American Society of Animal Science

GrAnd ChAllenGeS 2012

In summary form, the grand challenges facing animal production in 2012 are:

• Tooptimizethehealthandproductivityofanimalsinamannerthatprotectsandenhanceshumanhealth.

• Toproduceanimalproteinsinaneconomically,environmentallyandsociallyacceptablemannerthatmeetsthedemandsofanincreasingpopulation.

• Toensurethatanimalscientistsdevelopanddisseminatestrategiesformitigationandadaptationwithincreasingclimatevariability.

• Todevelopinterventionandcontrolstrategiesforfoodbornecontaminantsalongtheentireanimalproductionchainandenhancedetectionofpathogenstoensureasafefoodsupplyanddecreasefoodborneillnesses.

• Tooptimizeanimalwell-beinginasociallyacceptableandsustainablemanner.

Neverbeforehaveproducersofanimal-basedfoodproductsfacedsomanychallengesandopportunities.Globaldemandforanimalproteinisincreasinginresponsetobothpopulationgrowthandtheimprovingfinancialstatusofpeopleinmanydevelopingcountries.Simultaneously,landandwateravailableforlivestockproductionisdecreasingandclimatevariabilityisincreasing.Costsoffeedstuffshavealsoincreaseddramaticallydue,inpart,torenewableenergypoliciesthathaveresultedincompetitionbetweenbioenergycompaniesandlivestockproducersforcornandothercarbohydrate-richgrains.Inaddition,consumersentimentandassociatedlegislationoftengovernanimalmanagementpracticeswithoutregardtocostandefficiencyofproductionandcostoffoodtoconsumers.

Thoughresearch,innovationandeducationledtoincreasedcropandlivestockproductionduringthetwentiethcentury,expertspredictthatincreasesinefficiencyofanimalproductionwillneedtobegreaterduringthenext40yearsthaneverbeforetomeettheincreasedglobaldemandforanimal-basedproductsby2050. AsASASentersitssecondcentury,oursocietymustcontinuetobetheworldleaderasthesourceofscientificinformationonanimalwell-beingandthecontributionsofanimalstohumanhealth.Todealwiththemanycontributionsofanimalstosociety,ASASrecognizestheneedtofacilitateeffectivecommunicationamongacademia,industry,governmentagencies,consumersandotherstakeholderstoreachconsensusregardingscience-basedissuesaffectinganimalproduction.TheGrandChallengedocumentswerepreparedtoclearlyarticulateourpriorities,toprovidescience-basedinformationforshapingpublicpolicy,andtoenhancefuturefundingforresearchandeducationprogramsinanimalscience.

Source: 2010 Gap Report

Animal health

GrAnd ChAllenGe:To optimize the health and productivity of animals in a manner that protects and enhances human health.

Healthyanimalsprovidesafeandwholesomeproductsforhumanconsumption.Althoughhumanandanimalhealthareintimatelylinked,expendituresforanimalhealthresearchareonly7percentofthoseforhumanhealthresearch.Therefore,investmentinanimalhealthinnovationfortheworld’s24billionchickens,morethan1billioncattleandsheep,750millionpigsandgoats,andmorethan1billioncompanionanimalsisverylimited.Itisessentialtodevelopandmaintainsafe,effectiveandresponsibleanimalhealth-managementsystems,includingpreventativevaccines,antimicrobialtreatments,andproduction-technologiesthatpromoteefficientgrowthandensureahealthy,safeandsustainablerelationshipbetweenhumansandfarmanimals.

Animalhealthresearchincludesmanyareasrelatedtothedetection,control,preventionandtreatmentofdiseases.Researchisneededtounderstandtheinteractionofpathogenswiththeirhosts,aswellasthegeneticbasisforresistancetodiseases.Studiesarealsoneededtobetterdefinethetherapeuticuseofantibioticstopromoteanimalhealthandwell-beinginasustainablemannerthatconsiderspotentialhealtheffectsonthehumanpopulation,useofproductionenhancingtechnologiesinlivestockproduction,andoftheroleofspecificfeedingredientstoenhancenutrientutilizationandanimalgrowth.

Key QueStionS:

1) Howdoweoptimizeanimalhealthandproductivitywhileensuringhumanhealth?

2) Whatvaccinesneedtobedevelopedtoprevent,controlandeventuallyeradicateanimaldiseases?

3) Howdowemaintainandensureabalancebetweenoptimalanimalhealthandproductivity?

4) Howcaninformationfromgenetics,animalbehavior,nutritionandphysiologybeintegratedtooptimizeanimalhealthandproductivity?

5) Whatmanagementmethodsortechnologicaltoolsareneededtoassessandensureoptimalanimalhealth?

