2015 Pan Pacific Veterinary Conference

Livestock production has been criticised on welfare, environmental and equity grounds. Environmental criticisms include that livestock contribute to land degradation, soil erosion, habitat destruction and greenhouse gas emissions. However, environmental damage is not a necessary condition for grazing livestock production. Grazing livestock produce meat, fibre and other products from non arable land and if managed appropriately can maintain ground cover, enhance soil production rather than degradation and can be run in biodiverse environments. While grazing ruminant produce methane this is decomposed to carbon dioxide and that is carbon neutral over time.