Impacts of Climate Change on Livestock Systems: What We Know and What We Don’t Know

Climate changes and the associated increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration are just two of many possible future drivers of change in grassland systems and whilst there are significant uncertainties around these, they are probably more effectively characterised than many other drivers. The challenge for grasslands systems research is not so much trying to precisely predict future climate in the face of unresolvable uncertainty but rather to work with decision-makers to enhance their decisions for a range of possible climates, build their capacity to make sound risk-based and informed decisions and increase the array of options available for adaptation. There are many adaptations possible to address key climate impacts such as increased heat stress, altered pests and disease risk, vegetation change, increased risk of soil degradation and changes in forage quantity, quality and the variability of these. Many of these adaptations are extensions of existing best management practice. However, it is important to explore adaptations that are beyond incremental change to existing systems to be inclusive of more substantial systems change and even transformational changes. There is a need also to consider adaptations beyond the farm scale including in relation to value chains, institutional change and policy development. It is these areas in particular where there are likely to be increasing demands for research

Climate change impact, adaptation, and mitigation in temperate grazing systems: a review

Managed temperate grasslands occupy 25% of the world, which is 70% of global agricultural land. These lands are an important source of food for the global population. This review paper examines the impacts of climate change on managed temperate grasslands and grassland-based livestock and effectiveness of adaptation and mitigation options and their interactions. The paper clarifies that moderately elevated atmospheric CO2 (eCO2) enhances photosynthesis, however it may be restiricted by variations in rainfall and temperature, shifts in plant’s growing seasons, and nutrient availability. Different responses of plant functional types and their photosynthetic pathways to the combined effects of climatic change may result in compositional changes in plant communities, while more research is required to clarify the specific responses. We have also considered how other interacting factors, such as a progressive nitrogen limitation (PNL) of soils under eCO2, may affect interactions of the animal and the environment and the associated production. In addition to observed and modelled declines in grasslands productivity, changes in forage quality are expected. The health and productivity of grassland-based livestock are expected to decline through direct and indirect effects from climate change. Livestock enterprises are also significant cause of increased global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (about 14.5%), so climate risk-management is partly to develop and apply effective mitigation measures. Overall, our finding indicates complex impact that will vary by region, with more negative than positive impacts. This means that both wins and losses for grassland managers can be expected in different circumstances, thus the analysis of climate change impact required with potential adaptations and mitigation strategies to be developed at local and regional levels

Agreement between cystatin-C and creatinine based eGFR estimates after a 12-month exercise intervention in patients with chronic kidney disease

Background: Estimation of GFR (eGFR) using formulae based on serum creatinine concentrations are commonly used to assess kidney function. Physical exercise can increase creatinine turnover and lean mass; therefore, this method may not be suitable for use in exercising individuals. Cystatin-C based eGFR formulae may be a more accurate measure of kidney function when examining the impact of exercise on kidney function. The aim of this study was to assess the agreement of four creatinine and cystatin-C based estimates of GFR before and after a 12-month exercise intervention. Methods: One hundred forty-two participants with stage 3–4 chronic kidney disease (CKD) (eGFR 25–60 mL/min/1.73 m2) were included. Subjects were randomised to either a Control group (standard nephrological care [n = 68]) or a Lifestyle Intervention group (12 months of primarily aerobic based exercise training [n = 74]). Four eGFR formulae were compared at baseline and after 12 months: 1) MDRDcr, 2) CKD-EPIcr, 3) CKD-EPIcys and 4) CKD-EPIcr-cys. Results: Control participants were aged 63.5[9.4] years, 60.3% were male, 42.2% had diabetes, and had an eGFR of 40.5 ± 8.9 ml/min/1.73m2. Lifestyle Intervention participants were aged 60.5[14.2] years, 59.5% were male, 43.8% had diabetes, and had an eGFR of 38.9 ± 8.5 ml/min/1.73m2. There were no significant baseline differences between the two groups. Lean mass (r = 0.319, p  <  0.01) and grip strength (r = 0.391, p  <  0.001) were associated with serum creatinine at baseline. However, there were no significant correlations between cystatin-C and the same measures. The Lifestyle Intervention resulted in significant improvements in exercise capacity (+ 1.9 ± 1.8 METs, p  <  0.001). There were no changes in lean mass in both Control and Lifestyle Intervention groups during the 12 months. CKD-EPIcys was considerably lower in both groups at both baseline and 12 months than CKD-EPIcr (Control = − 10.5 ± 9.1 and − 13.1 ± 11.8, and Lifestyle Intervention = − 7.9 ± 8.6 and − 8.4 ± 12.3 ml/min/1.73 m2), CKD-EPIcr-cys (Control = − 3.6 ± 3.7 and − 4.5 ± 4.5, and Lifestyle Intervention = − 3.6 ± 3.7 and − 2.5 ± 5.5 ml/min/1.73 m2) and MDRDcr (Control = − 9.3 ± 8.4 and − 12.0 ± 10.7, Lifestyle Intervention = − 6.4 ± 8.4 and − 6.9 ± 11.2 ml/min/1.73 m2). Conclusions: In CKD patients participating in a primarily aerobic based exercise training, without improvements in lean mass, cystatin-C and creatinine based eGFR provided similar estimates of kidney function at both baseline and after 12 months of exercise training. Trial registration: The trial was registered at www.anzctr.org.au (Registration Number ANZCTR12608000337370) on the 17/07/2008 (retrospectively registered)