6) Howdoscientistscommunicatewiththepublicandpolicymakersaboutzoonoticdiseasesinamannerthatprovidesfactual,science-basedinformationwithoutwidespreadhysteria?

expeCted outComeS:

1) Understandingofthesafeandeffectiveuseofproductsandtechnologiestopromoteanimalhealthandproductivity.

2) Managementpracticesthatensurehealthy,productiveanimalsandsafeguardboththefarmanimalandhumanpopulations.

3) Useofgeneticmarkerstoselectindividualanimalsfordiseaseresistance,optimalhealthandproductivity.

4) Vaccinationanddisease-preventionsystemsthatcontrolanimaldiseases.

GrAnd ChAllenGe:To ensure that animal scientists develop and disseminate strategies for mitigation and adaptation to increasing climate variability.

Greenhousegasemissionscomefrommanysources.Inanimalagriculture,emissionsarisefromrespirationinanimals,entericfermentation,manurehandlingandapplication,cropproduction,andtransportofcropsandlivestock.

Justasanimalagricultureaffectsclimatechange,climatechangeaffectsanimalagriculture.Asglobaltemperaturesincrease,consequencesforanimalproductioninclude:increasedheatstressinsummermonths;anextendedgrowingseasonatnorthernlatitudes;anortherlyshiftincroppingpatterns;anincreaseinnaturaldisasters,likehurricanesandflooding;andincreasedparasitesandpathogens.Therearealsolessapparentchallenges,suchasthepotentialforreducedproteinconcentrationsinfeedingredientsanddecreasedwateravailability.

Complicatingthechallengesofanimalagricultureandclimatechangeisthepredictionthattheglobalhumanpopulationwilldoubleby2050.Asaresult,animalagriculturewillhavetoproducemorefoodwithfewerresourcesinachangingenvironment.

Agricultural Animals and Climate Change

Source: NASA

Key QueStionS:

1) Howcanweincorporatescienceintotheglobalstandards,methodsandguidelinesforquantifyingtheimpactofanimalproductiononclimatechange?

2) HowcantheproductionofanimalproteinsbeincludedinasustainablehumanfoodproductionsystemwhilereducingGHGproductionfromthoseproductionsystems?

3) Howcangeneticsandselectionofanimalsbematchedwithnaturalresourcesandfeedstuffavailabilitytooptimizeanimalagricultureinachangingenvironmentalclimate?

4) Howcaninterdisciplinaryteamsofscientists:a. Research,developandimplementpotential

mitigationandadaptationstrategiestooptimizeanimalproductionsystemsincluding:improvedfeedconversion;useoffeedsthatincreasesoilcarbonsequestrationvs.carbonemissions;useofanimalmanureinsteadofsyntheticfertilizer;anduseofanimalmanureasasourceofrenewableenergy?

b. IdentifyandevaluatestrategiesthatallowfarmersandrancherstodecreaseanimalGHGemissionsandcarbonandwaterfootprintsperunitoffoodoutput?

5) Howcanallcomponentsoftheproductionsystemandothercontributingsourcesbeevaluatedratherthanfocusingexclusivelyonendpointsassociatedwithanimalproductivity?

expeCted outComeS:

1) Informeddecisionsaboutmitigatingtheimpactsofanimalsonclimatechangeandadaptinganimalstoachangingclimate.

2) Improvedanimalmanagementandfeedingsystemswithefficientproductioninaneconomicallyandenvironmentallysustainablemanner.

3) Animalproductionsystemsandappropriateinfrastructure(e.g.laboratories,personnel,governmentpolicies)withlong-termresponsivenesstoachangingclimate.

GrAnd ChAllenGe:To develop intervention and control strategies for foodborne contaminants along the entire animal production chain and enhance detection of pathogens to ensure a safe food supply and decrease foodborne illnesses.

AccordingtotheCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention,approximately1in6U.S.citizens(48millionpeople)getsick,128,000arehospitalized,and3,000dieoffoodborneillnesseseachyear.AlthoughtheU.S.animal-basedfoodproductionsystemisamongstthesafestintheworld,meatanddairyfoodsproduction,processing,anddistributionsystemsintheUnitedStatesarediverseandvulnerabletotheintroductionofcontaminants. Therefore,strategiestoenhancefoodsafetyrequireaholisticapproachfromanimalsonthefarmorranch,throughhumaneslaughterandprocessing,andultimatelytoretailersandtheconsumer.Understandingfactorsthataffectpathogen,toxinorchemicalburdenwillhelpdecreasecontaminationinthefarm-to-forkcontinuum.Educationalandresearcheffortswillleadtodevelopmentofriskmanagementstrategies.Researchprovidesthemeanstoensurethatanimalanddairyproductscontinuetobesafeandsecureforconsumers,andthattheseproductscontinuetomeetregulatoryrequirementsfordomesticandinternationalmarkets.

