What livestock farmers should know about climate change
“Change (read as variability) in the climate has existed since the Earth was formed. Debates on its causes are not of primary importance to livestock farmers; what is relevant to them is to know the current phase of climate variability, as this will determine the mitigation measures they should take.
CHANGES HAPPENING
Before one can discuss how to adapt to a variable or changing climate, it is important to take note of the climate fluctuations predicted over the past 30 to 40 years, and which of these have been realised. Two predictions of climate change have relevance to the current generation of livestock farmers:
• The world would become warmer. The latest measurements show that the average annual temperature over South Africa has increased about 1°C over the recent past, and farmers have
