establishment of a GHG emission measuring facility for cattle, which would aid in determining the most effective adapting and mitigating measures. Climate change should be a top concern for funding agencies. When possible, all stakeholders, including government ministries and departments, research centers, funding organizations, and universities should be encouraged to include climate change mitigation and adaptation measures in their livestock research and development agenda.

CONCLUSION

Climate change is having a significant impact on the country's livestock business. Because of data on GHG emissions is based primarily on assumptions, capacity improvement in this area should be prioritized. Some studies and development programs have been carried out in the country without expressly addressing global warming mitigation or adaptation strategies, yet they have contributed to this goal. As a reason, more research and development programmers’ in the livestock sector should be launched to better prepare for the negative effects of climate change.

REFERENCES

Bodahewa A.P., Weerasinghe W.M.P.B.and Palliyeguru M.W.C.D. (2014): Effects of feeding total mixed ration (TMR) on the production performance of dairy cows. The Sri Lanka Veterinary Journal (Supplement) 11.

Gill M., Smith P. and Wilkinson J.M.(2010): Mitigating climate change: The role of domestic livestock. Animal 4(3):323–333.

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onlinejournalclubintermediate05 · 2 years

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Summarizing

Good maternal nutrition is essential for women's health and reproductive success. To ensure adequate energy and nutrient intake for the fetus's growth while avoiding damage to the mother's own tissues throughout pregnancy, a proper dietary balance in the mother's diet is required. Many pregnant women in poor countries suffer from nutritional deficiencies. Despite the availability of dietary treatments, 13.4% of pregnant women in Sri Lanka are underweight, and 34% are deficient in micronutrients, particularly iron deficiency and anemia. A pregnant woman needs nutrients to maintain her growing fetus as well as prepare for childbirth and breastfeeding.

Researchers in Sri Lanka have published a study aimed at improving nutritional education for pregnant women and mothers-to-be in the country. The nutrient value of the dishes was calculated using FoodBase2000 software, and nutritionally balanced dietary menus were created.

A total of 15 pregnant women participated in the study. The booklet measured 13 cm wide by 20 cm long and had 56 double-sided pages. The content validity and format of the draft booklet were reviewed by experts in the fields of nutrition and dietetics to ensure that it was accurate and easy to understand.

For pregnant women in Sri Lanka, a "Dietary Guidelines and Menus Booklet" was created. The maternal nutrition information and dietary menus presented in the booklet were deemed satisfactory by 73 percent of the pregnant women. The booklet's overall appearance and format were also deemed to be satisfactory. Experts and end-users alike approve of the developed "Dietary Guidelines and Menus Booklet."

REFERENCES

Adikari, A.M.N.T., Sivakanesan, R., Liyanage, C. and Wijesinghe, D.G.N.G. (2015a). Food and dietary nutrient intake of pregnant women in a rural community in Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Research Publication and Networking, Colombo, Sri Lanka; ISBN 978-955-7766-02-7, p 33.

De Silva, A., Mahamithawa, A.M.A.S.B. and Piyasena, C. (2009). Maternal and child nutrition: the Sri Lankan perspective. Indian J. Med. Res. 130, 609-611.

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