Survey on Sustainable Animal Diets (SAD)

Background information

Many current livestock production systems need redefining and restructuring if they are to meet sustainably the present and future demand for animal products, because they demand high energy, land, chemicals and water which are increasingly becoming scarce. We are in the process of developing and refining a concept on sustainable animal diets which integrates the importance of efficient use of natural resources, protection of the environment, socio-cultural benefits, and ethical integrity and sensitivity in addition to currently recognized nutrition-based criteria of delivering economically viable safe animal products by producing safe feed. The concept is based on the three-P dimensions of sustainability (Planet, People and Profit) complemented by a further key aspect of animal nutrition, namely the ethics of using a particular feed (see Figure 1).

Why are we focusing on sustainability of animal diets?

Animal feed and feeding impacts animal productivity, health and welfare, product quality and safety, producers’ income, household security, land use and land use change, water pollution and green house gas emission. Also feed is financially the single most important element of animal production, forming up to 70% of the cost of production.

The purpose of this questionnaire?

Through this questionnaire, we are seeking your help to prioritize the main constituent elements/components of the concept and also to take your opinion on how to translate this concept into action by integrating its elements/components into sound management practices.

The results of this survey will also form the basis for an Experts Meeting to be held in Rome this year, to decide the next course of action. Besides completing the survey, should you wish to express views on the issues raised in the questionnaire, you are encouraged to write to: Harinder.Makkar@fao.org

While completing the questionnaire please keep in mind: both the feed production and feeding to livestock. The survey comprises of 10 questions and will take approx. 20 min to complete. As a respondent you will get report of the survey analysis and a CD-ROM containing FAO publications in the field of feeding, feed and feed safety and other FAO flagship publications.