Adapting the Australian livestock and wheat farms to climate change: value of adaptation at cross-regional scale

The GRAZPLAN biophysical models were used to simulate the dynamics of coupled climate-soil-grassland-livestock systems at 25 representative farms across Australia’s extensive grazing region under historical and a range of projected climates (4 GCMs at 2030, 2050 and 2070 under SRES A2 scenario). The modelling analysis suggests that primary production of grasslands and livestock are likely to decrease across most of southern Australia’s grazing lands under future climate. By including changes in on-farm management in our models we were able to evaluate the effectiveness of certain adaptation options. Options considered individually were not always effective but a combination of Incremental grassland management and animal genetic improvement options (currently available to graziers) was able to offset productivity declines at cross-regional scale. Through implementation of the optimal combination of adaptation options, profitability across southern Australia was shown to increase by +69%, +84% and +116% in 2030, 2050, and 2070, compared to no adaptation. Optimal systemic adaptation could make addition of $A 2.00 billion in 2030,$A 2.10 billion in 2050, and $A 2.12 billion in 2070 to industry with current farm management. In comparison with historical production, adaptation value to industry would be$A 1.51 billion in 2030, $A 1.51 billion in 2050, and$A 1.12 billion in 2070 (all for a full adaption). If the most-profitable combination of adaptations is used at the baseline instead of the current-practice, then the optimal combinations of grassland adaptations would provide a further increase in operating profitability at 28%, 28%, and 16% of sites in 2030, 2050, and 2070. If the livestock genetic adaptations –cannot be adopted at the present for lack of seed stock – are also included, the optimal systemic adaptations would be more profitable than the alternative baseline including grassland management options at 60%, 56%, and 48% of the locations in 2030, 2050, and 2070. We discuss 3 conceptual issues which arose during our study: (i) how to estimate impact when current management is environmentally infeasible under future climates; (ii) estimating the effectiveness of combinations of adaptations, only some of which are currently available to graziers; and (iii) dealing with the tension between modelling best-practice systems, so that present and future can be compared, versus modelling typical practice for economic valuation

RNA helicase EIF4A1-mediated translation is essential for the GC response

EIF4A1 and cofactors EIF4B and EIF4H have been well characterised in cancers, including B cell malignancies, for their ability to promote the translation of oncogenes with structured 5' untranslated regions. However, very little is known of their roles in nonmalignant cells. Using mouse models to delete Eif4a1, Eif4b or Eif4h in B cells, we show that EIF4A1, but not EIF4B or EIF4H, is essential for B cell development and the germinal centre response. After B cell activation in vitro, EIF4A1 facilitates an increased rate of protein synthesis, MYC expression, and expression of cell cycle regulators. However, EIF4A1-deficient cells remain viable, whereas inhibition of EIF4A1 and EIF4A2 by Hippuristanol treatment induces cell death.</p

RNA helicase EIF4A1-mediated translation is essential for the GC response

EIF4A1 and cofactors EIF4B and EIF4H have been well characterised in cancers, including B cell malignancies, for their ability to promote the translation of oncogenes with structured 5' untranslated regions. However, very little is known of their roles in nonmalignant cells. Using mouse models to delete Eif4a1, Eif4b or Eif4h in B cells, we show that EIF4A1, but not EIF4B or EIF4H, is essential for B cell development and the germinal centre response. After B cell activation in vitro, EIF4A1 facilitates an increased rate of protein synthesis, MYC expression, and expression of cell cycle regulators. However, EIF4A1-deficient cells remain viable, whereas inhibition of EIF4A1 and EIF4A2 by Hippuristanol treatment induces cell death.</p