Premium
Knowledge and tools to enhance resilience of beef grazing systems for sustainable animal protein production
Author(s) -
Steiner Jean L.,
Engle David M.,
Xiao Xiangming,
Saleh Ali,
Tomlinson Peter,
Rice Charles W.,
Cole N. Andy,
Coleman Samuel W.,
Osei Edward,
Basara Jeffrey,
Middendorf Gerad,
Gowda Prasanna,
Todd Richard,
Moffet Corey,
Anandhi Aavudai,
Starks Patrick J.,
Ocshner Tyson,
Reuter Ryan,
Devlin Daniel
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/nyas.12572
Subject(s) - grazing , rangeland , livestock , agriculture , productivity , sustainability , agroforestry , livelihood , business , psychological resilience , environmental science , ecosystem services , production (economics) , climate resilience , geography , natural resource economics , climate change , ecosystem , agronomy , ecology , biology , forestry , economics , psychology , macroeconomics , archaeology , psychotherapist
Ruminant livestock provides meat and dairy products that sustain health and livelihood for much of the world's population. Grazing lands that support ruminant livestock provide numerous ecosystem services, including provision of food, water, and genetic resources; climate and water regulation; support of soil formation; nutrient cycling; and cultural services. In the U.S. southern Great Plains, beef production on pastures, rangelands, and hay is a major economic activity. The region's climate is characterized by extremes of heat and cold and extremes of drought and flooding. Grazing lands occupy a large portion of the region's land, significantly affecting carbon, nitrogen, and water budgets. To understand vulnerabilities and enhance resilience of beef production, a multi‐institutional Coordinated Agricultural Project (CAP), the “grazing CAP,” was established. Integrative research and extension spanning biophysical, socioeconomic, and agricultural disciplines address management effects on productivity and environmental footprints of production systems. Knowledge and tools being developed will allow farmers and ranchers to evaluate risks and increase resilience to dynamic conditions. The knowledge and tools developed will also have relevance to grazing lands in semiarid and subhumid regions of the world.