Livestock and animal health

Improving the health and welfare of farmed animals for a growing human population.

It is estimated that by 2050 the number of humans on the planet will have grown to nine billion. Our population is increasingly urbanised and becoming more affluent. The need to supply food into these large urban centres and the growing demand for meat and milk is putting increasing pressure on animal production systems. There is tension between intensive, high input farming systems, the recreational needs of the population, their use of the environment and concerns about damage to ecosystems, emissions of greenhouse gases from ruminants and the welfare of animals in high intensive units.

At Liverpool we work on improving control of infectious diseases of food producing animals, we address concerns around antimicrobial resistance and anthelmintic resistance and we work to improve the welfare of farmed animals. We work with partners across the globe, with foci in Kenya, Malawi, India and South America. We engage with global organisations such as the FAO, OiE and many NGOs in a range of countries. We also link to industry, including large veterinary Pharma and farming bodies such as the UK’s Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board.