Multifunctionality and provision of ecosystem services by livestock species and breeds at global level.

Overview

• This research investigates how different livestock species and breeds provide multiple ecosystem services globally, beyond just food production.
• The study analyzed data from 41 countries covering over 3,300 breed populations to understand how species, region, breed origin, and farming methods relate to the range of ecosystem services provided.

Study Background and Purpose

• Livestock species offer a variety of ecosystem services (ESs) beyond food, including cultural, provisioning, regulating, and maintenance services.
• The study aims to understand how different livestock species and breeds contribute to these ecosystem services worldwide and identify patterns based on species, geographic region, breed characteristics, and management systems.
• Data was sourced from the Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (DAD-IS) maintained by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which included reports from 41 countries on 3,361 national breed populations.

Key Findings by Livestock Species

• Horses were reported to provide a higher number of cultural ecosystem services, with an average of 2.47 cultural ESs compared to 0.75 across all species. Cultural services may include roles in recreation, tradition, or identity.
• Major ruminant species such as cattle, goats, and sheep were associated with more provisioning ecosystem services (e.g., meat, milk, fiber) averaging 2.99, versus the overall average of 2.39.
• These ruminants also contributed more regulating and maintenance services (averaging 1.86 versus 1.32), which could include nutrient cycling, soil fertility, and other environmental support functions.

Regional and Breed Differences

• African livestock breeds contributed significantly more provisioning services (3.95 on average) than European breeds (1.88), highlighting regional differences in breed roles and uses.
• Native breeds and locally adapted breeds were linked to a substantially greater number of ecosystem services than exotic breeds—5.97 and 4.10 respectively compared to 2.90 for exotic breeds.
• This difference was consistent across all categories of ecosystem services, indicating the broader multifunctionality of native and locally adapted breeds.

Impact of Management Systems

• Breeds primarily raised in less intensive systems like Back Yard/Farm Yard and extensive management systems were associated with a higher number of ecosystem services overall compared to breeds in more specialized or industrial production environments.
• This suggests that extensive and traditional livestock keeping practices preserve multifunctionality and support multiple ecosystem services simultaneously.

Relationships Among Ecosystem Services

• The study identified distinct “bundles” or groups of ecosystem services that tend to occur together, influenced by interdependencies among the services.
• These bundles varied by species and region, reflecting specific ecological, cultural, and economic contexts.

Conclusions and Implications

• Native and locally adapted livestock breeds are especially important for sustaining multifunctional roles that contribute to rural livelihoods and environmental sustainability.
• These breeds, often raised in less specialized or extensive farming systems, provide a broad range of ecosystem services beyond food production, supporting rural community resilience and biodiversity.
• Conserving and promoting native breeds and traditional management systems can enhance ecosystem service provision and contribute to sustainable food systems globally.
• The research highlights the need to recognize the multifunctionality of livestock in policies and management strategies, rather than focusing solely on production efficiency.