This study presents a review of the interactions between landless livestock ruminant production systems (LLR systems) and the environment. In LLR systems the feed is not produced on the farm but is purchased from outside. Subsystems within the LLR systems include intensive beef fattening in feedlots, intensive veal production, fattening of lambs and urban milk production.
The LLR systems and the subsystems are described in Chapter 2, the main subsystems include (1) intensive feedlot fattening in the USA; (2) veal production in the European Union (EU); and (3) intensive sheep fattening in the Middle East, other subsystems such as large-scale beef (and dairy) production in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Eastern Europe (EE), and urban dairies in developing countries will be discussed briefly.
In Chapter 3 the livestock - environment interactions (LEI) are described and quantified based on reliable data available. The LEI are assessed for the Key Indicators defined in the Impact Domain studies prepared for the FAO/WB Livestock and environment study.
Chapter 4 presents options, where possible, on technological and on policy level to enhance the positive and mitigate the negative interactions of LLR systems with the environment. The concluding Chapter 5 elaborates on the current development trends and perspectives of LLR systems especially in relation to the environment; this chapter includes research recommendations.
