Review article - Peer-reviewed, 2022
Cattle welfare aspects of production systems in the tropics
Hernandez, Adalinda; Galina, Carlos S.; Geffroy, Mariana; Jung, Jens; Westin, Rebecka; Berg, CharlotteAbstract
There is a growing demand for animal products, especially food for human consumption, including in developing countries in tropical regions of the world. Simultaneously, animal welfare and a reduced environmental impact are increasingly important to modern consumers and non-consumers. Increased efficiency of existing animal production systems is key to meeting the growing demand of animal products without ignoring societal concerns. Adequate animal welfare can play an important role in improving production and addressing consumer demands. This review describes the main cattle production systems in the tropics and considers how they meet the need for transparent animal welfare conditions. Several challenges to overcome are highlighted, including lack of information about the real cattle welfare status in the tropics. Adequate assessment protocols and improvements in animal nutrition, infrastructure, animal health and farming-related education need special attention in the region. Better animal welfare could improve tropical animal production in terms of productivity, and increase the volume of meat and milk delivered. It could also guarantee consumer acceptance and future consumption of animal products, secure incomes, alleviate poverty and reduce migration to urban areas and countryside abandonment.Keywords
animal welfare; beef; Bos indicus; cow; dairy; developing countries; subsistence farming; welfare assessmentPublished in
Animal Production Science2022, volume: 62, number: 13, pages: 1203-1218
Publisher: CSIRO PUBLISHING
Authors' information
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Environment and Health
Galina, Carlos S.
Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico
Geffroy, Mariana
Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Environment and Health
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Environment and Health
Berg, Charlotte (Berg, Lotta)
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Environment and Health
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG2 Zero hunger
SDG1 End poverty in all its forms everywhere
SDG17 Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
UKÄ Subject classification
Agricultural Science
Publication Identifiers
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/AN21230
URI (permanent link to this page)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/116353