Emerging production and market environment for livestock in the Mekong region: opportunities, challenges and the response

摘要

Rising consumption and production of livestock products in the Mekong countries have been associated with significant structural changes in the sector resulting in a growing dichotomy between smallholder producers and large-scale commercial operators. Although small producers still contribute the majority of animal-source food in the region, they face increasing risk of marginalisation from large operations with sophisticated technology and better access to growing markets. There is also growing pressure on the region's food-grain economy, with increasing use of grains in the diets of poultry, pigs and dairy animals.