Food Safety

Key QueStionS:

1) Whattechnologiescanbedevelopedandusedfortherapiddetectionandcharacterizationofcontaminatedanimal-basedfoods?

2) Whatadditionaloralternativepre-andpost-harvestinterventionandcontrolstrategiescaneliminatefoodbornecontaminantsthroughoutthefoodproductionchain?

3) Whatstrategiesandmodelscanbeusedtoidentifyeffectivemanagementpracticesthatimprovefoodsafety?

4) Whatmicrobialpopulations(pathogensandnormalflora)arefoundinanimalsandhumans,intheirsurroundingenvironments,andinanimalproductsforhumanconsumption?

5) Whatcharacterizesthebehaviorandfundamentalbiologyofnormalfloraandfoodbornepathogens?Canmoreeffectivetechnologiesbedevelopedtofurtherdifferentiatepathogenicfromnon-pathogenicstrains?

6) Whatisthemosteffectivemeansofinformingconsumersaboutproperfoodhandlingtoreducetheriskoffoodborneillnessinhumans?Howdowereachthegroupsmostatrisk(young,elderly,compromisedimmunesystems)?

expeCted outComeS:

1) Fundamentalknowledgeregardingmicrobialpopulations(pathogensandnormalflora)inanimalproductionsystemsfromfarmtofork.

2) Morepowerfulandsensitivemethodsfortherapiddetectionandeliminationofcontaminantsinanimal-basedfoods.

3) Pre-andpost-harveststrategiesthatuseaholisticorsystems-basedapproachtodecreasefoodbornecontaminantsthroughoutthefoodproductionchain.

4) Bestmanagementpracticesthatimprovethesafetyofallanimal-basedfoods.

5) Educationalmaterialsforthepublic,especiallyat-riskpopulationsortheircaregivers,onsafefoodpreparationandhandling.

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foods, left overs, inadequate

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Equipment, machinery, transport material, transport vehicles

Breach of cold chain

Product mishandling in transport or

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Source: JAS, January 2012, Vol. 87, p. 422.

GrAnd ChAllenGe:To produce animal proteins in an economically, environmentally and socially acceptable manner that meets the demands of an increasing population.

In2012,despitedecadesofincreasedfoodproductiononaper-capitabasis,nearly1outof7peopleintheworldsuffersfromhungerormalnourishmentorboth.Howwillfoodsecuritybeachievedforaworldpopulationthatisexpectedtogrowfrom7billiontodayto9billionby2050?Inadditiontopopulationgrowth,ariseindisposableincomeindevelopingcountriesisexpectedtofurtherincreasedemandforanimalproducts.

Addressingthegrandchallengeofglobalfoodsecuritywillrequireintegrationofawiderangeoftechnical,economic,financialandpoliticalissues.Toachieveglobalfoodsecurity,farmersandranchersmustproducemorefoodwithfewerinputs,includingwater,cerealgrains,pharmaceuticals,andlabor.Researchandeducationprogramsareneededtodevelopandimplementenvironmentally,sociallyandeconomicallysustainableanimalmanagementsystemsthatwillsupportthisincreasingdemand.

Global Food Security

expeCted outComeS:

1) Asupplychainformeat,milkandeggsthatminimizeswasteandprovidesnutritious,safe,abundantandaffordableanimalproteinforthegrowingglobalpopulation.

2) Scientificadvancesthatreducetheenvironmentalimpactofanimalagriculturebyidentifyinganimalswithincreasedfeedefficiency,growthrate,fertility,anddiseaseresistance.

3) Novelmanagementpracticesortreatmentsthatminimizeearlyembryoniclossandoptimizepregnancyratesincattle,sheepandpigs.

4) Productionsystemsthatenhanceleanmusclegrowthandmilkproductioninaneconomically,environmentallyandsociallyacceptablemanner.

5) Improvednutrientcontentofmeat,milkandeggstominimizemalnutritionandbenefithumanhealthandwell-being.

6) Governmentalpoliciesandregulationsatthelocal,state,andnationallevelthatpromotesustainableanimalproductionsystemsthatareeconomically,environmentallyandsociallyacceptable.

Key QueStionS:

1) Howcansustainableanimalmanagementsystemsbeimprovedtomaximizeefficiencywhilesimultaneouslyminimizinginputsandreducingnegativeenvironmentalimpacts?

2) Howcanthenutritionalqualityofanimal-basedfoodsbeoptimizedtobenefithumanhealthandminimizeobesityandmalnutrition?

3) Whatalternativesexisttoutilizeplatewasteinamoreenvironmentallysustainablemanner?

4) Howcantheproductionchainbemademoreefficienttominimizelossesofmeat,milkandeggs?

