Chapter 3 Feed vs. Food: Do Livestock Compete with Humans for Food Resources?

Transcription

1 Chapter 3 Feed vs. Food: Do Livestock Compete with Humans for Food Resources?

2 Chapter 3 Feed vs. Food: Do Livestock Compete with Humans for Food Learning Objectives: Resources? 1) To discuss how livestock production can be integrated with crop production to increase the efficiency of human food production. 2) To discuss how livestock production can be based on crop residues and by-products to optimize the utilization of resources.

3 Chapter Outline: I. INTRODUCTION II. DIRECT COMPETITION FOR FOOD RESOURCES BETWEEN LIVESTOCK AND HUMANS III. MATCHING ANIMAL PRODUCTION SYSTEMS WITH AVAILABLE RESOURCES IV. THE DISADVANTAGES OF NON-COMPETITIVE LIVESTOCK FEEDING SYSTEMS V. INTEGRATION OF LIVESTOCK INTO SUSTAINABLE CROPPING SYSTEMS

4 Chapter 3 Feed vs. Food: Do Livestock Compete with Humans for Food Resources? I. Introduction Issue: Is it justifiable to feed food to livestock? This issue is a theoretical or academic one that deals with: 1. Efficiency of resource utilization 2. Ecological concerns 3. Idealistic concepts of how livestock should be integrated with crop production Historically, mass starvation or famines have resulted from: 1. Political struggles 2. People being driven away from their land 3. People denied of food and medicine -- not related to livestock production!

5 II. Direct Competition for Food Resources between Livestock and Humans Facts: Each step up the pyramidal food chain represents some loss in nutrient efficiency Feeding of cereal grains and pulses (beans, peas, lentils) is used with lower efficiency Cultures that enjoy a higher living standard desire the addition of AFP to the diet, while other cultures are usually more content, for example, on a rice/soybean or maize/bean based diet The issue of Competition is more of philosophical interest, more of a myth than reality In the poorest of countries, people have developed production systems in which livestock do NOT compete for food As poor people increase their incomes, the demand for AFP is usually one of the first priorities!

6 II. Direct Competition for Food Resources between Livestock and Humans Meat or Wheat for the next Millennium? In many cultures, meat (AFP) is considered a luxury Livestock are traditional raised as walking banks Livestock are associated with traditional ceremonies Millward concludes, For a number of highly complex social, political and economic reasons, meat occupies a pivotal position in the global food chain, which is unlikely to change much in the forseeable future. Reduction in meat consumption in developed countries (where it is higher than optimal) will do little to improve the health of people in developing countries (through release of grain); significant dietary improvement in developing countries mainly requires economic growth that will allow more people to add animal products to their diets (Rosegrant et al., 1999). Source:

7 Cereal Grains in the Human Diet Table 3-1 The world s major food crops (Adapted from Cordain, 1999.) Rank Crop Million tonnes Rank Crop Million tonnes 1 Wheat Beans 14 2 Maize Peanuts 13 3 Rice Peas 12 4 Barley Banana 11 5 Soybean Grape 11 6 Cane sugar Sunflower Sorghum Yams Potato Apple Oats Coconut Cassava Cottonseed (oil) Sweet potato Orange Beet sugar Tomato Rye Cabbage Millet Onion Rapeseed Mango 1.8

8 II. Direct Competition for Food Resources between Livestock and Humans Cereal Grains in the Human Diet Wheat, maize, and rice account for over 75% of total grain production, providing over half of the food energy This trend has occurred in less than 10,000 years (< 500 human generations) Cereal grains are now the major source of both energy (calories) and protein (amino acids) Humanity s Double-edged Sword Compared to our past as hunter-gatherers (meat, fruits, and vegetables): Stature, Infant mortality Lifespan, Infectious disease Anemia (Fe), Osteomalacia Dental caries

9 II. Direct Competition for Food Resources between Livestock and Humans Cereal Grains in the Human Diet The Agricultural Revolution resulted in civilization as we know it. One advantage was increased learning or gain of human knowledge Disadvantages: 1. Whole-sale warfare 2. Mass starvation 3. Epidemic diseases 4. Tyranny 5. Class divisions Nutritional deficiencies resulting from high grain consumption: 1. Vitamin A and certain B vitamins 2. Calcium (osteoporosis) 3. Contains phytic acid (reduces bioavailability of P, Zn, Fe and other trace elements) 4. High ratios of ῳ -6 to ῳ-3 fatty acids (leads to essential fatty acid deficiencies) 5. Deficiency of certain amino acids (e.g., lysine and methionine) 6. Allergies to grain proteins The practice of meat consumption can make-up for these problems. Our bodies are still adapting to the new diets containing much grain

10 II. Direct Competition for Food Resources between Livestock and Humans Which Livestock are Most or Least Competitive? Chickens primarily gramnivores seed eating/rapid rate of digesta passage, but are still omnivores Exceptions: In LDC, chickens are scavengers Swine omnivores large hindgut with significant microbial digestion (vegetation, roots, insects/small animals, eggs a coarser diet than fed to chickens) Exceptions: In LDCs, swine are fed aquatic weeds, vegetable and kitchen wastes, and table scraps Artificial Diets?

11 II. Direct Competition for Food Resources between Livestock and Humans Which Livestock are Most or Least Competitive? Ruminants herbivores rumen as a fermentation vat, which support a highly fibrous diet (forages/crop residues) Interestingly, in densely populated Asian countries, performance and reproduction of ruminants on fibrous crop by-products (crop residues) is too slow to use primarily for meat production. LDC have the majority of poultry and swine! Instead, higher quality feeds (cassava, molasses, rice bran, and palm oil) is more efficient to feed to monogastrics (chickens and swine) Ruminants, such as oxen and buffalo are used for work, milk, hides, and dung for fuel Cuban case?

