Climate change adaptation and mitigation in different livestock production systems and agro-ecological zones in South Africa: A systematic review.

Livestock production in South Africa faces numerous challenges due to climate change, resource limitations, and economic constraints. Climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies are essential to ensure sustainability. This systematic literature review explores the adaptation and mitigation strategies employed in livestock production systems in South Africa. The literature review used a systematic approach to identify relevant studies using Google scholar, Scopus and Web of science. To ensure the relevance and quality of the selected studies, specific inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. Studies were included if they addressed adaptation and or mitigation strategies in livestock production, were specific to the South African context, and were published between 2000 and 2023. Conversely, studies were excluded if they focused on regions outside South Africa, did not specifically examine livestock adaptation or mitigation, or lacked methodological rigor. This approach allowed the author to identify and synthesise a wide range of literature on the topic. Based on the inclusion criteria for the literature review, an initial screening of 330 articles was conducted, resulting in 55 articles meeting the criteria and included in the systematic review. This rigorous process helped to identify the high-quality and relevant studies on the topic. The data extracted from the 55 articles were then analysed and synthesised to identify adaptation and mitigation strategies of livestock production systems in South Africa. This helped to identify similarities and differences within the literature and supported drawing conclusions about adaptation and mitigation strategies in South African livestock production systems. Key practices include destocking during dry months, selective breeding, water resource management, construction of shade to reduce heat, financial planning, feed supplementation, and innovative approaches like wildlife ranching. These strategies, when adopted at farm level enhance resilience, productivity, and environmental conservation. Demographic, environmental, socioeconomic, and knowledge-related factors influence strategy adoption. Research progress shows increasing interest and diverse methodological approaches, indicating a growing awareness of livestock production resilience. Collaborative efforts are crucial for advancing sustainable practices and maintaining the sector's long-term sustainability.