5) Howcanscienceinformlocal,stateandnationalpoliciesthatensureglobalfoodproductionandfoodsecurity?

Key QueStionS:

1) Whatanimalmanagementpracticesoptimizethewell-beingofanimals,meetconsumerdemands,andensuresustainableproductionofsafe,affordableandabundantmeat,milkandeggs?

2) Howcaninformationfromgenetics,animalbehavior,nutrition,physiologyandhealthbeintegratedtomatchindividualanimalswithappropriateproductionsystems?

3) Whatmethods,managementproceduresorpharmaceuticaltoolsareneededtoassessandalleviatepaininanimals?

4) Canimprovementsbemadeintransportationsystemstopromoteanimalwell-being?

5) Whatarethebestmethodstomitigateanimalpainbeforehumaneharvestordepopulation?

Animal Well-Being

expeCted outComeS:

1) Managementpracticesthatmeetconsumerdemandforsafeandaffordablemeat,milkandeggs,whileaddressingconcernsofanimalwelfarebythepublicandpolicymakers.

2) Useofgeneticmarkerstoselectindividualanimalsforbehavioralandwelfaretraitsthatallowoptimalperformanceinvariousproductionenvironments,whencombinedwithcustomdiets,housingandanimalhealthprograms.

3) Effectivepainmitigationstrategiesthatareapprovedforuseinfood-producinganimals,easytoadminister,long-acting,haveshortwithdrawalperiods,reducetheriskofantibioticresistance,aresociallyacceptable,andcanbeadoptedrapidlybyfarmersandranchers.

4) Animaltransportationsystemsthatpromoteanimalhealthandwell-being,aresociallyacceptableandarepartofasustainablefoodproductionsystem.

5) Safe,effectiveandsociallyacceptablemethodsofeuthanasiaforindividualanimalsatharvestorwhenlargepopulationsofanimalsareexposedtoinfectiousagents,therebyforcingdepopulation.

GrAnd ChAllenGe:To optimize animal well-being in a socially acceptable and sustainable manner.

Farmanimalwelfareisanemotionallychargedissuethatisbasedondiversevaluesandethics.ManyU.S.consumershaveincreasedinterestinhowagriculturalanimalsareraised.Animalwelfareextendsbeyondthefarmtocompanionanimalsandexoticzooanimals.Toensurethepublicthatthewelfareandhumanetreatmentofanimalsisatoppriority,scientists,educatorsandanimalproducersmusthaveatransparent,proactiveroleinestablishingscience-based,economicallysustainableexpectationsforanimalwelfare.

Source: Animal Frontiers, July 2012, Vol. 2, No. 3, p.25

8.5 x 8.5 inches

KEY QUESTIONS:

1) What are the factors that a�ect the water requirements of animals?

2) How can animal production systems be optimized to prevent microbiological contamination of water while providing e�ective manure handling, storage, and application to the environment?

3) Can international, standardized methods of calculating the water footprint of livestock be developed and implemented throughout the world with the ability to account for di�erences in animal production and management?

4) What animal production and processing systems, including the production of crops, are needed to minimize the water footprint of meat, dairy and poultry products?

Water Quantity and Quality in Agricultural Animal Production

EXPECTED OUTCOMES:

1) New knowledge of the quantity and quality of water to optimize production of meat, dairy, and poultry products.

2) Use of livestock manure to promote soil health while maintaining water quality and human health.

3) Standardized methods that integrate the e�ects of environment, animal genetics and physiology, management systems, and components in feed and water that lead to e�cient use of water for meat, dairy, and poultry production throughout the world.

4) Management practices that optimize the use of water in the sustainable production meat, dairy, and poultry products.

GRAND CHALLENGE:To optimize and ensure responsible and sustainable use of water.

Global demand for water is expected to increase signi�cantly by 2025 and will be complicated by the impact of climate variability and altered patterns of rainfall throughout the world. �e water footprint of products is the volume of freshwater used to generate the product, including all steps from production to consumption. About 8% of the available global supply of water is used for agricultural animals for the production of meat, dairy, and poultry products for human consumption. About 1% of this water is used to nourish animals, process and deliver animal products to consumers. About 98% of the water footprint of animal products is the water needed to produce feed (cereal grains, co-products from the ethanol industry, crop residues, pastures, etc.). �e water footprint of animals is in�uenced by their feed conversion e�ciency. Animals that are more e�cient in converting feed to meat, milk, or eggs have a smaller water footprint. Animal feeds produced from crops that are irrigated have a higher water footprint than do crops or pastures grown under rain-fed conditions. Understanding how animals utilize water in di�erent management systems is necessary to standardize methods to quantify this utilization and improve the sustainability of meat, dairy, and poultry products to meet the growing global demand for animal protein.

Source: Animal Frontiers, April 2012, Vol. 2. No. 2