ANSC40290

Globally Livestock systems are the major user of agricultural land, either directly through grazing/pastoral activity or as a major consumer of cereal grains, pulses, oilseeds and their by-products. Such land use activity while delivering multiple benefits to global society (food, fibre, fuel, nutrient cycling etc) is associated with various negative externalities including greenhouse gas and transboundary gas emissions, deteriorations in water quality and loss of biodiversity.

Globally livestock production is faced with numerous challenges to mitigate these and other negative externalities, while at the same time delivering on an increased global demand for food products of animal origin, and concurrently delivering a sustainable livelihood for the hundreds of millions of people involved in livestock production globally.

This module is relevant to all graduate students interested in global systems of agriculture, food and sustainability.

It is developed to give students the opportunity to learn about global livestock production systems, integration of livestock production and cropping systems, livestock production and nature and livestock production and forestry.

Students will develop there understanding of the environmental impact of livestock production systems, strategies to mitigate this environmental impact and the central role livestock production systems play in global food systems

Additionally students will develop their expertise in understanding livestock systems, in interpretation of data and opinions, and in critical thinking .