Innovative Strategies for Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Small Ruminant Production
Postmodern Livestock Management - Innovations and Sustainable Practices , Akbar Nikkhah, Editör, IntechOpen, London, ss.1-25, 2026
- Yayın Türü: Kitapta Bölüm / Araştırma Kitabı
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.5772/intechopen.1014421
- Yayınevi: IntechOpen
- Basıldığı Şehir: London
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1-25
- Editörler: Akbar Nikkhah, Editör
- Çukurova Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Accelerating climate change and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events are reshaping the sustainability of livestock production systems by affecting feed resources, animal welfare, environmental performance, and productivity. In this context, small ruminant production systems represent a key component of climate-resilient livestock farming due to their adaptability to harsh and resourcelimited environments. This chapter presents a comprehensive framework for climate-resilient small ruminant production by examining climate-smart nutritional strategies, functional red meat production, and environmental performance through life cycle assessment (LCA). The chapter synthesizes current evidence on alternative feed resources and functional feeds enriched with bioactive compounds, demonstrating their potential to improve animal performance, welfare, and meat quality under climate stress conditions. Studies indicate that optimized feeding strategies can enhance feed efficiency by 10–25% while reducing greenhouse gas emission intensity by 15–30%. LCA is highlighted as a robust tool for quantifying environmental impacts, including greenhouse gas emissions and resource use efficiency, and for comparing conventional and innovative production systems. Systems integrating circular nutrient management and crop–livestock linkages may reduce environmental footprints by up to 20–40% compared with conventional systems. Beyond nutrition, welfare-oriented housing, circular resource use, and integrated crop–livestock approaches are identified as critical pillars of resilience. The analysis also demonstrates a positive relationship between improved animal welfare and environmental performance, as reduced heat stress and better health management contribute to higher productivity and lower emissions intensity. By integrating nutritional, environmental, welfare, and systems perspectives, this chapter provides an evidence-based roadmap for developing sustainable and climateresilient small ruminant production systems capable of addressing future agricultural challenges.