Climate change poses serious threats to the environment and dairy production in Africa. Dairy production contributes to climate change through feed production, processing, transportation, and enteric methane emissions from cattle. However, climate change also negatively impacts dairy production by shortening growing seasons, causing water scarcity, and increasing heat stress for cattle. To adapt, the dairy industry needs to improve resilience through better herd management, feed strategies, and manure management to mitigate emissions. The future will require more sustainable dairy production to meet increasing demand while protecting the environment.

1. Environmental issues in the dairy industry:
farm level assessment
Dr. Asaah Ndambi
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi - Kenya
ESADA Conference
25th September 2015

2. "Climate change is the most severe problem that
we are facing today, more serious even than the
threat of terrorism."
-- David King
The Foreign Secretary's Special Representative for Climate Change, UK

3. Outline
1. Climate change effects
on the environment
2. Dairy production vs
climate change
3. How to produce milk
while caring for the
environment

4. Climate change is real – Africa is most affected
Temperatures: By 2050, average temperatures in Africa are predicted
to increase by 1.5 to 3°C, and will continue further upwards beyond
this time.
Drier subtropical regions will warm more than the moister tropics.
Ecosystems: It is estimated that, by the 2080s, the proportion
of arid and semi-arid lands in Africa is likely to increase by 5-
8%. Between 25 and 40% of mammal species in national parks
in sub-Saharan Africa will become endangered.
Rainfall: There will be major changes in rainfall in annual and
seasonal trends, and extreme events of flood and drought.
32% of global water is used for feed production
What happens if we keep doing as we have been doing?

5. The length of growing season: a key threat
Source: IFPRI 2014

6. Agriculture: Crop yields from rain-fed agriculture would be
reduced and crop net revenues could fall by as much as 90% by
2100, with small-scale farmers being the most affected.
33% of agricultural land is used for feed production
Sea-level rise: Towards the end of the 21st century, projected sea level
rise will affect low-lying coastal areas in Africa with large populations.
The projection that sea-level rise could increase flooding, particularly
on the coasts of Eastern Africa, will have implications for health.
Energy: Only 8% of rural populations in Africa have access to electricity.
80% of the overall African population relies primarily on biomass to
meet its energy requirements in sub-Saharan Africa.
This gives more pressure on forests and increases environmental issues
Climate change is real

7. Proof of global warming

8. Outline
1. Climate change effects
on the environment
2. Dairy production vs
climate change
3. How to produce milk
while caring for the
environment

9. The big question
Is it climate change that affects dairy production or
its dairy production that affects climate change?

10. How dairy production affects the environment
-Feed production, processing and
transportation, deforestation, etc.
-Overgrazing
-Enteric emissions
-Manure (emissions, water pollution,
odors)
Source: Chatham House based on FAO (2013)
Source: GLEAM
Global estimate of emissions by species
86%
Emission sources for dairy cattle

11. How climate change affects dairy production
How does climate change affect dairy production
- Shortening of growing seasons  less feed
- Water scarcity and droughts  less feed
- Floods and crop spoilage
- High temperatures, heat stress

12. Two facts we must live with
1. Population growth:
Africa has the highest population
growth rates in the world and this will
continue throughout the century
We need to produce more milk, but must be sustainable
2. Consumption growth
Total consumption of meat and dairy
products will increase in Africa due
to increasing population and
growing consumption per capita

13. Outline
1. Recent environmental
trends
2. Dairy production vs
climate change
3. How to produce enough
milk while caring for the
environment
Adaptation
Mitigation

14. “Mazingira” state of the art environmental
research center at ILRI
 Accurate greenhouse gas emissions
 Socio-economic impacts
 Monitoring land degradation, soil fertility, hydrology
 Experimental programs: feed, forage vs environment
 Capacity building, mentoring, advise to governments

15. Adaptation approaches for dairy systems
Adaptation approaches include:
1. Increasing system resilience  Enhancing production systems
to face climate change (eg. water capturing, herd management,
sequential cropping, genetic improvement, manure
management, etc.)
2. Diversification  Expanding the activities on the farm,
exploring other possibilities outside the farm (eco-tourism,
mixed farming, feed production, biogas production)
3. Risk management  Taking measures beforehand to reduce
risk (eg. insurance, weather forecasts, expansion of farmland,
preservation feed, etc.)

16. Mitigation approaches
Enteric Fermentation
 Increase production efficiency
 Decrease the number of animals
 Improve nutrition
Effects of local by-product supplementation on cost of
milk production and GHG emissions
Alqaisi et al 2014
More local
feed
Lower
costs
Lower
emissions

17. emissions
Soil
Cycle principle
Animals
Crops
Manure
 outputs
inputs 
inputs 
Manure management

18. TreatmentCollection Storage Application
Solid manure
Liquid manure
Deep litter
Composting
Biogas
Heap
Pit
Silo
Spread-ing
Spot
application
Injection
Integrated manure management
Dehydration

19. Manure is like money
Accumulated it’s a problem
Well spread it’s a blessing
You need it
to keep the system going!
Don’t waste it!

20. Thank you!
Asante!
Photo: Oxfarm international