Final answer:
Intensive livestock farming contributes to deforestation, reduction in species' habitats, accumulation of greenhouse gases, and soil erosion, resulting in environmental changes like altered rainfall. It is also a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions and posses potential health risks from food and water contamination as well as antibiotic resistance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Intensive farming involving livestock can lead to several significant environmental and health issues. One of the main concerns is deforestation; livestock farming accounts for a substantial portion of worldwide deforestation, with estimates around 40%. This deforestation leads to the reduction of habitats for various species, contributes to a buildup of greenhouse gases, and can result in soil erosion and changes in rainfall patterns.
In addition, these farming practices are considerable contributors to global warming due to substantial emissions of greenhouse gases. Livestock are estimated to account for around 14.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Industrial livestock farming also poses potential health hazards, such as the contamination of food and water by pesticides and nitrates and the sub-therapeutic use of antibiotics in animal production, which are areas of active research due to concerns over risks to the general public and farm workers.
Locally, changes in climate such as reduced rainfall and increased temperatures, often exacerbated by deforestation and population pressures, have direct impacts on pastoralist livelihoods, livestock health, and subsequently, local economies and nutrition.