Enviromental problems associated with livestock production in Tropical Africa

摘要

Besides contributing to a substantial proportion of the meatsupply, livestock forms an integral part of the tropical Africaneconomy. Livestock is a frequent form of inancial investment. Meat,being the most common protein soruce, is in short supply, therefore,the need to develop the livestock industry to meet demand is great.Due to the cost of concentrates and feeds, animals are often allowedto graze freely. However, the outcome of this free grazing is aserious environmental problem. Because of the ecological nature ofthe tropics a lot of diseases abound, some of which have beentriggered by livestock breeding methods. Increased herding andagriculture have caused excessive removal of vegetation, lowering ofthe water-table and desiccation of the land, with a resultant gradualchange in climate and vegetation.