Ecological and Economic Perspectives in Global Animal Agriculture

Agricultural ecosystems are dependent for their natural resources on originally natural ecosystems. Agricultural ecosystems are also served by natural ecosystems with ecosystem services. Livestock will play a more important role in the next millennium because of the rising demand for animal food in the developing countries. Structural changes in land use through intensification of mixed farming systems will happen. Livestock will be an important component of agro-ecosystems and natural ecosystems, through restoration or mixtures of wildlife and livestock. Therefore, our present animal genetic resources will contribute to a wide array of livestock production systems. Livestock have a wide range of functions. Although emphasis will be more on the production function to suit the growing demand, at the same time, conservation of natural ecosystems provides opportunities to utilise the other livestock functions (draught, manure, insurance, hides).