Author: Elna de Lange
(BSc Agric Animal Science; Animal Nutritionist)

Editor: Suné Bartman
(MSc Agric Production Physiology and Product Quality)

Before we can answer the question as to why nutrition is vitally important in animal husbandry, we need to establish the crucial importance of livestock in the South-African agricultural industry. Animals form a major part of many people’s livelihoods, providing them with either a source of income, or directly with food and other resources necessary for survival. In this semi-arid country and many others alike, the production of crops alone is vastly inadequate to ensure that the ever-growing human population can be fed. This is due to the low average annual rainfall, the drought-prone conditions, and the overall poorly fertile soils prevalent in this region.

 

For these reasons, animals play a vital role in producing a highly nutritious source of essential nutrients to an increasing number of people, ensuring food security for years to come. Considering population growth statistics over the last 21 years - from 2000 to 2021 - the human population in South Africa grew from 46.8 million to 59.4 million - an increase of almost 27%. According to World Bank forecast, South Africa will have a population of approximately 73.5 million by 2050. That translates to a 57% population increase over a 50-year period. This means 57% more people need to eat, make a living, and earn an income than needed to in 2000. 

If we compare the South Africa animal population of 2000 to that of 2021 (including all the major livestock species such as cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, and chicken) it is astounding to see that there is a significant decrease in animal numbers - with the exception of chickens – regardless of the rapid growth seen in the human population. Despite this, product output for all species has increased over the last 20 years. Between 2000 and 2021, cattle numbers have decreased by 10%, yet there was an 81% increase in the output of beef production over this same time. Although chicken showed a 35% increase in population the meat output increased remarkably by 134%. Similarly, lamb and mutton, pork and even goat meat to a lessor extent have all increased in output, despite the decline in animal numbers. 

The graph above clearly supports the statement made by Dr Theo De Jager, keynote speaker at the Food and Agriculture Pavilion of the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference: “The key challenge on route to sustainably feeding 2 billion or more people in our lifetime is producing more on less, and with less”. A crucial element in achieving this goal is to optimize animal production. Animal production is influenced by a multitude of factors such as genetics, environment, health status, management practices and nutrition, with feed contributing approximately 70% of the total production cost.

 

This brings us back to the question; what is the importance of Nutrition in successful and sustainable Animal Husbandry? In this aspect, animals are quite similar to humans; their performance and outputs are largely dependent on the intrinsic and extrinsic factors of their lives. This in turn massively affects the nutrient requirements of said animals, and those looking to achieve maximum production should focus on specific diets to suit specific needs. The person currently training for a marathon will have a vastly different diet to that of an expecting mother, or someone recovering from an illness or raising a baby. Similarly, animals in various stages of production require optimised and specialised diets to ensure they have all the building blocks to produce both quality and quantity output products. 

The composition and quality of animal feeds can impact the availability and quality of these nutrients. There are several essential nutrients that animals require in order to optimise growth and development. The amino acids derived from the proteins sources within a diet are essential for building and repairing tissues. Carbohydrates provide the main source of readily available energy needed for the maintenance of various bodily processes, whilst fats are a source of energy and essential fatty acids needed for the production of cholesterol and cholesterol-hormones.

 

Minerals are important for maintaining various metabolic functions such as bone development, muscle function, and nerve transmission, and finally vitamins play a crucial role in metabolism and the support of various bodily functions, such as vision, immune function, and blood clotting. Water is another essential part of animal nutrition that is often overlooked. Water plays a significantly important role in nearly all physiological functions, such as the transportation if nutrients and oxygen to cells, the regulation of body temperature, and the elimination of waste products.

 

Not providing your animals with enough clean and fresh drinking water can lead to dehydration, which in turn can lead to a range of health problems, a reduced feed intake, impaired growth, and decreased milk production - it is a critical part of maintaining their overall health and welfare. It is therefore evident that animal nutrition plays a critical role in agriculture, with a significant contribution to food security. Understanding the nutritional requirements of animals is vital to support their growth, development, and overall health. Improving animal nutrition is consequently a key component in maximizing animal production and sustainably feeding the ever-growing human population.