ISSN:
1573-0867
Keywords:
cereals
;
feedstuffs
;
feeding intensity
;
livestock
;
meat
;
nitrogen
;
trade
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
Notes:
Abstract This paper presents an estimate of the amount of nitrogen involved in the use and trade of feedstuffs for a number of world regions. Livestock production has shown a steady increase world-wide as a result of an annual increase of 1.4% in developing countries and 0.9% in developed countries during the period 1960–1990. Particularly in developing countries, the strong growth of animal production and a tendency towards decreasing reliance on grazing and increasing importance of fodder crops and feed concentrates, cause a major increase in the consumption of feedstuffs. Cereals form the major feedstuff world-wide. The current global use of cereals for feed is about 30% of the total use (57% in developed countries and 17% in developing countries). Net trade of cereals and other feedstuffs represents 4–8 Tg N per year, which is only 4–7% of the total N consumption by the world's animal population. A strong growth of the per capita food consumption, a relative increase of meat consumption, coupled with a strong population growth, may cause a strong increase of the net trade of cereals. In particular the countries of the Middle East, North Africa and China may become important importers of cereals. In future, the N transport between regions in the form of feedstuffs may become an important component in the global N cycle.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1009763706114
