230
6 Conclusions
The production of ruminants in dryland areas is expected to play an important role
in responses to the demands for animal protein production over the coming decades.
However, ruminant production in dryland areas is a risky business. There are solu-
tions to manage the risk, but so far they are specific solutions for specific factors
causing risk rather than an integrated and innovative approach that simultaneously
manages and reduces all of the risk factors associated with the uncertainties of ani-
mal production in dryland. To do this requires versatility. An innovative solution to
sustainable livestock production in rangelands has arisen through an integrative
approach, combining shrubs and native plants in silvopastoral systems with strate-
gies to promote self-herding (or traditional herding) and for careful selection of
animal genotypes. This approach would need to be refined for each system and
location, underpinned by sound principles, to ensure that the interaction between
genotype, environment and management is optimised to maximise productivity and
minimise the impact on the environment. However, and perhaps the most essential
need, rarely mentioned, is multidisciplinary teams of people –combinations of sci-
entists, livestock producers and communities, with all parties focussed on address-
ing questions specific for a given environment but with an understanding of the need
for production systems.
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