Opening statements

摘要

This symposium is about livestock. Livestock are vital to sustainable agricfulture and contribute significantly to the food security of many communities, particularly in developing countries. They are a source not only of food (meat and milk), but also of manure and draught power. Animal products are also a source of disposable income for many farmers in developing countries. Mixed farming systems that include livestock offer many advantages over crops alone. Indeed, many frmers in developing countries operate production systems where there is strong interaction and interdependence between livestock and crops. Trends of the last decade have shown that production of livestock in developing countries is now the dominating factor for food security and sustainable agricultural productivity. This trend is expected to continue into the next century.