12 II. Direct Competition for Food Resources between Livestock and Humans Which Livestock are Most or Least Competitive? In many countries, cereal grains are: 1. Not in high demand for human food (sorghum, soybean, canola, and cottonseed meals) and is fed to livestock 2. Wheat that fails to meet quality control standards (bakery) is fed to livestock ( Feed wheat ) 3. In North America and Europe, certain feed ingredients used to support intensive poultry and swine production are not currently in high demand by humans. Examples? 4. Some maize varieties are solely grown as livestock feed 5. Maize is mostly grown as animal feed and for industrial purposes (sweeteners, oil, ethanol, etc.). Also, maize yields have dramatically risen in recent decades (Figure 3-2 next slide). ( We can eat only so much corn!) (Using corn to fuel our cars article; Shift from tortillas to ethanol article; High U.S. corn prices spread global hunger and instability article) 6. In addition, meat and bone and fish meal are by-products from rendering and not in high demand by humans as food 7. Interestingly, in China (~1 billion people) maize and soybeans are grown, even imported, to feed poultry and swine as the living standards (economy) improves. The people demand AFP in their diets! Conclusion: It would appear that the argument of efficiency (feed vs. food) is only an academic one. However, what is the carbon footprint or environmental impact?

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14 II. Direct Competition for Food Resources between Livestock and Humans Alternative Feeds for Livestock: Cassava Poor man s food Tropical tuber, grows in poor, acid soils on non-cultivatible land, foilage as feed. Cassava meal is an excellent energy feed (examples in Thailand and Colombia). Largely a cash crop. Others 1. Barley, rye, rice bran, palm oil and kernel meal, citrus and beet pulp, cottonseed meal, copra, etc. 2. Countries with surplus grains and no buyer (e.g., rye grain in Poland) can be fed to poultry and swine Sugar cane Tropical grain - More energy per acre than any other crop 1. Juice for poultry and swine 2. Fibrous residue and juice for ruminants Crop residues Millions of stocker calves graze on winter wheat fields in the U.S. each year. If all U.S. cropland were used to grow grains the residues (straw/stover) could support 3X the present population of ruminants (Van Soest, 1994). Is this desirable? Photos: Wikipedia

15 III. Matching Animal Production Systems with Available Resources Issue: Appropriate Technology A) A common myth is that what revolutionized agriculture in one country (e.g., the U.S.) will work elsewhere. Case: U.S. compared to New Zealand Why it is not practical for NZ to grow cereal grain: Geographic isolation Lower human population Higher fossil fuel costs Favorable climate for grass Need for export commodities Conclusions: Comparison demonstrates optimal use of natural resources (Preston and Leng, 1987).

16 IV. The Disadvantages of Non-Competitive Livestock Feeding Systems Issues: The title reflects more of a myth than fact Reasons: No competition in DC s (surplus of cheap grain) Most livestock are found in LDC s In LDC s, livestock are mostly fed on wastes Why is it absurd to import grain to LDC s or NZ to set milk yield records? Another factor is that while most people in LDC s are rural-based, many aspire to live in cities. Soon, some 30 million people will live in Mexico City. Today, most people live in cities. Historically, >90% of Americans use to live on farms; today <1%.

17 IV. The Disadvantages of Non-Competitive Livestock Feeding Systems What does all this mean? CAFO s and(or) industrial agriculture systems are justified! The rearing of ruminants on crop residues (only meeting maintenance needs) will do little to meet human food requirements. For example, in Latin America it takes >5 years to grow a steer to harvest.

18 V. Integration of Livestock into Sustainable Cropping Systems Facts: Historically, prior to the 20 th century, crop and livestock production were closely integrated. The industrial revolution was based on: Cheap inputs (fossil fuels, fertilizer, herbicides, pesticides) Mechanization (tractors/grain processing) Hybrid seed Technology Advantages: Resulting in dramatic yield increases and also justification of CAFO s that decrease food costs. This development uncoupled crop from livestock production due to cost efficiencies (economic competitive advantage against smaller farmers) realized in largescale enterprises (decreasing cost per unit of product; cheaper food). However, certain integrative practices will likely continue (winter grazing of straw/stover by stockers).

19 V. Integration of Livestock into Sustainable Cropping Systems Facts: Historically, prior to the 20 th century, crop and livestock production were closely integrated. The industrial revolution in DCs was based on: Cheap inputs (fossil fuels, fertilizer, herbicides, pesticides) Mechanization (tractors/grain processing) Hybrid seed Technology Disadvantages: Social concerns exist, such as air, noise, and water pollution, animal welfare ( factory farming ), GMO use, additional social services, etc. These concerns are all social, not economic. Also, is industrial food production sustainable as opposed to family farms? There will continue to be more legislation (restrictions and laws against corporate farming). One argument dealing with ethics is that corporate farm businesses should also pay for societal costs (Cheeke, 1999).

20 V. Integration of Livestock into Sustainable Cropping Systems Conclusions: DC s vs. LDC s - In DC s, the aim is to maximize profits (economic efficiency while minimizing labor), whereas in LDC s the aim is to optimize profits (biological efficiency while utilizing inexpensive available labor) through small-scale, integrative subsistence farming practices. Source: Preston (1995)